The verse I choose this week is: Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
My grandfather used this rule and so did my father. They told us what was expected of us and then expected us to abide by the rules. If we didn't, we were disciplined. Now don't get me wrong, these men in my life never beat us. We were spanked, yes. There were a few times when my behind smarted from their hands. However, I learned from it, as did my siblings.
The Bible has much to say on this topic. Proverbs 13:24 says, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."
I believe in good old fashioned discipline and believe that children today are not disciplined enough. However, we must keep in mind that we are not to overly chastise our children.
I worry about the children and youth of today. They are not being guided in the way they should go. This isn't always the case, but many times the kids that get into trouble have none, or at least very little guidance in their lives. I will be praying for all children and youth this week and ask that you put this on your prayer list as well.
Looking forward to your comments on this issue.
Look what I won in a book giveaway. It arrived this morning and it is the cutest book I ever saw. I will give it to my great-nephew for Christmas. Even though he's only 5 months old, he loves Mommy to read to him. And this is a flip-sided book, so no matter which way it's picked up, it is the front of the book and the story is just waiting to be read. The illustrations and text are marvelous. I would highly recomment I Love You More to all of you who have a small child to buy a gift for this Christmas season.
For the life of me I cannot find the blog where I won this giveaway. For that I apologize. If anyone has that information, I would like to give credit.
If you would like to get in on a Christmas giveway, please visit Marie to take part in the Deck the Blogs fun. All you have to do is decorate your blog for Christmas, enter your name in Mr. Blinky and leave a comment. It's going to be a lot of fun to see all of the different Christmas graphics that we come up with. You can also click on the Deck the Halls button in my sidebar to visit Marie's blog.
HI Mary,
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what you mean and I worry too. With a nephew at university who's just 19 and a step son and daughter of 14 and 11, I see behaviour that would not have been tolerated in years gone by. But, equally, we must not be overly harsh. I was no angel when I was younger. This modern world presents challenges that we didn't have in our day. Materialism is rife.
That's why it is so good to read of how Karen and others are training up their children in the way of the Lord because it's Him that will make the true difference in their lives.
Good Morning Mary,
ReplyDeleteI think I'm finally on schedule again. LOL. I seen that book at Diane's of Diane's Place. She was doing a book review on it. I remember seeing it somewhere as a giveaway also. But for the life of me, I can't remember. I visit so many blogs and keep adding new ones. You hit the nail right on the spot on that memory verse. Alot of children and youth these days have no guidance whatsoever. I was discliped with either a belt or a willow switch. I do believe the willow switch hurt more than the belt. LOL. It's funny now but it sure wasn't back then. I did stray and rebuke from my parents in the past, and you know what, I learned from it. Of course when you are young you think parents don't know a thing or what they are talking about. Since I have my own 2 girls now, I can look back and see they were right all along. It's just a stage we go thru I guess. There is so much meaness and hatred in this world today that it is almost impossible for a child or youth to survive without some kind of discipline. It all starts in the home. We do our best at trying to teach our girls right from wrong. I hope one day that they will understand and will be able to take it with them. It is another rainy day here and foggy also. It is 43 degrees right now. Diane put my Christmas Spirit Button on my blog for me. She decorated it for me last night. She is such a dear friend and I really appreciate her. Well, take care my friend and have a Blessed Monday. May God Bless You and Yours.
Hugs,
Karen H.
Bunnygirl,
ReplyDeleteMy grandsons try their limits and yes, they have issues to deal with that I didn't have as a child. However, they do know what is expected of them. Mind you they are not perfect nor would I ever expect them to be, but I do expect them to be respectful and honest. My heart aches that their parents don't bring them up in the way of God. However, I talk to them about Him all the time. Hopefully when they are grown, they will remember that.
Thanks so much for your comments.
Blessings,
Mary
Karen,
ReplyDeleteGrandma didn't hesitate to have her kids cut a willow stick if they broke the rules, but that happened very seldom. Grandpa was stricter and he often administed the razor strap. Neither of them ever spanked me, but I knew where to draw the line.
On the other hand, Dad used the strap on me many times, but I look back on it now and know he was being a good parent. Mom was not a disciplinarian. She left it to Dad.
Thanks for your comments. I'm going to come over and look at your newly decorated blog.
Blessings,
Mary
Beautiful verse, and full of such wisdom.
ReplyDeleteMary, I feel so blessed to have popped by your blog today. I really do. I am recovering from bronchitis and it's taking ages, yet still I have to keep going with things and now I have my son home sick as well - it's just life I know, but I was feeling as flat as a pancake and a bit weepy and the beauty of your blog, the words, the spirit of love just ministered to me. Thank you. Yes I know just what you mean about School and our young folk. We have our son at a private christian school, he has a verse to memorise each week, they have Bible lessons and wonderful assemblies and prayer is a big focus. It reminds me of my School days somewhat (and that was secular School). It's made such a difference in his life to be soaked in the word.
ReplyDeleteMary, You and I must have been brought up the same way! It was like reading what I would write about this, if I was doing it! My folks were like yours!! They raised good kids and I think I did too!!
ReplyDeleteI would never let my kids sass me back!! My Mother didn't either!! I can't even watch that show on TV about the Nanny and the way the kids behave on there!!
Love and Hugs, Carolyn
G'day Mary. I just got back from doing a bit of Christmas shopping, and I am certainly ready to sit down and visit some blogs...so, here I am!
ReplyDeleteAbout disciplining today...my thoughts on this are very strong; I blame it on society. Today, I think so many try to live our lives as they think is best. And parents are afraid to set a strict rule ---even spanking them, 'cause schools, news, peers think it's child abuse. I remember one time our oldest grandson told his teacher that his father spanked him...immediately, the social services were on his butt [the dad] thinking he was abusing him. Well, see--it's society. And of course you can't blame them I guess, it's just so sad to think parents are afraid to do some tough love to get things across to kids these days. And one more thing, both parents are gone, working...that too is sad. I was fortunate enough to live in the days when a mother stayed home and was there for me when I needed her.
I could go on and on. One quote I remember when I grew up is:
"The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for
authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer
rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents,
chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their
legs, and are tyrants over their teachers."
Plato quoting Socrates.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteI think you are right. Children need boundaries and they need to know what is expected of them. Loving discipline helps them grow into mature, self-confident and responsible adults. When either part of "loving discipline" is missing, there is trouble and heartache for the child that follows them for a long time.
Congratulations on winning the book! It will be so nice for your nephew to have listen to his mother's sweet voice reading it to him.
Again, thank you for the Christmas Spirit Award - I really appreciate it!! :-)
Hugs,
Tina
Denise,
ReplyDeleteI believe children should be raised by this verse. If they were, they would act a lot better than they do today.
Hope you're feeling better.
Blessings,
Mary
Karen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I have visited your blog and left a comment there. I am glad that my blog uplifted you.
Blessings,
Mary
Grams,
ReplyDeleteI think you and I are of similar age. We were brought up with discipline and love. Mu folks and grandparents wouldn't put up with sass, that's for sure. As Dad used to say, "In a minute you're going to get a back hand." And he gave it to, if you didn't toe the mark. However, it was for our own good.
Blessings,
Mary
Anni,
ReplyDeleteI too blame it on society. As I told Grams, Dad would warn us once and then if we didn't heed, we got it. We learned our place and took the consequences if we didn't stay in it.
My oldest grandson is 12 and is becoming a teen. He swore the other day and I put my hand up. Immediately, he said, "Sorry." He knows I won't put up with cussing. I didn't touch him. He just knew. Seems that they are learning all of this stuff at a younger age.
Thanks for your comments. Blessings for a great week.
Mary
Tina,
ReplyDeleteGriffyn just loves his Mom to read to him. He is only 5 months old and yes, it is the sound of her voice. As you know, I strongly believe in children learning a love of books. Already he tries to get the book out of his Mom's hands. It's so cute.
Loving discipline and a little smack does teach children their place. I think the problem was that too many people hit children when they were out of control and angry and it became physical abuse. There has to be a happy medium.
Thanks for visiting.
Blessings,
Mary
Our views on discipline are very much the same, Mary. :o)
ReplyDeleteI was sent a copy of the same book to review and loved it! I'm giving my copy to Jessica and Emmy for Christmas. In a few months Emmy will be mature enough to begin to understand it, and I'm sure she and Jessica will both love it.
Have a blessed evening. :-)
Love and hugs,
Diane
I just read Bonnie Calhoun's blog about the many uses of her Grandmother' apron. http://bonniescalhoun.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI thought it might resonate with you.
Training a child up in the right is very important. God says spare the rod and spoil the child. Discipline done in love within boundaries is a godly thing. It is an act of obedience. Obedience is not always fun. We are not responsible for how our children respond in their hearts to this discipline. They may rebel but we are promised that in the end they will not depart from the it.
ReplyDeleteGood verse.(the truth)
Thanks for praying for children this week. I would like to add my prayers to yours. You're a woman after my own heart and I love that you would take the time to pray for children. They need all the prayer they can get.
ReplyDeleteMary
ReplyDeleteI wish to share a little story which is much in tune with your blog. When Puppy started Kindergarden( a public school less than two miles from home), I was one of the Mother's to help out at lunch. I had settled my lot of children at the table and one little guy started eating his dessert first. I told him to eat his good food first and if he was still hungry then he could eat his dessert. He did as told then the next day it happen again. After I told him to eat his good food first, he looked at me and said rather hateful "My Mother said I could eat my lunch any way I want to". I took on my General tone of voice and looked him in the eye and said "Your Mother is not here and I say eat your good food first". I never will forget how slowly he lowered his dessert and picked up his sandwich with wide eyes. He never bucked me again. I figure he was never discipline at home.
Two years later, Prince and I sent Puppy to a Christian School and he choose to stay and go to College there.
I think it is SAD that God and Bible verses have been taken out of public schools.I can remember always starting public school days with prayer and the pledge of allegence. For those who did not wish to pray, they could be silent. We only had one boy who refused to pray. I hope he learned to pray later in life.
Peace
Oh Mary, I cling to the Proverbs 22:6 verse as my young adult son has temporarily lost his good sense. My Hubby's grandmother was mother to his dead beat dad told me long ago when she was living that all you can do is raise them to the best of your ability and then what they do with that is on them. I know I did my dead level best only to suffer recent disapointing flaws in his character. I love him but I'm not loving his ways right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these verses!
Oh Mama Mary! I LOVE this scripture! God gave it to me as a rhema word some 6 yrs ago... I declare, proclaim it, thank Him for it & diligently seek His leading for living it all the time...I love that you tackled this so critically important subject. And you did it from both sides of the scale, bc it is just as important that you seek God for wisdom how not to crush their spirit.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, the hardest thing to fight is the desire to be liked, make them happy...bc discipline does not make them agreeable...Yikes! I just got through having to say no to a very sweet, very frustrated 14 yr old! I know this from experience
Thanks, Mama Mary! :)
Mary,
ReplyDeleteI so worry about our children today. Materialism, technology, lack of guidance and so much thinking of "me" and not others.
I keep this verse in mind with raising my children. To me, God gave me the special job to raise them and I use the Bible as my guide. They are too precious to just left unguided, undisciplined, to follow the whims of society.
cynthia