Monday, September 10, 2012

Discipline Your Children, God Wants You To!

Yay me! LOVED reading #Proverbs and all that I learned from it! #SheReadsTruthNow what better reason could I give you than "God wants you to"!? On Wednesday I finished my 3rd bible study with the #SheReadsTruth community. I read the whole book of Proverbs, all 31 chapters - one chapter a day. I have learned more than a few valuable lessons from Proverbs, and yet again I find it changing me to my core, and I hope to re-read my journal and just let it sink in over and over again.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again - one of the things that scares the daylights out of me is raising Christian children. Maybe other Christian families don't give it another thought and just go about their ways raising their little believers...but for me, I've thought long and hard about it since I was pregnant with Braden. I think God was speaking to both me and Jay, when Braden was 6 months old, 1 week before we had him dedicated, He said we needed to dedicate ourselves to Him again. Jay was called to be baptized and I reaffirmed my faith, as I was baptized as an infant. Raising a child seems like a lot of pressure, but Proverbs has eased my anxieties and I think we're doing a pretty good job raising Braden. I want to share with you some of my favorite scriptures on parenting:
Braden's Chore
That one, right there...my favorite on parenting. It affirmed everything that I have been doing with Braden and I'm happy that I'm doing the right thing. My study bible goes on to say:
The greatest responsibility that God gives parents is the nurture and guidance of their children. Lack of discipline shows lack of concern for their character development. Without correction, children don't know right from wrong and don't have direction. Do not be afraid to discipline your children. It is an act of love. Encourage your children to seek God's wisdom above all else! The wisdom they learn must be taught - they don't just absorb it.
Can I get a "hallelujah"?! I am SUCH a firm believer that children do need our guidance. If we let our kids run the household...how will they ever learn? How will they ever fit in a structured environment like school and eventually work? I'm not Super Strict Mom, but I definitely have expectations of my 2.5 year old, and they started long before he was this age. And? He's turning out to be a very polite and well-mannered little boy. At the end of the day...he's still 2. He's still a toddler and there's no way I can expect perfection, but every week I see improvements in his listening and following direction. If he doesn't clean up his toys? I take them away for a day or two, I've only had to do this twice. If he doesn't listen after a few times of me asking, he gets a 2 minute time out and knows to say "sorry, Mommy" after and then we hug it out. He even has daily chores, which he loves doing.
Braden's Chore
I do not see chores as punishment, as some do, I believe they teach value and respecting property. Who liked chores growing up? Not me! But I dusted, I vacuumed, I cleaned up my room (this may have gone went wayward as a teenager, a bit!) but now? I appreciate those lessons my mom taught me and my grandma taught her. Now as an adult and the motherly head of my own household? I cherish and value my CLEAN home more than ever, and I have my mom to thank for that.

I also think it's extremely important, for my family, to have our kids sit through church service. At least for the first half when we are singing & praying before the sermon starts. This is discipline. This is structure. Is Braden perfect all the time? Heck no. I've had to leave church all together with him twice this year because he was an overtired mess who wasn't happy in the sanctuary or the play room and just wanted to run around like a Crazy Toddler while the pastor was preaching. BUT, we are trying to set the foundation for him.
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death. (NIV)
Discipline your children while you still have a chance; indulging them destroys them. (MSG)
Proverbs 19:18
Point your kids in the right direction - when they're old they won't be lost!
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
 -- Proverbs 22:6
Parents should discern the individuality and special strengths God gives each one. We can better discern and develop the individual capabilities of each child by talking to others. Teach your children how to make decisions - then you don't have to watch every step they take. We then will know they will remain on the right path because they made the choice themselves - train them to choose the right way. [source]
Look what came in the mail today! LOVE it!! @jenniferintexas
I know there isn't a manual that comes with each individual child when they're born (though, how awesome would that be!?), but it's nice to have the Word to rely on and affirm to me that we're doing right by Braden...so far!
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22 comments:

  1. Amen! Discipline is very important for children's social and spiritual lives. Isn't it great that God wants us to know how to be good parents? He teaches us with discipline and love too.

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    1. It really, really is! I've always felt that way, but it's so comforting htat God does want us to know how to be good parents! Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!

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  2. Hold the phone... your house isn't self cleaning?!?! Sorry I couldn't resist;)
    I love this post & 100% agree. I'm glad that someone else in the family shares my sit through church or go home attitude.

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    1. Hahaha! I love you! ;)

      I knew you would agree with it, when I read that scripture in Proverbs 13:24 and then read the excerpt in my study bible - a HUGE light bulb when on it my head and I was like "A-HA! We're doing it right!" Mom always says she can tell the "church kids" from not in her pre-school class! It's a really good lesson!

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  3. Working in preschool, I can almost always tell which kids don't go to church, and only eat at McDonalds where they can eat and run and play, and come back and eat some more. They can't even sit still through a story, or 10 minutes of circle time. Never mind get the concept of sitting and being QUIET for 5 minutes!!

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    1. I hope that Braden is good in preschool next year! Eek - next year!

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    2. EEK is right!! That can't be possible.

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  4. Gril. I totally get what you're saying... Although I DO wish I could find that manual ;) Thanks for sharing. My babe is 14 months and we're just getting to the age where I think she could understand a little discipline. I'm not looking forward to it but it's such a good reminder that it's biblical!

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    1. Yeah we started around the same age, maybe a bit older with Braden, now closer to 3 than 2...he definitely "gets it"! Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  5. I agree with you "Hallelujah". It is definitely a challenge raising babies to be Christians. I know that God can use me through this. I want so much for my children to be bold and know their stance with faith, but I can't force it. I am excited for the adventures. I know that there will be times that I need to show grace, just as Christ did for us. Thank you for sharing and good job with completing the study.

    Come stop by at Hurley Love

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    1. Thanks, Hannah! You are 100% right - you cannot FORCE it on them. We can just be good guides along the way and pray that they choose the right path! That's a very good reminder- show grace as Christ did for us. Thank you so much for the comment!

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  6. I think that it's great that Braden has chores. I am starting to do the same with Lennox. You learn life lessons this way and as a parent can teach them responsibility. This is a big one in Montessori as well that we are learning.

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    1. Responsibility is a HUGE thing, very important for us raising our kids!

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  7. Totally agree!! We have added a little chore for Jude too. Putting his dirty laundry in his hamper. He actually likes doing it. I think Teachable Moments are the best too!

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    1. Yes, Braden puts his dirty clothes away and his clean jammies under his pillow - he really loves it too!

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  8. I am just getting to that point where we need to start discipline with Andrew and it scares me because I want to make sure I"m doing it properly!

    THanks for this post!

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    1. You're welcome, thanks for reading!

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  9. You have great tips thank you!! Excited to meet you :). Just found your from the GFC Hop excited to follow you!!
    xxo
    Ash
    http://abpetite.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you for reading and for the follow, Ashlee!

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  10. I could not agree more with this post! I also find that Claire is MUCH better behaved when she feels like she has a significant contribution in our family. We do many of the same chores and she helps fold towels. She is so proud when we finish our chores.

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