Christian Reflection and Prayer

God celebrates family

What was the most effective discipline you
have experienced?

Scripture:

Now his father, King David, had never disciplined
him at any time, even by asking, "What are you going?"
1 Kings 1:6 NLT

Rebounding skills

Suppose you get home from grocery shopping and
discover your six-year-old is eating candy you didn't buy.
It might be tempting to just scold him, send him to his
room, and let it go at that. After all, it's only worth a dollar,
and you're tired. But you'd miss an opportunity to turn this
"miss" into a second chance.

It would be better to take away any uneaten candy, put
your little shoplifter back in the car, drive to the grocery
store, hunt up the manager, and tell your kid to apologize.
Pay for the candy and deduct it from the child's allowance.
Then, if the culprit is truly sorry, be sure to express your
 forgiveness — and God's forgiveness, too.

You've just boxed out the opposition and put your kid in
position to rightly rebound. Because there will come another
time in that grocery store or when he's passing a coveted
pair of Nikes or — who knows?
Ricky Birdsong in Coaching Your Kids in the Game of Life

The Bible tells us that parents have the primary
responsibility for the spiritual development of our children.
And nowhere is the job given only to mothers and
grandmothers. As Moses told the people of Israel, "Repeat
[the command of God] again and again to your children"
(Deut. 6:7). Why not begin today?

adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible with
devotionals by the editors of Men of Integrity magazine
(Christianity Today, Intl), Tyndale House Publishers (2002),
p 391

It is easier to build boys than to mend men.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN