Establishing Foundations: Raising Children

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. We have a tremendous promise in this verse. You not only raise your kids, but actually are raising your grandchildren by the values that will be passed on. One of the obstacles that all parents need to overcome is the consistent discipline. What does the Bible say about discipline? Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Correction does not come easy as a parent. Parents, you are first of all an authority figure, then you can be their friend. Today, many parents try to be best friends with their children and compromise true discipline, because they are clouded in judgment. We raised our children with consistent discipline and repercussions for actions. We helped our kids to realize a value system for their actions and then to be able to make their own determinations of right and wrong. We awarded so many spankings (the rod) depending on the misbehavior. This value system was consistent and easily understood. Spanking is not wrong and is actually a command. It must be done to save a soul from hell, and to remove foolishness. This correction also needs to have reproof or give instruction given as to what is right and wrong. The promise for these actions is that our children will have wisdom.

Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Correction is part of being taught of the Lord. We must do our part to put lasting values into our young ones' lives or we, as parents, will suffer the consequences, shame (disappointed, confounded, and disconcerted).