Correction Now...Or Perhaps A Correctional Facility Later On

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.--Proverbs 19:18

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.--Proverbs 22:15

Here are a few places I am sure you don't want any child of yours to ever wind up in:

IN A GANG

JAIL

PRISON

HOSPITAL

CITY MORGUE

Ask any parent, and they will quickly tell you that they would never want any child of theirs near any of the places listed above. And yet, so many parents absolutely refuse to punish their kids whatsoever to teach them that there are, indeed, very REAL consequences for their actions.

Moreover, there are so many parents out there who are so intent on sheltering their children from everything and doing pretty much everything for them, as if they are the child's servant or something. How is it that they are so blind to the huge disservice they are performing for their children? Constantly trying to filter out anything that may cause their kids to ever feel sad, afraid, inadequate, or disappointed...all to avoid letting them face life as it can really be at times.

I'm reminded of a movie called Soldier. In it there is a scene where a snake comes up to a very small boy. The hero(Kurt Russell) tries to show the boy how to kill the snake himself by grabbing a boot and hitting the ground with it. The boy's parents arrive on the scene and are mortified at what they see. They kill the snake, and being angry with the soldier for not killing the snake for their son, tell him to leave.

Shortly after that, you see the boy's parents sleeping only to be awakened to the sound of something being hit repeatedly. They look to see what is happening and see their son killing the same kind of snake...no doubt saving at least one of their lives. Needless to say, they develop quite an appreciation for what the soldier had done, go and find him, and invite him back into their lives.

I am also reminded of an email showing illustrations of people carrying crosses. One man decides that his cross is just too heavy, and cuts it to make it lighter. For awhile he goes along much happier, seemingly with not a care in the world.

Until he reaches a divide, that is. Others who had carried their crosses all along where able to lay them down and walk across them to the other side. For this one man however, his cross was too short...and so he was left behind.

There will always be what a child wants, and then, of course...there will always be what they need.

Will you not stand up FOR them...even when it means you must stand up AGAINST them?

OinK!