Do Your Children Appreciate Correction?

I went out with one of my girls last week…just the two of us and we got to talk about everything….hair styles, school work, feelings, movies, whatever she wanted to discuss.

After a couple of hours she said to me, “Mommy, I want to tell you something.  I want to say thank you for the times you pull me aside and tell me I need to go take a shower.  At first I feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, but then I realize you are doing it for my best.  Yesterday when my friend came over her hair was really greasy and she kind of smelled bad.  I kept wondering why her mother didn’t tell her she needed to take a shower before she came over.  That’s when I really realized how much I appreciate you doing that for me.  I just wanted to say thank you.”

We talked a little bit about hygiene then turned the conversation to what the Bible has to say about taking correction.

You want your children to not only heed correction, but appreciate it.  This leads to wisdom.

If, when you correct your child, they have an attitude of, “I will do what Mom says, but I still think she’s wrong,” then you need to spend some time working on their character. This is done through gentle, but consistent correction and Bible study.

When I say we study the Bible, I don’t mean we sit for hours in silence under lamplight reading.  We read a little out loud, talk about what that bit means, how it applies to our life, what to watch for and maybe an example of something current that applies.  The goal isn’t always memorizing Scripture.  Often times the goal is to understand…in the same way they need to understand multiplication.  Once they “get it” it’s in there forever.

Like in the conversation about hygiene and receiving correction.  She recognized on her own that my correction was good for her, so we talked about other times that it is also good.  I didn’t shove it down her throat.  We both shared.  It was organic.  And now that concept is a part of her and her thinking.

Proverbs 19:20 “Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come”

It doesn’t happen quickly.  It is a part of their entire childhood.  We slowly feed the concepts of Scripture into their heart and mind, expect their behavior and responses to be godly then discipline and correct when necessary.

Wisdom comes from the Lord, but as parents we can use instruction and discipline to prepare them to receive that wisdom from Him.

Proverbs 6:20-23 “Good friend, follow your father’s good advice; don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings.  Wrap yourself in them from head to foot; wear them like a scarf around your neck.  Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you; whenever you rest, they’ll guard you; When you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next.  For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path.”