UNCOMMEN: Dads 2ናሙና

Be Consistent With Your Discipline

Proverbs 13:24 "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him."

My wife and I were blessed that our sons didn’t go through a teenage phase that we had to “deal with” while they were growing up. We communicated with our sons about what is right and wrong as soon as we could. Giving them boundaries helped us with parenting, but it helped them more as they started to understand what was acceptable and what was not.

While we didn’t have the acting out, smoking/drugs, sneaking out or any of that, we did have to have many conversations over the years. Noticed I said, we had discussions. There was the occasional intense fellowship, but we tried to have a conversation about the issue as much as possible. 

I was never a fan of shouting or verbal abuse because I had that growing up, and all it did for me was show me what not to do as a Dad. But instead, we’d try to wait until everyone calmed down and then sit down and have a conversation about the situation. There would be discipline when needed, but it was never full of malice or anger. 

Consistent discipline is something your children will appreciate and come to trust. If you are a loose cannon and lash out at them when they spill the salt but don’t step in when they cheat on a test, you’re sending them mixed signals. They won’t be able to understand your instructions. 

Speed limit signs are an excellent example of being consistent and something you grow to depend on while driving. You get on the interstate, and you look for the speed limit to determine how fast you should drive. You know it’s fast, but you know there is a speed limit. But when you get off the interstate onto a road that you know has a slower rate of speed, you look for the sign to let you know what that is. It’s a rule; it has consequences, and it’s consistent.

Uncommen Questions:

Are you consistent in your discipline? Or are you a loose cannon with a short fuse?

Do you hold yourself to the same discipline as your children?

Uncommen Challenge:

I challenge you to examine your discipline style. Instruct them instead of simply making them fear you. Boundaries are good. It makes them feel safe, and it shows them you care for them.

Scripture Verse:
Proverbs 13:24