27th March 2021 – Train Your Child

A child needs guidance and should not be left on his own to do whatever he wants with little or no training at all. A child left to himself will become totally messed up and mixed up in this crazy world. Children do need guidance and training, and in the right direction.

Parents need to do their best to train their children in the ways of right living and to know the Lord. This won’t happen without work, hard work, discipline, positive affirmation and a tremendous amount of love.

There was a farmer who sold a mule to another person down the road. He explained carefully:

“This old mule is a good mule, but you must be gentle with him, ever so gentle.”

The next day about ten o’clock, the purchaser appeared at the door of the seller, most irate, demanding his money back. “What’s wrong?” the seller asked. “That mule is sitting in the middle of the barn and will not move. I have been ever so gentle…” “Oh, let me help you.”

They went down to the mule, the seller got a big stick and hit the mule as hard as he could on its rear and the mule got up. “But I thought you said to be ever so gentle.” “Yes, but first you got to get his attention.”

Prov. 13:24 “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”

Discipline is a must, but it must also be loving. Children need both loving discipline and loving affirmation. Your verbal praise will raise your child’s self-esteem. Likewise, constant criticism will lower it.

Dear parent, you can your child/(ren) by keeping the lines of communication open, being a good listener and acknowledging emotional pain. Saying to them “I love you.” Touch them physically either by hugging or putting an arm around their shoulders. Praying out loud so they can hear that you are praying for them.