“We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right” (Hebrews 12:11).
While doing something wrong, no child in the history of all children has ever said, “I sure hope I get caught!”
After getting caught—and punished—no child in the history of all children has ever said, “Hey, thanks! I was really hoping I’d get into trouble. I sure am grateful you taught me a lesson!”
While you are getting disciplined, all you can think about are the consequences. No child wants to lose electronics for a week or do extra chores or spend four days cleaning up the graffiti he or she sprayed on another kid’s house. So, I'll bet you agree with the writer of Hebrews. We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It’s often, literally, painful.
I’m going to let you in on a secret. Your parents, who seem to be masters at catching you doing wrong things, don’t actually enjoy having to dole out consequences. It’s as painful for them to constantly have to come up with ways to help you learn how to follow the rules. They do it because they know that kids who learn how to obey their parents are kids who learn to obey their God. They stick with it because they are intensely interested in seeing you grow up to be an adult who has the peace that comes from doing what is right.
I don’t expect you to really understand it now. I promise that it will make sense someday. Probably around the time you have to discipline your own kids.
Chomp on this!
Talk about a time when you’ve been disciplined.
Can you see now how it was actually for your good?
