It use to be that when that when someone did something wrong and they were caught, they were held accountable. However, in today’s world that is just not true.
When I was in high school, I was robbed at gun point by an individual for my school ring. On the day of the trial there was a change in venue, the case was moved from one court to another because this individual had threatened to kill the pawn shop owner if he testified. While sitting in the court room, there was case after case of breaking and entering. Each person got up before the Judge and said I’m sorry your honor I was on drugs and broke into the house to get money for more drugs. Each person was given 3 to 5 year probation. Then there was one individual who said I’m sorry your honor, no I was not on drugs, but I made sure that the owners were gone before I entered. What happened next amazed me. He was given 25 years in prison with the possibility of parole in like 15 years. Say what? The others broke the law by using drugs, but that was okay. That has stuck with me ever since and ever since I have lost all respect for the judicial system in our country and those that are extreme liberals. Each of those on drugs should have been sentenced to the maximum prison time and the guy that told the truth should have been given a lighter sentence. Of course that is my opinion.
We have some friends who I am sure mean well, but for the most part, their kids run all over them. The oldest boy who is 16 is the biggest whiner I have ever seen. He talks back and has no respect for his mom or dad. He tells his mom constantly that he is not going to do what she has asked or he complains about how unfair it is. His sister could be watching TV and he comes in and turns on his Xbox so he can play games and then complains when he has to turn it off. To me the solution is simple, he is driving and likes it, so take the keys and ground him for 2 weeks. However, instead of disciplining him, they just yell and nothing changes. I am sure that some of it is anger towards his dad whom never seems to say anything good about what his son does. In fact the dad is pretty negative about most things his son does and I am guessing that the son is tired of it and thinks why do anything since I cannot seem to do anything right. There are more stories with the other children, but this gets the point across.
I partially blame the parents for how their kids turned out. Not sure when it started, but for some reason it is unacceptable in our society to physically discipline children. I am not talking about beating the children where it becomes abuse, but I am talking about spanking their rear-ends. I think a lot of this comes from Psychologists and other so called experts in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and even in the 80’s who thought that kids should be treated like individuals that have the ability to reason like adults. Instead of spanking a child, it was timeouts. Now timeouts or grounding may be somewhat effective at times, but sometimes a child needs a good old fashion spanking. Lets face it, kids will push the boundaries and it is up to parents to set acceptable boundaries.
Parents need to have the expectation and understanding that they are raising children to be adults. If a child is not disciplined, then we get these spoiled, narcissistic, uncontrollable kids who may go on to become criminals.
Proverbs 13:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
By disciplining your children, you are not hating them, but loving them. You will be preparing them for a life that will punish them later if they are not properly disciplined as children. Just so we are clear, here is the definition of discipline:
- the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.
Ask yourself if you have kids who rules the house, you or the kids? Are you teaching your children boundaries? Are the methods you are using to discipline your kids working? Are you afraid that your kids are are getting out of control? I urge you to pick up a Bible and read:
- Hebrews 12:7
- Proverbs 22:6
- Deuteronomy 12:9-11
- Ephesians 6:4
- Proverbs 19:18
There are many other versus, but those should do for now.
If you are unwilling to take control and discipline your children, there will be consequences for your actions. It might not be the generation you are raising, but somewhere down the line there will be consequences for our children will act as they are taught.