Children, obey your parents… that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.Ephesians 6:1-3
If a temper tantrum can cause you to back down, what are you teaching your child about life? That the teacher, or the police officer, or the boss, or the person they marry will do the same? One day a mother brought her newborn son to General Robert E. Lee for a blessing. The old southern general cradled the child in his arms and said, “Ma’am, please teach him that he must deny himself.” What’s the opposite of self-denial? Instant gratification. And that’s not how life works! What we must wait for and work for, we treat with respect. Otherwise we grow up feeling entitled to whatever we want. That’s a recipe for life-long heartache!
If you think enforcing discipline inhibits creativity, think again! Those who work within the rules, see their dreams flourish! Those who learn obedience early are sensitive to God later. Parent, if you love your child, teach them these three things:
(1) Every relationship has boundaries. When someone says no to your advances, respect it and back away. If the store is closed, you can’t break in and take what you want. (2) Life is built on rules. Break them, and they’ll inevitably break you. (3) Obedience can lengthen or shorten your life. If you doubt it, check your local newspaper. The whole purpose of teaching your child obedience is “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:3). If you love them, how can you do less?
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