Momma said there’d be days like these…..

I think as parents, we all have days where we feel challenged, tired, irritated, frustrated and like a complete failure.  We react in a way we wish we could take back, do over or are pleased with!

A few weeks ago, we had parent classroom  nights at the girls’ school.  They were on separate nights and I went for Emery’s class and J stayed home with the kiddos since we are fairly familiar with Em’s teacher! (Parker had her last year- the blessing of having your kids back to back!)  I am so thankful I went because it was a great reminder of why our children are at their school.  I can only say that it is truly a GOD thing.  I needed this reminder.  I needed to hear the things I did to confirm in my heart why I drive 20 minutes one way to take my kids to school, why I pay for them to go to school and why God has chosen this place for them to be educated.  Again, this is a year to year decision for Jason and I.  We pray, we seek the Lord’s direction and we step out in faith.  HE has been faithful and has given us a vision for our children’s future.  And that it worth more than the dollars we spend.

I want to say that I don’t think there is one education solution for every family.  I think it is ridiculous to think that God has chosen a path that each family should take in regards to educating their children.  I think it is a matter of prayer and discerning for each family.  All I know is that each one of us will be held accountable for our faithfulness in teaching them the Word, teaching them His ways, His precepts, His commandments.  I don’t rely on my children’s teachers to do that, but I do know that they come alongside us to uphold the Word.  Their job is to teach them reading, writing and math, but their calling is to teach each student to be like Christ.  My job is to teach them reading, writing and math as well!

Back to my original post BEFORE i went on a little side trip.

Mrs. F began discussing how she handles discipline.  Her one rule is BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.  The kids had made a big list of offenses and rules and it all came back to being kind to each other,so that it her one major rule.  She told us her classroom rules are not for specific behaviors but address matters of the heart that need to be addressed as a Christian living in relationship to God.

They are Lying, Rebelliousness, and Open Defiance.  When they are caught in these behaviors, she applies the three R’s.  They are to Recognize, Repent and Restoration.

To me this makes so much since in handling discipline, defining what is punished and why, based on Scripture and then a plan for how to deal with it.  I thought this might be helpful to others, as it has been to Jason and I.

Lying:

Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.”

Rebelliousness: Having or displaying a rebellious attitude.

Psalm 78:8- “And not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation.  A generation that did not prepare its heart, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

Open Defiance: (Disobedience) This is addressed on 3 levels in Scripture.

Family- Epehesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Jesus’ Example- Philippians 2:8- “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming OBEDIENT to the point of death, even death on the Cross.”

Christian Walk- 1 Peter 1:14-15 “As OBEDIENT children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you to be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”

I know as a parent, an offense can have different consequences, but I am often all over the place in administering the consequence.  I love having a goal in moving them to understanding and hopefully, a change in behavior, not to please me, but to be obedient to Christ.

RECOGNIZE: Help the child recognize what it is specifically that they did wrong.

REPENT: or ask forgiveness for their behavior.

RESTORATION: Pray with them restoring them to fellowship with one another.

Sometimes, kids need to feel bad for their actions.  They need to feel the pain of hurting someone else.  They need to know the sting of what lying lips can bring.

YET

They need to understand that they have a Savior that will redeem them, forgive them and restore them to fellowship with the Father.  Or their brother…. sister….friend.

Of course, we needed this little discipline lesson very quickly after hearing it!  The JOYS of parenthood……