Proverbs 29:15

The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

If you look at the origin of the word "discipline" it comes from the Latin word "disciplina", which actually means learning or teaching and has little to do with how we use the word these days. It does not mean chastisement. Unfortunately, in order to teach sometimes the rod is needed to get the point across. My little girl is in her terribles two's stage and is a little rambunctoius monster at times...most of the time. I cannot, for the life of me, discipline her well. I can't even picture myself striking her even lightly. I do know that, as a father, it is my duty to make sure she learns to behave so I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.

The wisdom of Solomon's words in Proverbs 29:15 do not give one lisence to beat their children. The point he is making is that if we don't use whatever methods that are effective in teaching our children, they will suffer for it in the long run.

We are all children of GOD and like my two-year-old, we disobey and do the wrong things all the time. GOD uses various methods to ensure we get back on the right path, such as stress and hard times. HE knows that sometimes HE must not spare the rod so to speak. GOD is the best of fathers and HIS teachings are eternal.