It's Not Supposed to be Easy

Disciplining is tough. It is tough for me as a parent to be consistent and it is tough to be on the receiving in. But it never was supposed to be easy, right? This morning I have been pondering on how effective my "methods" of discipline are. Is Moriah learning? It seems that I am constantly battling with her on the same issues. Direct disobedience rears its ugly head often in our home. I am encouraged and take heart that this is not an overnight, one step program of discipline. It is a process of learning (both for me and her). I have been trying to keep the perspective of how does God look at me as His child. How does he rebuke me and discipline me? Am I showing His love to Moriah when I discipline her? A book I am reading that is helping put things into perspective is "Grace Based Parenting." I have found it encouraging and it has changed how I discipline. Some verses I have been reflecting on are:

Hebrews 12:5-6 "My son do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Hebrews 12:11 "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." Oh, how I long for me and Moriah to be more self-disciplined. In time, in time...

Side funny story of how Moriah has learned that discipline is hard. This morning I was paying bills and she wanted to "color" (aka use my pen to draw on the bills). I told her no and that I would get crayons for her to color with. Instead of obeying she quickly grabbed my pen and started scribbling. Her punishment was that she did not get to color with her crayons. She was CRUSHED. She asked me to spank her and then let her color. Wow. So I guess in her mind a spank would be the easy way out and she would still get her way. I had to chuckle at the way her mind works. I gently told her no. She would not be getting a spank and she would not be coloring this morning. She cried and then went about her business (every once in awhile she asks to color again and I reminder her why the answer is no).

Trying to be a good parent is not for the faint at heart but it sure does account for much laughter and fun.