Tag Archives: discipline

The Wooden Spoon

Posted in Family, Motherhood, My thoughts, Restoration by

Yesterday I was at a funeral service for an 89 year old lady. Towards the end of the service her sixty year old son spoke about memories he had about his Mum. He has been living in Florida for a long time.

He thanked his Mum and Dad for the “Wooden Spoon” referring to discipline his parents used when he was young growing up with five siblings. “In America people don’t know about the wooden Spoon”, he said. “My parents taught me values when I was growing up. I haven’t forgotten them.”

To live in a big family there needs to be unity and order or there will be chaos, each individual wanting their own way. The parents working in unity can bring about that leadership and bring peace to their family. There needs to be boundaries set and for anyone to break the rules there needs to be something done to deter any further wrongdoing.

Many families of old have used a smack with a wooden spoon as discipline when rules were broken. There is a saying “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” The Word of God gives us guidelines.

Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them

Proverbs 29:17
Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.

Proverbs 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

A child will learn obedience when he listens to his earthly father who disciplines him. It will be easy for this child to hear from his Heavenly Father and obey Him when he grows up.

Jesus listened to His Father in heaven. He went alone to pray often. He learnt obedience through the things he suffered. He was obedient even to death on the cross.

Sometimes we go through hardship and suffering. Don’t despise it. It is our Father disciplining us for our good and teaching us to choose the right way to go.

Advice on Life

Posted in Family Friday, My thoughts by

“Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:2-4, 7-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s the beginning of a new year. A new beginning, a new start, new year resolutions and hopes to change and not make the same mistakes of last year or previous years. Are you in a cycle of life that never changes? Are you in circumstances that won’t change no matter how good you try to be or try to give up habits.
I was reading Proverbs from the bible this week. In it I read some advice that can start one on the road to change, particularly if you are a young person. It’s helpful for others too! I have quoted the verses above that are relevant.
Read through Proverbs this month. There are 31 verses, one for each day. See how you feel at the end of the month. You will have gleaned some wisdom and insight.
There is power to change reading the Word of God. That was the beginning of change in my life. The Word of God continues to work in my life and guide me.
I want to draw attention to the verse about parents. This world will not advocate on behalf of parents. Daughters are encouraged to go to their doctors without their parents concent. When children reach 18 they think they are adults and don’t want to listen to mum or dad. They know better. Okay adults head out there into the world and see how you get on. Bye.
Some years down the line our children come back to get help. Reading the Word of God each day can help you along the way in the big world.

Testimony Tuesday. Norming and Storming Brings Unity.

Posted in Family Friday, Healing, Holiday, Ireland, My thoughts, Restoration, Testimony Tuesday by

In earlier years some children left home for university and others were still at home.  At holiday times those at university would return home to Ireland with their luggage.  They would have to find a spare bed or share with others for the duration of the holidays.  We all had to adjust to being in close proximity again.

When children leave they have more space in their new surroundings.  So returning to a confined space stretched their patience and they had to sacrifice their own comfort.  They usually were stressed out after exams at university and tired after all the activity student life demands.  They would crash in bed and sleep late.

I had other expectations.   I looked forward to their company and some help to give me a break from working in the home.  Instead I had more work to do, more cooking and shopping.  Home was somewhere for them to get their batteries recharged.  My batteries were running out.

In my dilemma I would get frustrated with the children and made demands they were not able to meet.  Children would get frustrated with each other and disputes would have to be settled.  All this was too much for me.  I would call on my husband to talk to any child  who was misbehaving and settle disputes between me and the children, or between each other.

Brendan had his work cut out.  He called these times “Norming and Storming.”  The children were disciplined and reconciled.  Often I felt disciplined when I had to be reconciled to my own children.  The father has the ability to do this for his family.  He can bring unity.  While living together as a big family we had to get on with each other and forgive each other.  We had to go through the process each time we were together.

Despite all the Norming and Storming at the beginning, holidays always turned out to be refreshing times when we could spend time together at meals and at play.  My husband and I were stretched at these times.  When everyone left we needed to take a break ourselves to forget about our troubles and spend time together.

When any group of people get together to do a task, they have to take time to know one another.  Each one’s skills and gifts are needed in the Christian life to help each other.  I needed others to help me get healed.  Someone with the gift of healing helped, another with the gift of prophecy encouraged, a deliverer, the doctors, nurses, family and friends were all needed to love me back to health.  God works through people.  We are his hands and feet.  That is why it is important to get on with each other and forgive each other.

We make up the Body of Christ.  Where brothers dwell together in unity The Lord commands a blessing.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (‭Psalm‬ ‭133‬:‭1, 3‬ NIV)