For some parents, it is just too much trouble to properly discipline their children. Cue the video of the parents ignoring their kids in the grocery store as they pull things off the shelf and drop uneaten cookies all over the floor for someone else to clean up.

For other parents, correcting their kids is just an explosion of personal frustration. Years ago, I read an article about a father in Riverview, Florida who disciplined his daughter by beating her with a belt and then shaving off her hair. Apparently, she had stolen some jewelry from a nearby store and used a video game without permission.

Now, I am all for Godly discipline and stealing is always wrong, but I am deeply concerned about a mom or dad who disregards all the safeguards in the scripture about appropriate responses to poor behavior.

Likewise, I think we all can be concerned about parents who disregard their children’s actions and blithefully wander through life preoccupied with their phone as they ignore the kids.

Either extreme is unacceptable. The role of the parent is to partner with God in the making of disciples who will in turn grow up and serve the Lord. To launch our kids out into the world with personal character stuffed with Godly principles, we must properly discipline them.

That discipline begins with clear instructions that are repeated. We impress on them Biblical principles of right and wrong so they will have “fences” to help guide their way. We train them (repeated instruction) to love and serve God.

And of course they will need reminders (don’t we all?). They will need nudges to help them stay on track. A reproof or rebuke might be necessary. For some children, it might only take a stern look. For others, their rebellion might “earn” them a loss of a privilege, a time out or some other kind of reminder.

But at no point are we to “exasperate our children.” Ephesians 6:4 tells dads (and moms) to “instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Humiliating a child exasperates them. Sarcasm provokes an angry response and eliminates the opportunity to do any training.

Now, I doubt that anyone reading this musing this week will be inclined to shave the head of their wayward son or daughter, but there are all kinds of other ways we frustrate them. So instead, lets focus on good, loving, solid, reasonable discipline. Let’s communicate clear guidelines and reinforce them with diligence.

Let’s love as we discipline. Isn’t that what God does?