Monday; November 23
When we look at children, what do we see? Some of us might see an innocence or purity of heart that can’t help but make good decisions. Others are tempted to see a mini-adult that has all the wisdom, knowledge and experience of mature humans. Yet, when we look at a child, I believe that the most accurate thing to see is an unfinished work of art. While children have potential, they haven’t learned how to capitalize on it. They may not have been tainted by the biases of the world, but they don’t have the wisdom to apply their innocence. Children have a lot of potential, they just need people who are willing and able to help them unlock it – and that is where parents and caring adults come into play. Centuries ago, a wise man observed, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.” (Proverbs 22:15). When we see this verse, we are apt to cringe at the suggestion of corporal punishment, but I want us to look beyond phraseology and into the intent. The goal of this passage isn’t to advocate child abuse, rather child development. While children have special gifts and talents in them, they need help improving them. They need discipline to shape them into mature people. Parenting and mentoring would be a breeze if children had the innate ability to do what was right, but they don’t so they need guidance and that comes through appropriate discipline. Children, by their very nature are immature, often led by personal desires or unregulated passions. While we shouldn’t squelch the zeal of a child’s love of life, we have to be there with them to make sure it is applied properly. As adults we have to help them develop wisdom and maturity so they can be productive members of society.