Fences: Restriction or Freedom

There are events that are forever seared into my memory; the day I saw Mt. Rushmore for the first time, the night I “really” noticed my fellow  classmate who later became my husband.   These are great memories.  
There are some memories, however, that bring sadness, even years later.

I was visiting a family with my mom and sister when I was about ten or eleven years old.  The family had three or four children at the time.  The mom and dad are lovely people with hearts of gold. 
They are the kind of folks who go out of their way to help others.  They loved their children and provided well for them.

Their youngest son was in the room, and began to misbehave. He continued to pester and cause a scene. What I could not believe, even at the young age of eleven, was that the parents looked at us and laughed! They didn’t speak to this child, correct him, or even send him to his room.  When my mom, sister and I left, I mentioned this to my mom.  She was also surprised at the lack of discipline. 
As the years passed, I was not surprised as I would hear news that one child after another, except for one, went through difficult times, and brought much heartache to those parents. 

It makes me very sad when I see parents afraid to give their children boundaries.  I am sad when they are afraid to say “no” to their children. Someday these children will learn that they cannot do whatever they like, and will suffer the consequences. Who better to teach and guide them than the people who love them the
  most?  Who better to discipline them than those who will do it with love and understanding? Giving children boundaries and limits does not hem a child in or harm them in any way. It gives them a
sense of security, safety and freedom.  They learn how to live within guidelines that benefit them and others.    
 
Proverbs 1:8-9
"Son (and daughter) hear the instruction of your father, and do
not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head and chains about your neck." 

The ornaments described in these verses will not only be worn on the children, but these children will be graceful ornaments for their parents.  
 
Then there are children who seem to ignore all of the godly teaching and guidance their parents have tried to instill into their lives.  My heart breaks for these parents.  There are verses that give hope and comfort to these dear parents.

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..."

Proverbs 22:6: 
“train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old will not depart from it.” 

Parents, be the loving guide, protector, and teacher your kids need! Be the parent your child longs for, and then commit them into God’s loving hands each day.

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