Discipline...Correction

Good Morning,

Proverbs 10:17 (NIV)
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

How many people do you know who like to be corrected or who might enjoy being disciplined about something they may have done or said...even if that correction or discipline is well founded and appropriate? I surely can't think of many. Well, I can't think of even one who enjoys the experience of discipline. However, we surely would all admit that discipline and correction are a necessary part of life and without it, well, we'd surely run even more amok that we now do.

I guess it's pretty normal to dislike discipline. After all, it isn't really very pleasant, is it? I mean, it USUALLY isn't very pleasant because too many people who find themselves in positions and places where they are assigned the responsibility of disciplining others aren't very good at administering discipline and/or correction. I think that's what we should be considering today.

Are you one who has the responsibility to bring discipline to your home or your workplace? Perhaps a teacher who must discipline and correct students? Maybe a church leader who has the burden of bringing discipline to others? Many of us find ourselves in just such a situation. That is, we must discipline someone or correct someone who has done something amiss. Of course we know that discipline is necessary in these situations and we realize that people MUST get correction for wrongs, or the aberrant behavior will continue unhindered. What comes to my mind, however, is NOT the fact that discipline is necessary and even, as we read today, "shows the way of life," but it is HOW we bring that discipline to bear on the lives of people.

The first thing that we must realize is the fact that we ARE dealing with human beings. Yes, it's the behaviors that we are the point of bringing discipline, but it is people with whom we must work with and who must understand what it is we're doing. The problem that arises is that every human being with whom we must interact is different. There are no two alike. (Praise God!!!) That's where the rub begins. Because...the way we might bring disciplinary action or correction to one person simply will not work in another, even a sibling of the first, even an identical twin of the first. So, we have to do all possible to more fully understand where people are coming from...before we begin the process of discipline...or correction.

(Maybe I'm being a bit obtuse and going too far when I lump "correction" with "discipline" but I think not. You see, most times, correction is given in much the same manner...harshly and without care for the person being corrected...as discipline. So, I sort of see them as almost one and the same.)

This, my friends is so very, very difficult. We want the words of what we read in Proverbs this morning to be applicable to those to whom we must discipline or correct. We want those under our care to be able to "heed discipline" and thus "show the way of life" rather than one who "ignores correction" and might "lead others astray." Yes, it's a delicate subject, isn't it? It's also one that we've probably all done badly at one time or another, and maybe many times.

But, I think it's as simple as just trying to get to know the person we're responsible for correcting and disciplining. Not that we need to know every nuance of everyone's behavior and life style. That would be impossible. But we CAN be observant and watch how people respond, or react, to things being spoken to them. And from those signs of their behavior, we can then make a much more effective decision on how we must handle that specific situation. It comes down to being willing to be more observant and more caring about those who must be disciplined. It also is something that we need to work on...some of us much more than others. It also means, and OH, how this hurts to say, it means we must be patient. Now, for you that may not be too difficult, but for me? Oh, my! It is just an almost impossible task, this patience thing, that I fail at so very miserably. However, it IS, truly, most very necessary.

So, when disciplining others, we must remember that first, we are dealing with living, feeling human beings who may have fragile personalities. Then, we need to really care and love those to whom we must bring correction. Last, we really have to use patience...sometimes a lot of patience...in dealing with disciplinary matters.

If this has been rather too basic for some, I'm sorry, but I think that many of us need these gentle reminders on what bringing discipline should be like. I pray with thanksgiving that God remembers these things every time He must deal with me, I can tell you that!

Love, peace, and blessings,

David