“Do you really think that was necessary?” Julie asked.

“Julie, I know you’re softhearted and I appreciate that. I think God meant for us to balance each other as we raise Mandy and Jason together.” Jeff took Julie’s hand gently. “But the way we discipline our children now will undoubtedly help determine their future. Don’t you want Mandy to understand the consequences of lying once and for all? Don’t you think it needs to hurt a little when she does the wrong thing?”

Julie knew Jeff was right. She had watched other parents fail to discipline their children and reap the consequences.

It’s difficult to discipline our children appropriately and consistently. Naturally we don’t want our children to suffer because of their bad choices. We want to protect, bless, and enjoy them. But the Bible teaches parents to discipline their children “while there is hope” (Prov. 19:18), while there is still an opportunity for them to learn from their mistakes so they choose more wisely in the future. If we neglect to discipline our children because we don’t want a fuss or dread their tears, we’re not doing them any favors. In fact, we could do great damage by sending them into the world as undisciplined adults who disregard the consequences of their actions.

Ask God to help you evaluate your style of discipline. Are you too soft, too harsh, or appropriately firm and loving? Do you need to be more consistent, raise the bar of expectations, or make the penalties of wrong behavior more fittingly painful?