Disciplining Children & Other Wisdom Themes From Proverbs 22

It's interesting isn't it, the divergently different methodsthey'll probably not learn it.
over history pertaining to parenting practice. Well,The 'rod of discipline' is not necessarily a cane or a
Proverbs has a particular slant on how to bring kids up,physical implement, but it includes these. For wanton
and it's very effective, but it requires a very wise,and flagrant disregard of people, animals and property,
focused parenting style with an eye on the longer termchildren up to about 7 or 8 should potentially be
development of the child.chastised i.e. smacked. Doing this properly, however, is
There's another significant thing about Proverbs 22--ata whole subject on its own and something I'm not
verse 17 is the commencement of the Thirty Sayingstackling here.
of the Wise that carries on into Proverbs 24. But moreThere are four clear "do not's" in the six Sayings of
on that further down.the Wise in Proverbs 22:22-28. These are clear
Two key proverbs on parenting virtue around thecommands for the wise to be ever vigilant about.
discipline of our children mark the proverbial stance.We do not exploit the poor, as we'd be pitting
Verses 6 and 15 (TNIV) say respectively,ourselves against God. We're careful not to make
"Start children off on the way they should go, andfriends with those prone to a "hot temper" as we
even when they are old they will not turn from it... [and]might very well become ensnared with them.
... Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod ofWe don't move ancient boundary stones i.e. lie or steal
discipline will drive it far away."to defraud someone over land--the most precious
We must start children on their way to virtuous (wise,material commodity in the ancient Near East--most of
prudent, diligent) living from the very first moment, andall regarding our relatives. Blood is thicker than water,
each day forth, being careful not to be lazy in the taskafter all!
of teaching them moral truth. We do this and most ofWe must also not go into bat for someone with whom
the time we can expect them to not turn from it. It willa bad association is likely to form or has formed.
become so ingrained.Getting involved with them might mean we'd put at
Importantly, the heart will know the 'moral reason why'jeopardy everything we call precious.
and the grown child will reflect a fundamental concernFinally, we're encouraged to grow our skills, for the
for the preciousness of others.skilful will not serve only the lowly; they'll end up
To teach this is our goal as parents, and anytime weworking for the finest bosses available. This further
see our kids straying from moral living we have toinspires us in our work and extends and propounds our
sternly correct them. It would be better to over-correctpurpose in life.
(without becoming abusive) than under-correct, forCopyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights
children are by nature 'foolish' of heart. Unless weReserved.
teach them about the core preciousness of others