Spare the Rod Spoil the Child
I had to write this because I just came from a get-together, where my child was the one who was running around screaming, stealing food off of people's plates and then whining at her very best...and of course, the other children there were perfect little angels. Isn't that always how it goes? Also, the other children there have been disciplined according to the wisdom of Debbie Pearl and her husband, whatever his name is...they advocate switching. Yes, switching.
The woman had given me a book to read called, "No Greater Joy" volume 'i can't remember.' I thought it was a little harsh until I got to a letter written from the mother of an 18 month old who was so thankful for her daughter's wonderful behavior...she actually would walk out to their front yard and stand in front of their tree and say, "switch," when she knew she had done something wrong. I just cried and cried...
I got to thinking about the verse that is used to justify what I like to call child abuse..."Spare the rod, spoil the child." I don't even know where this is in the Bible, but I'm sure it's in there because it is used so often. But, there is another verse that talks about the rod. It's Psalm 23, and that verse says "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." In this verse, we are likened to sheep, being led by a loving shepherd. The rod and staff are used to guide the sheep and to rescue them when they are in trouble, not to beat them if they go astray. And so....I have to wonder how we have applied the rod to spanking and switching.
I believe strongly in discipline, and have seen the successful results of it in my home (although obviously not tonight...), but I can see how an angry parent can spank easily. It's not so easy to do it with a clean conscience, if you are at peace and calm, as is suggested by so many who advocate it. And, maybe for a child who is older than a toddler, Mr. Sad Spoon may be a good choice for a major major major offense...but switching an 18 month old should be punishable by jail time in my opinion. Loving guidance and consistency in training your child, proving to them safety in their parents arms is what the "rod" means. Even this is hard, and I have seen in the past few months how easy it would be to just let Mayah do whatever she pleases...it's exhausting to teach and discipline a child, but it's also loving and caring and responsible, which a "rod" for switching, scaring, and whipping is not.
The woman had given me a book to read called, "No Greater Joy" volume 'i can't remember.' I thought it was a little harsh until I got to a letter written from the mother of an 18 month old who was so thankful for her daughter's wonderful behavior...she actually would walk out to their front yard and stand in front of their tree and say, "switch," when she knew she had done something wrong. I just cried and cried...
I got to thinking about the verse that is used to justify what I like to call child abuse..."Spare the rod, spoil the child." I don't even know where this is in the Bible, but I'm sure it's in there because it is used so often. But, there is another verse that talks about the rod. It's Psalm 23, and that verse says "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." In this verse, we are likened to sheep, being led by a loving shepherd. The rod and staff are used to guide the sheep and to rescue them when they are in trouble, not to beat them if they go astray. And so....I have to wonder how we have applied the rod to spanking and switching.
I believe strongly in discipline, and have seen the successful results of it in my home (although obviously not tonight...), but I can see how an angry parent can spank easily. It's not so easy to do it with a clean conscience, if you are at peace and calm, as is suggested by so many who advocate it. And, maybe for a child who is older than a toddler, Mr. Sad Spoon may be a good choice for a major major major offense...but switching an 18 month old should be punishable by jail time in my opinion. Loving guidance and consistency in training your child, proving to them safety in their parents arms is what the "rod" means. Even this is hard, and I have seen in the past few months how easy it would be to just let Mayah do whatever she pleases...it's exhausting to teach and discipline a child, but it's also loving and caring and responsible, which a "rod" for switching, scaring, and whipping is not.
posted by KariBryant @ 7:31 PM
2 comments
