[loving] discipline

One of my biggest struggles this year, the thing that keeps me up at night, has been learning to discipline my kids while continuing to show them that I love them.

I know that I have to follow through and be consistent, consistency being something they need desperately but I hate having to take something away from them even though I've warned them about a 1,000 times that that said consequence would occur if they made a certain choice.

Tears well up in their eyes like its the end of the world. For a few minutes you are the meanest person on their planet. And you feel like it.

I want so badly to say in these moments "Listen, it's because I love you! I want you to learn, I want to you to do better. Just listen!"

And sometimes the same thing happens 5 days in a row. Patience wears thin.

I feel like I'm starting to see a glimpse of how my stubbornness and refusal to listen looks when the Lord watches me day by day. "I want you to learn, I want you to do better."

I can hear him echo "Listen."

I'm thankful that his patience doesn't wear thin. I'm even going to say that I'm thankful for his discipline even though in the moment I often fight it.

His mercies are new every morning and each day he wants what is best for you.

Hosea 6:3

"Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;

his going out is as sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth."