James 1:20

Last Friday Brayden and I went to the park with some friends.  Brayden got to play with some friends while I got to chat and catch up with a friend.  Win-win for us both :)  While sitting at the park talking I asked this friend about their views on discipline and how they disciplined at certain ages.  The toddler age is such a hard one when it comes to discipline.  Brayden understands simple commands really well and I really think he knows a lot more than sometimes we give him credit for, but because we aren't exactly sure what he does and doesn't understand - this makes discipline hard.  He definitely has reached the "toddler tantrum" age and we see those from time to time.  He's really strong-willed too which we have to be sure we don't let get out of hand :)  I've tried a handful of things myself and sometimes have wondered if any of them really work...then my mind goes back to, "does he even understand why he's being disciplined?" Mine and Josh's goal as parents is to discipline Brayden in a way that he would see God's love through his parents (so that we can teach him God's love) and not an angry parent coming at him because we're mad at him because he's doing wrong.  I have seen so many children of all different ages out in public with their parents acting up and the parent immediately jerks the child up and is screaming in their faces and yelling at them....in public.  It always makes me feel so sad for the child because not only is that humiliating but what is it teaching the child?

My friend mentioned this scripture that really stuck out to her and I came home and re-read it myself because it really sheds a whole new light on discipline.  It's James 1:20 and it says,  "Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."  So true!!  If we discipline our children when we're angry or show them anger when we're upset with them...we AREN'T helping to produce the righteousness of God in them!  It is hard sometimes when a child deliberately does something they know they shouldn't do, or throw themselves on the floor having a "toddler tantrum" because they didn't get something they wanted to calmly but firmly take care of the situation.  Of course different things work for different kids, but I think it can all be done without showing the child anger :)  I have at times been guilty of letting my anger show towards Brayden when disciplining and I am DEFINITELY still learning myself, but this has really a whole new light to parenting and discipline for us :)