Big monsters

I had a little Cocker Spaniel named Buffy that was one of only two dogs ever allowed in our house. He was a smart little dog and I easily trained him to do most anything I commanded him to do that is within the dog realm.

I have never wanted to be around a dog when I eat and Buffy was no exception. He wanted to be under our feet at the kitchen table begging for scraps, but I would not allow it. Carpet separated the living room from the tile floor of the kitchen where our family enjoyed our meals and I trained Buffy to stay in the living room while we ate and not to go beyond the carpet into the tiled kitchen area.

He would lay right on the edge of the tile and look at us with pleading eyes, but it was to no avail. Soon he would begin to very slowly inch his way forward attempting to get closer to the family action. Inch by inch he would worm his way forward. He would look at me and test me and then ever so slightly worm his way forward another inch.

When the approximate length of his muzzle was over the line between the carpet and the tile, I would look at him and sternly say, “You better get back over that line you hound!”

He would quickly move back to the place that he was allowed to stay and sadly look on. This little dog and his obedience training remind me of some parents that I know that are struggling as they try to raise their youngster. This kid is rebellious and the parents are helpless in trying to get the little tyrant to do what they tell him to do.

It has gotten so bad that they now use reverse psychology on him. If they want him to stand next to them they tell him that he cannot stand next to mommy and daddy. The defiant little buggar will then immediately proceed to stand by them.

They beam at how clever they are in getting him to do as he is told. Hmmm I would like to get that little urchin into my training program for about a week and he would not only comply, but cheerfully say, “Yes sir and yes ma’am” when told to do something.

I have been told that if one disciplines their child now the police will come arrest you. They would just have to get a bed ready for me then, because my child would be disciplined, not abused mind you, but firmly disciplined. The Bible states that you “hate” your children if you refuse to discipline them. It states in Proverbs 13:24, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly”.

I love my children and adore my grandchildren, but would not stand by and see them defiantly rebel even to this day. In fact I threatened my youngest son with pulling off my belt when fishing not long ago because he ignored something I told him to do.

Personally I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord feels exactly the same about every one of us. Think about it…

Like so many things in our indulgent, politically correct society, discipline and corporal punishment are becoming things of the past. We wonder why teachers cannot control kids in school and gangs rule. Duhhh.

As I reflect on Buffy this morning I know without a shadow of a doubt that if he knew he would not be punished, he would have been in that kitchen lickety split. The same goes for kids. They must be trained to do what is right and not just in minding mommy and daddy, but in reading the Bible and that Sundays are days designated to the Lord and going to church.

Don’t ever think that little monsters don’t grow up to be big monsters. If you love them you will discipline them. Don’t just take my word for it, listen to the man who the Bible states is the wisest man the world will ever know, Solomon who wrote the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he
should go,
And when he is old he will not
depart from it.