I think the one and only time I was ever grounded by my parents I was 14 or 15 years old. Looking back I deserved a lot more groundings during my remaining teen years but some life-altering events with my dad’s health, etc. compromised that fact, that’s a story for a different time though.
I wound up grounded because my dad, mom, and two younger brothers had traveled out of town for a dirt bike race and in my ignorance I chose to stay home…sort of. Turns out I ended up taking the family car and going to a party instead and left a note that my parents could call me whenever they got back and then I’d come home.
My dad called me alright!! And was not the least bit impressed with my party going choice, rightfully so.
For my punishment he and I went out a day or so later to a farm house and he chopped wood while I loaded it into a trailer for our wood burning stove at home. He was quite ambitious in everything he did so I’m sure it was a full day’s worth of tiring work.
I don’t remember much more of the details, but what I clearly recall was that there was a strong feeling of love in the discipline I was experiencing. My parents were always pretty easy going and I guess I sort of took advantage of it and lacked appreciation in that aspect. But in that moment, to have my dad step up in that way with a consequence for my faulty actions, it just meant so much to me because he cared enough to not let me simply get away with stupidity.
My dad has been gone for over two decades now and I miss him just as much as ever. Thankfully faith in God finally gave way for me in my late 20s and I now have the Lord as my Holy Father to guide and direct my steps.
Mistakes and poor choices still happen on my end, though they look much different than the teen choices I used to make. Whether it’s a negative attitude, a judgmental thought, a harsh opinion, whatever my guilt might be, I’m incredibly grateful that I have God the Father to call me out on those things and set me straight. And sometimes that means I receive His discipline as a result.
Scripture says in Hebrews 12:11, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Healthy discipline serves a purpose when we’re willing to humble ourselves to its hopeful outcome. Likewise, it’s where wrongs have been noticed and correction is needed. It creates the opportunity to improve our character for the better.
I’m reminded that while going through discipline it’s typically not a great time. The heart might take on conviction, but the good news is God’s discipline always involves His mercy and grace in the midst. Repentance and restoration emerge as the words to the last part of the above verse come to life—“(discipline) produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
We are blessed that the Lord loves us so much that He doesn’t leave us in abandonment when we mess up. His faithfulness never expires. There is so much learning and growing to be had when we find ourselves in a position of discipline from God. He will always show us the way that points to Himself.
These days I still go on wood cutting outings. Now it’s with my sweet husband, as we provide some fuel for our own family’s fireplace. I’m pretty sure there’s been a time or two when the kids have been along to serve a little discipline time of their own…I hope, in that, they see how much we care about positively correcting their ill behavior and action, just like my own dad did for me—not ignoring or neglecting it. Most of all, I hope they continually lean in closely and passionately to our Heavenly Father so that His loving example makes for less and less discipline to even be needed.
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Thank you, God, for dads who care about the choices their sons and daughters are making, and thank you also for being a Father who disciplines out of mercy and grace because you love us enough to want to see us not only live well, but learn well too.
Happy Father’s Day, Dads!!❤️
For His Purpose 
What a blessing to have God as our Father 🙂
I noticed in the news that mountain lions were spotted in perhaps your area. If you see one, please do not try to hug it ;p;
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🙂
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Isn’t it true, the older we get the more we recognize wisdom as a vintage? Not all retro accounts are sweet, but they reveal so much as we grow as parents and adults. Blessings & God’s grip. – Alan
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You write- there was this strong feeling of love in the discipline you were experiencing. That is the best kind of discipline as it reflects the love and care of your father. And yes, God’s discipline is also laced with His love and mercy. Though we may not feel it at the time.
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Yes so thankful to see the blessings in the tough stuff.❤️
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Beautiful message for Father’s Day! Thank you for sharing this post…Your dad was a very wise man who loved his children very much. Our Heavenly Father always wants what is best for His children. We are so blessed! God’s love and mercy is without end. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
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Thank you for your sweet words!! Thank you also for sharing those verses!!
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Discipline has to be handled right. Arrogance is not the attitude for one who is disciplining someone who is not their kin. I have trouble getting over words that are rude, crude, and just not said with gentleness. If you are going to say something true, you should be sure that you don’t have any sin in you that is making you be angry, and mean with someone. You restore with gentleness, but it is not often used. I forgive those who anger me, and try to rebuke me for what I have done. I pray for people who come to mind, and sometimes the limit is what they get. I pray only three days for them. When I am finished, I turn the problem over to God. It is a discipline to be in the fellowship when the attitude is we are perfect, and you are not. I believe we need to come clean with God before we try to straighten someone else out. We are all sinners saved by grace. It gets old to have arrogance face me, and words that are unkind and mean.
I do believe God sees everything. He takes good notes of the people who are walking in His grace, and who really want to walk with Him. Jesus is coming sometime. We have been told he is coming back for us. We should live like this is the day He could come for us. That is a discipline.
Don’t bother rebuking anyone else. Read your Bible, and work on you. Maybe God will forgive you of your sins if you ask Him. I have plenty of times asked forgiveness for my, anger. It is a strong word, but when intimidation is there, I don’t receive it from anyone.
God works on me daily, and I am glad, but I don’t count rude, arrogant, words as from the Lord. Watch how you approach people. They won’t listen if you try to tell the truth with out His love.
Love covers a multitude of sins, and all of us have sinned and we all fall short of who He wants us to be. Pray about yourself, and become wise by reading the Word for You.
Stop correcting others until you are perfect. Your humbleness needs to come awake. Fall in love with Jesus, and stop picking on people who aren’t perfect. Work on yourself, because all of us have self, who wants to be proud, and arrogant.
Leaders need to be very, careful with people. They need to pray for people, and stop being so proud. It doesn’t work for the audience, and it doesn’t ever work for individual rebuking when there is arrogance showing its face again. Ruthless people need to repent also. I forgive you, but you need to talk to God as well.
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Thank you for all of these great reminders. We do well when we follow Jesus closely and treat one another the way He would. I’m thankful for His understanding in the hiccups of life and that He’s so patient as He helps us to do better.
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There is much to say about discipline. Some is not getting spankings, but learning to do what is necessary daily. The discipline of reading the Bible, or the discipline of making the bed every day, are two things that I do. Ed gets out of the bed, and within ten minutes the bed is maid. I do believe Mom taught us to make our beds at an early age. I would get on the bed to reach all the covers that needed to cover it. I was short, and the bed was home-made and taller. It was hard, but I learned to make my bed as well as my sisters.
One thing I learned later is awesome. We had clean up day for Saturday. I cleaned, washed, hung things, after they were dried, and worked most of the morning on my room every Saturday. Cartoons were not available until our rooms were clean. Well, I found out that my sisters put everything out of order in their drawers. They were finished with cleaning their rooms. I was the only one who vacuumed, swept, and sorted clothes. I gave the room a cleaning every Saturday, not realizing that my sisters were putting everything in their drawers and not cleaning any more than this. Wow. What I did was solo. I still clean the room, and wash dirty clothes. I still make the bed daily just as soon as we are up and dressing. It is a matter of training. They wanted the beds made, and I never leave our bed unmade. I make it up quickly when I am dressed, or if I am waiting to shower.
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You make such a good point about the discipline of responsibility as you mentioned being disciplined in Bible reading etc…doing chores or other responsibilities in a timely manner are also a part of positive discipline.
The negative discipline (the kind that happens when we need corrected) helps us to be trained and do better with the discipline that goes along with responsibility.
As with your sisters I suppose some of us are better disciplined than others!🤣❤️ I land on both sides depending on the chore or situation, and it doesn’t help that I’m a procrastinator!!!
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What is it about firewood, woodsheds and discipline to our parents?? I miss my dad too.
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❤️haha that’s a fair point!! It’s laborious work, something that seems to be fading out day by day unfortunately.
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Yes, sadly. If I was in the business of making woodsheds, I would be broke.
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🤣
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