JANUARY 29, Proverbs 22:6 

“You are always scolding and punishing me,” complained Alicia to her mother as she sat on the “time out” chair. “You never get mad at Shaun.” “Oh, yeah?” The words came from Shaun. He had come into the room and overheard the remark. “I used to get punished a lot – and I still do sometimes. So quit pouting and learn your lesson, Sis.”

That afternoon, the whole family went to a festival in Sentosa. Alicia and Shaun especially enjoyed the elephant rides. They first rode the smaller elephant and then the bigger one. They held on tightly as a friendly trainer led them around the circle.

“Here are some pictures to help you remember this day,”said Dad when the ride was over. He held out several pictures he had just taken with his camera. They all gathered around to see them.

“Did you notice that the trainer sometimes used his stick with the smaller elephant?” asked Mother. “He just spoke to the bigger one.” Alicia nodded. “I thought at first that he was being mean,” she said, “but he only just tapped the elephant. He had to make it obey.”

“I am sure the older elephant gets disciplined from time to time,” said Dad. “But it probably learned from its earlier training.” Mother nodded. “I guess Dad and I are ‘trainers,’ too,” she said. “Sometimes we need to correct or discipline our children so they will learn.”

“Yeah,” said Shaun, “and I have already learned a lot from having had more years of training than you have had, Alicia.”

Mother nodded in agreement. “The Bible instructs parents to correct their children,”she said.“That is the purpose of the ‘time out’chair.”Because your parents love you, they need to discipline you at times when you are naughty. This is to help you to grow up to be holy and obedient to God.

“Maybe you should hang these elephant ride pictures near the ‘time out’ chair at home,” suggested Shaun. “Yeah – and I hope I will never have to see them again,” said Alicia.

Thought: Your parents love you. That is why they need to discipline you at times.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to be thankful for my parents’ guidance and love for me. May I continue to love and respect them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.