I’ve been struggling with consistency in my parenting days with Abigail. It’s been not so easy to be consistent all the time. It’s not easy for me because I didn’t grow up with that. But, as I went through my emails today, I came across this email and read this verse from NLT Marriage & Family Devotional (from 05/14) really change my mind and heart. God’s word says,

My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. (Proverbs 3:1)

It is important for parents to be consistent with what they say and do to our children, especially in the area of discipline (which I struggle the most since the beginning of being a mom). Every time I discipline my little girl, my heart hurt and sad. My old memories come back in my mind when my dad used to discipline us and how I hated him for that. That’s the one I do not want happen to us, as parents, Abigail will hate us because we discipline her. But also God’s word teaches us that,

Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them. Physical discipline may well save them from death. (Proverbs 23:13-14)

What I learn from this verses that our discipline is out of love for her, not out of anger. We want Abigail to be wise so she will be a girl what God wants her to be, for her to have a teachable heart and respect us as her parents. We want Abigail to see that she can make a right choice or the wrong with which always comes with consequences.

In my struggle with consistency as parents and discipline, I pray for God’s word to light up our path as parents. I pray and need the Holy Spirit to help us, to guide us, and to teach us to be the parents God wants us to be for our children. I need wisdom from God to understand how to handle and solve the problems with our children and how to guide their hearts to God.

All we need is God. It’s only through Christ Jesus we can do the right parenting, we cannot achieve anything when we are out of Jesus.

How’s your parenting and consistency as parents when you teach your children?