Proverbs - The Rod and Reproof

Proverbs 29:15

The rod and reproof give wisdom:

but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

The rod is equated with some sort of painful consequence and reproof is that which corrects and instructs as to why something is wrong and what should be done instead.  When we have little ones we can just be so tired.  This could cause us to leave our children to themselves but we are told this will bring us shame.  When we are tired we might end up only using one of the two tools for wisdom and then we won’t get the desired result.  We may be grouchy and just use the rod or be full of words because we are frustrated.  The next time you discipline your children be aware of the rod and reproof.  Don’t leave one out! Consider the wisdom you desire to see given to your child.  You need some sort of consequence and then a time of verbal instruction.  Do you tend to do one more than the other?  A righteous balance comes from the Lord.   He will help you.