October 24 | Hebrews 12:3-12

David Thompson
Oct 23
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

A Father's Discipline

By Dave Thompson

Discipline, it is never fun and often is misunderstood by those punished. Without discipline a child will grow up unruly and without self-imposed boundaries. I don't know where the saying "a boy doesn't hit girls" came from, but for whatever reason I have lived with that through my childhood and teen years, young adulthood and during almost 53 years of marriage. I can't even understand a man who would hit their wife, girlfriend or a stranger. It is not in me, so I wonder if I was a three years old perhaps and took a toy and hit a girl with it. Knowing my parents, I would have had to go through the embarrassment of apologizing to the girl, the babysitter and likely the girl's parent(s).

This is not to mention how I learned to handle knives and guns. It was my dad no doubt. I knew I did not hand a knife to a friend with the blade or point facing them, point a gun at another person, or any of a hundred things about how to treat others. I didn't have any boundaries at birth, but I did when I was quite young. You see, my mom and my dad were not dilatory with correction. If an infraction had been taught in their minds and it was serious enough like crossing the street without supervision, you could bet I had a physical correction. You see, stepping out in the street could cause much greater harm and hurt than a physical correction from my parents. I learned it quickly.

I realize that the above "dad" sounded like he was on his game and was likeable. Unfortunately, he had a father that beat his brother and him with a horse harness. His dad was quick to anger and as much as my dad learned that he didn't want to be like his dad, he was like his dad in a lot of ways. My dad was quick to anger and took to physical violence way to often with his 8 -16 year old children. He couldn't stop when he started, especially on my older brother. Because of this abuse, I must say that I didn't like him much. You see a father is suppose to be loving and nurturing, not abruptly angry and abusive.

Because of my messed up feelings for my father (not my mother), I have had a poor vision of what my Heavenly Father is like. I much prefer the New Testament, Jesus Christ. I so needed a consistent and loving example of a father, and until many years after becoming a Christian, I am not sure I had one in my mind. Reading the Old Testament (the Old Covenant) didn't do a lot for me either. The New Testament (and the New Covenant) was a "God send." I had New Testament studies at Houghton Academy and Marion College (Indiana Wesleyan). They were taught by godly men and over the years, I started to understand a role of a loving father. I can't say I had one on earth, but I found one in our Heavenly Father. I think of my life as a patchwork quilt. Each person I meet and beings like God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, are represented on the quilt. I am who I am by the people and spiritual beings that influenced me. Thank God for a lot of good ones.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank-you for being a real father to me and to those others reading this that may not have had a loving, gentle and nurturing father. I dare say that anyone that has been a Christian for any length of time has experienced your love and caring. If there are those not feeling that at present, encourage them to go to their pastoral staff, Christian Counselor or to a trusted friend in a small group or in their daily walk. There is a great example of a father in Heaven. Good luck finding them. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE THOMPSON

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.