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March 22
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die. Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. — Prov 23:13-14 BSB
Some parents and teachers have such gentle hearts that they can’t bear to correct a child, fearing they might cause pain.
But they forget that leaving a fault uncorrected or allowing a wrong tendency to grow unchecked is the greatest unkindness they could do. It’s like leaving weeds in a garden—soon enough, those weeds will grow and mar the beauty of the flowers.
Anyone should be glad to have a fault pointed out—not glad that the fault exists, but glad it’s known so it can be corrected. We should always deal with our faults ruthlessly. If necessary, we should be willing to cut off a hand or pluck out an eye, so to speak, to save our souls.
Love must be tough enough to correct. No tenderness should stop a parent or teacher from helping a child overcome a fault. Love always seeks the best.