Fatherly Discipline

Since having children I have felt the Scriptures come alive in entirely new ways. I always found it a little bit difficult to relate to God the Father until I became a father myself. Today’s second reading is one that has taken on a whole new meaning in my life. We are in the thralls of the toddler temper tantrums. Everything in my fallen nature just wants me to be mad about the outbursts, but I believe it is grace that allows me, hopefully, to discipline my son in such a way that actually helps him to thrive. 

He may not get this right now, but my dad seemed to have a very similar approach. There were things growing up that I threw absolute fits about, but looking back, I realize that my dad was helping me to grow and wanted me to flourish. I have found myself often getting frustrated and thinking to myself, "Can't you just see I am trying to help you?" Of course, children can't really see that yet. They don't have the full picture of life and are not fully developed. They need a healthy discipline that guides them along the right path and helps them to become the best version of themselves. 

The second reading says, "For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" This is the hard part. Compared to God, we are all children. We have all had moments of doing something monumentally stupid. I know God has had his fair share of thoughts thinking why can't my son see I am trying to help him? 

I think this might be why Jesus speaks so much about having the faith of children. They may not understand everything that adults can and they may not see the bigger picture, but when they trust their parents they learn how to live. It is the same with us. I have to take time on a daily basis to put myself in this mind set. I am never done learning from my Heavenly Father and sometimes He needs to lovingly discipline me to get me back on the right track. 

I think we can all eat a little piece of humble pie here and realize that God is not here for our failure but rather to give us strength, and like any loving father, He is here to help us grow, mature, and figure out this crazy thing we call life. We just have to trust in Him. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

By Tommy Shultz