Today’s blog is dedicated to all those who get up every morning, leave the comfort of their homes and go out to…teach.
Whether in the come-as-you-are public school arena or the selective, elite private school setting, teachers these days have it rough. Behavioral issues, poor attendance, and general lack of understanding seem to plague the students of today. And if we, as members of society, are to be blamed for the crisis in our schools, there is a single reason for our collective guilt—a lack of discipline.
A classic joke goes, “If you follow an ugly kid home, you’re gonna see somebody ugly open the door for them.” The same could be said for an undisciplined child. Many parents today are the reason for their children’s lack of discipline. And, sorry to say, Christian households can be just as guilty. Instead of teaching patience, self-denial, and servitude, we tend to follow society’s model of instant gratification, indulgence, and putting ourselves first. With such a self-centered, undisciplined outlook, no wonder it’s so difficult for the students of today to receive instruction of any kind.
When Jesus called the first disciples, they immediately left what they were doing to go with Him (Matthew 4:18-22). With complete obedience, they followed the greatest Teacher in the universe. (Many in the teaching profession could only dream of students who would be as compliant!) As followers of Christ, or disciples (the root word of “discipline”), God expects complete obedience from us. Here are a few tips to help you get started at home:
• Set aside a specific time each day for prayer and meditation, and stick to it, no matter what. Teach your children to have a special prayer time (maybe in the morning before school or at night before bed).
• Practice denying yourself of something each day (e.g., that extra piece of cake or an impulse purchase). Help your children understand that “the best things come to those who wait.”
• Identify those things in your home that are out of control (i.e., the laundry, family finances, your eating habits), pray about them as a family, and make a plan to practice more discipline in those areas.
Who knows the impact your discipline will have on your household, and ultimately in the classroom?
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I heard one author talk about having their children do "no" hunts. They might talk about it at breakfast and ask for reports at dinner. For example the child might say "I felt like punching Bobby but I said "no" to myself." Where today did you say "no" to yourself?
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