Discipline of Joy

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
—Psalms 32:8 (NRSV)

My boys hate to be disciplined. I guess, probably, most kids don’t like to be disciplined. But we do it as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc…because we the kid we are disciplining. Right? We do it because we want them to live the best and to make the wisest decisions. So we lovingly guide them, but not only when they need . Especially when they are younger – but even as they get older we lovingly guide them. When they need help, when they need love, when they need to make decisions, when they are learning, and more. We do this when they are young, but we also do this as they get older.

I will never forget being a full fledged adult in college my freshman year. I was standing in the laundry detergent aisle because I had ran out of clean clothes and needed to do laundry. I called my mom to her what kind of detergent we are supposed to use, ha! My mom lovingly told me what she uses, but that I could use whatever I chose to use.

Often in life we need God to guide us. Okay. All the time we need God to guide us. All the time we should be in with God and be seeking instruction from Him because He desires amazing things for us. I love the ending of this passage in this version, “with my eye upon you.” God is always looking after us. God is always with us even when we don’t think He is or feel Him. My favorite quote in life: “When nothing appears to be happening; something is happening. Because in the waiting; God is working.” How true!