A Return To Love

Discipline has various forms.

Allowing my children to experience the consequences I’ve tried to prevent them from might be the hardest I’ve had to witness.

It’s never my intention to wait for something bad to happen, however, it seems like children don’t understand the warning until they feel the pain.

After going in and out of my closet and playing wildly, my daughter Kailani, came over to me as she held her wrist and cried.

(I don’t believe she slammed her hand in the door because the door was opened, but I do think she fell in the closet and possibly landed on her wrist. Thankfully, it wasn’t a bad injury.)

As I looked down at her wrist, rubbed and kissed it, I whispered, “This is why mommy told you to stop. I didn’t want you hurt yourself .”

This moment helped me to realize the true grace and compassion that Father God has for His children.

He commands us to do things His way to prevent us from the hurt, harm, and danger that lies ahead when we rebel against Him.

He never forces us to do life His way so once we know right from wrong, He allows us to make our own decisions that lead up to the consequences – whether good or bad.

Because of His unconditional love and compassion, He’s there for us when we suffer from the bad decisions that we’ve caused.

He’s there to not only forgive us, but also to heal us, strengthen us, and help us to turn away from what hurt us and to turn back to the right things He wanted for us all along.

"So he got up and went to his father."But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
Luke 15:20 NIV