"Peach Tree"

I grew up in the country,

Where you did what Mama said,

And if you didn’t do it,

She’d tell you what to dread.

And that was when my Dad got home,

It was his belt he’d use,

The leather on my hindmost part,

So my disrespect I’d lose.

But sometimes she’d just send me out,

To that old peach tree,

And say to bring her back a switch,

That she could use on me.

I cut a little flimsy limb,

That was anything but stout,

And she’d take one look at it,

And send me right back out.

Go and get a better one,

Don’t make me come out there,

Or it will be the worse for you,

And so I didn’t dare.

But bring her back a better one,

And she’d lay on the switch,

Made me lay across the bed,

And it was better not to twitch.

And that was a long time ago,

Mom and Dad are gone,

But the way they brought me up,

Goes on and on and on.

I’m thankful for the discipline,

That they both gave to me,

And thankful that they used a switch,

From that old peach tree.

And in God’s word the Lord says He,

Will show to us His love,

By giving us His discipline,

Sent from heaven above.

It shows that we belong to Him,

Though painful when it comes,

In the end it does its work,

Our old way overcomes.

“For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness.” (Hebrews 12:10, NLT)

God’s discipline is a sign that we really are His children and belong to Him. He always disciplines those He loves because His goal is to change us and help us become like Jesus. He uses everything to that end, and is not only faithful but is also totally reasonable in how He treats us. Is the discipline sometimes painful? Absolutely. But is it worth it? Yes, because of how deeply it benefits us.

Lord, help us accept Your discipline, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Teal Blake, tealblake.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Teal, and God bless you.