"Way Back When"

It was yessir and no sir,

And always yes ma’am,

You might not remember,

But believe me, I am.

It was then please and thank you,

And may I be excused,

We were ever more careful,

‘Bout the language we used.

Far fewer tantrums,

That you often now see,

And if you pitched one,

You knew what would be,

Either Mama would send you,

For an old peach tree switch,

Or you’d wait for your Daddy,

To come home, either which,

Would make you so sorry,

That you misbehaved,

And they never would spare you,

Though you cried and your raved.

Believed that the Good Book,

Taught it this way,

Spare ‘em and spoil ‘em,

They heard God’s word say.

God’s plan for correction,

Was printed right there,

A heart full of foolishness,

They don’t have to bear.

But the rod of correction,

Will drive it away,

And deliver their soul,

To make them okay.

But Mom’s on the phone now,

And Dad doesn’t care,

And the kids often act like,

Their folks are not there.

Have no real manners,

And little respect,

Live on entitlement,

From now on, I ‘spect.

And I know that I sound like,

An angry old man,

But not what’s intended,

But to say that we can.

Perhaps reconsider,

The methods we use,

For raising the children,

And try not to lose,

The notion that teaching them,

Strongly at times,

Is the best way they’ll learn it,

And prevent future crimes.

I’m thankful I know some,

That still get it right,

Though nobody’s perfect,

And we all get uptight.

But I see mostly ranch kids,

That have manners and so,

I believe there is hope,

For the others I know.

The old ways, the best ways,

We knew way back when,

It’s time to remember,

And go back again.

“For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:12, NAS)

We have forgotten the importance of loving discipline for our children and are reaping a sad harvest. Children without boundaries are ultimately insecure and resort to all sorts of behavior to make themselves feel better. They don’t know how to act or talk and become confused about all sorts of things. Some of these things don’t really matter. But now that children are becoming confused about such important identity issues as gender itself, it’s time for us to wake up! People shun physical punishment of kids, but the Bible tells us it works well.

Lord, teach us to discipline our children, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mary Ross Buchholz, used by permission. Thanks, Mary, and God bless you.