I remember my parents telling me they disciplined me because they loved me and that discipline was for my own good. They even said that the discipline hurt them just like it hurt me. I often wondered about that last statement. The Bible states that discipline comes out of the heart of someone who cares about you. The desire to see you become all that you are capable of becoming and know the difference between right and wrong is what causes parents to discipline their children. Parenting traits are handed down from God to man. Discipline is an act of love shown by a parent to a child. (Proverbs 3:12 Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.) The next time we are going through some tough time in our life maybe we should examine ourselves and see if God is disciplining us. Change requires corrections, people who do not know they are loved have a very difficult time receiving correction. Correction is merely God giving us divine direction for our lives. He is guiding us to better things. God does not approve of all of our actions, but He does love and approve of us as His beloved children. Be patient with yourself. Keep pressing on and believe that today’s test is for your good. Pastor Don