Gentle Hope

(Pro 19:18 KJV)  Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Recently I was in a group discussion and the prevailing attitude was that the children and grandchildren were beyond the pale.  They had rejected the values of their parents.  It was not a gathering filled with “hope” (8615b).  How long can we hold out a positive attitude with our children.  I feel we have made it over that hump and the focus is now on our grandchildren.  I wish I could offer encouragement to these others.

We need to be careful.  It is easy to assume and judge incorrectly.  We all know families where one child will follow the Lord and another will reject Him.  We cannot get away from free will.  There may have been bad examples, hypocrisy and inconsistent lives.  It may just be that the sinful nature overcomes every effort to reform.

We do need to maintain the hope that is in us.  The ways in which we can “discipline” (3256) may be more limited when they move from childhood to adult but there is always hope.  Maybe the mistakes we made when they were younger can be overcome in humility and the change will lead to life.  

So?  Don’t give up on hope.  Keep disciplining but gently, gently.  Did I say gently?