Article August 16, 1975 Issue

Taking the Sting Out of Discipline

DORRISENE FOREMAN

To some the word discipline brings to thought punishment, harshness, and resentment. Can the sting associated with discipline be removed? Through Christian Science we can learn how to replace impatience, resentment, and misunderstanding with patience, love, and understanding.

When we are disciplining a child or pupil, it might be helpful to ask, "Why am I pursuing this particular course? Am I reacting with impatience and irritation? Is my motive just to punish, or am I putting the need of the child to learn obedience above my own feelings?"

The greatest challenge, sometimes, is to begin the discipline with ourselves—to discipline our own thinking, to remove any traces of short temper, hurt feelings, and pride. During this process of purification we need to listen to the promptings of Truth, showing us the right way to approach a problem. No crisis is beyond God's help. Healing always begins with ourselves and our faith in God as ever present. We read in Jeremiah, "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." Jer. 23:24;

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