Discipline vs. Punishment

I read, or heard, somewhere that with children we should discipline them, not punish them.  That there is a clear difference between the two.

For the life of me, I cannot recall where I heard it;  if it was on TV, from a friend, in a magazine, or possibly church.  But I have been trying to remind myself of the difference between discipline and punishment frequently since then.

I like the difference and since I am consciously thinking about it, I decided to share it with you as my daily pause (between work meetings).

The word discipline comes from disciple.  Jesus taught his disciples, and we are to teach our children.

Two forms of the definition of discipline on dictionary.com are:

1. training to act in accordance with rules
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training

So there is a difference.  When are kids are doing something wrong, incorrect, annoying, frustrating, mean, cruel (oops...am I going on in too much detail here?)...our job is to instruct them how to act through discipline.  We should teach them the proper way, not punish them.

Oh boy, it's easy to say and makes sense when you hear it...but to follow this in the heat of the moment?  I think really only Jesus is capable of this constant ability.  I know I am incapable of following this all the time, but if I keep it in my forward conscious, then perhaps I will succeed more often than not.

Now, if I could only practice some discipline in my household chores...perhaps then Wonderful Husband would have had a clean white undershirt for work today.  Thank goodness for his patience with me in my sleepy response last night 'can't you wear a black one?'.