The path of life that we have kept on, having avoided the multiple detours of wretchedness available to take in life’s journey, is maybe a result of the chastisement of our parents, as it was with me. Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). This practical and divinely acquired wisdom offered by the wisest king Solomon would stand in stark contrast to his own son, Rehoboam, who would split the kingdom of Israel into two. All because he would reject the path of wisdom before him (1 Kings 12:8). Maybe the causative factor is Solomon’s lack of disciplining or Rehoboam’s lack of heeding to his father’s discipline. The Bible though assures us of our own disciplining in Hebrews 12:5-6, in the hands of the Lord, the Father of our spirits. So, the blame, if any, should only be upon ourselves, for not heeding to our Father’s discipline. The word discipline (Paideia, in Greek) means training, correcting mistakes, curbing passions or chastisement. The word disciplining itself is largely associated with children. And rightly so, it is only the innocent and naïve child, whose morals and life-views need to be molded and forged through discipline. Don’t we all come as little children into our new found faith in Christ? But have we all matured from child-likeness into Christ-likeness? And this very maturity being seen through our own Holiness and fruits of righteousness (Hebrews 12:10-11). Every once in a while, as a child, I got my height marked on the wall with a pencil. With excitement and enthusiasm I return every time to see how much I have grown from my previous marking. The base expectation is that I have grown, for this is by nature. Spiritually do we see such growth in us? Marked by times of increased prayer, Bible meditations, purified motives, lesser contentions, lesser words, seeking to keep a clear conscience or just a deeper desire for God. If not, we have become stunted in our spiritual growth. Maybe we just haven’t heeded that still, small voice in us that asks for our time, attention and efforts. And maybe for most of us, therefore discipline comes through something that does catch our attention. Something that discomforts us, that is often painful, that makes us helpless by ourselves. And this punitive will of God is good. Afterall, it did make this supplanter and deceiver, Jacob, into Israel – God who prevails.