Steve Sikes Blog
Steve Sikes Blog
Three things I remember my mother telling me over and over again: Steve, I love you, I’m proud of you, and you can be anything you want to be. Even when I gave my mother a hard time, she didn’t change any of THE BIG THREE: I love you; I’m proud of you; and you can be anything you want to be.
I never doubted THE BIG THREE – even when Mom spanked me. I remember the last time she selected one of Dad’s belts, folded it in half and told me to bend over. I did and she commenced to carry out her mission. After she was finished, I remember her looking at me and saying, “My spankings aren’t affecting you anymore. I’m just going to have to let your father spank you.”
Oh, I wished that I had cried! I wished that I had acted like her spankings were working! Alas, it was too late. Why did I have to act so tough? Mom never spanked me after that. She would just quietly say, “We’ll just have to wait till your dad gets home. But I want you to know, son, I love you, I’m proud of you and you can be anything you want to be.”
Oh, the power of godly discipline embedded in parental love! Sound familiar?
“My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child He loves that He disciplines; the child He embraces, He also corrects…. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun… Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.” Hebrews 12:7, 11 (THE MESSAGE)
God loves; God disciplines; God matures His children. Thanks, Mom, for helping me see God through you and Dad! GIGATTAATTGIG! Mr. Steve