Heartfelt Discipline

Book excerpt: Trying to understand what God really says about childhood discipline can be like putting together a puzzle, but the pieces just don't all seem to fit. For two generations conservative Christians have rejected the idea of a permissive "hands off" discipline and adopted a strict "hands on" discipline taught by many well-known Christian parenting authorities. In "Heartfelt Discipline," Clay Clarkson advocates a different biblical model--a relational "hands around" discipline. If you have young children and are beginning to try to solve the discipline puzzle for your family, start with this book. It is a fresh, formula-free, and fully biblical perspective on childhood discipline that will change the way you think about your children. You'll see how all the biblical pieces fit together and make sense, and put you on the path to your child's heart. From the Back Cover: Childhood discipline is your responsibility. As a Christian parent, you know your children need you to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." The Bible is clear about "what" you should do. But what about "how" you should do it? The way you answer will shape how your children remember your parenting and family. "Heartfelt Discipline" contends there is no divine "how to" formula for childhood discipline. Rather, there is a "way." It's the way of life, the path we walk with God. It's about faith, grace, freedom, and heart, expressed in three principles of discipline as you walk the path with your children: Direction: Guiding and showing them how to walk on the path with God Correction Getting them back on the path when sin leads them off of it Protection: Guarding them from temptations that could draw them away In "Heartfelt Discipline" Clay Clarkson helps you understand what the Bible really says about childhood discipline. Drawing on thirty years of parenting and his personal study of the Bible, Clay fully fleshes out God's way of "path of life parenting." It will change how you think about childhood discipline, and put you on the path of life to your child's heart.