“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (Hebrews 12:5-7 NIV)
Charlie slumped down in the shade, yielding to the fatigue. His father had given him the toughest part of the land to clear, or so it seemed to Charlie. Perhaps he would just catch a train going somewhere, anywhere, and never come back. That would fix them all.
While he rested, Charlie began dreaming of far away places, Chicago, San Francisco, Canada, Alaska, and Europe. He promised himself that he would visit these places someday. He’d be famous. He’d show them all. Suddenly his reverie was broken by the sound of his father’s footsteps through the woods. Charlie sat up. “Hey, Dad, I’m just taking a break. How am I doing?”
“Well, son, you’re going in the right direction. You just aren’t getting there fast.”
“I’m not complaining Dad, but wouldn’t it be better if Tom and Joe helped me clear this land. It will never be a pasture at the rate I’m going.”
“Charlie, your brothers have already learned how to be responsible. I can leave the ranch anytime, leave either of them in charge and not worry about what I’ll find when I return.”
“Is that what this is? A lesson? I thought you were mad at me about that broken stall door.”
“You think this is punishment? Charlie, the stall door was an accident. An expensive one, but still an accident. Your careless, “let’s-get-it-done-and-move-on” attitude caused the accident. And that is what I am trying to correct. Son, this little project is about developing discipline in you. You are going to need personal discipline in order to be successful in life. And you will have to be disciplined in order to turn this 5-acre tract into a new pasture by next Spring. You can do it Charlie. Don’t disappoint me. Show me what you are made of.”
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11 NIV).
Dear Father, thank you for treating us as your children. Grant to us a vision of your plan for ourselves and the world. Enable us to learn the correct lessons from our struggles in this life. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today in the hardships of life,