My Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - #5 - They Are Just Learning to Make Wise Choices

I have three grandsons; ages seven, four and two. While these three boys are as sweet as you can possibly imagine, they are young boys and from time to time they do not obey, they annoy each other and end up arguing or even hitting one another. Yes, I know, this is shocking and almost unbelievable, but from time to time it does happen.

So, when my grandsons do not make a wise choice, what do I do? I give time-outs, we talk about what happened and how even when they are tired or have had a long day, they still have to obey and learn to make wise choices. I lean heavily towards showing my grandsons - and definitely giving them - grace. 

As I thought about this, I thought about the children in our ministries and showing grace to them. There are definitely times when children in our ministries do not obey and we have to implement a discipline policy. Our discipline policies need to be firmly grounded, saturated and immersed in grace and this week I'll share with you my Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - beginning today with #5 . . . 

• Because we understand they are children and are just learning to make wise choices. We know there will be times when they do not make wise choices and want them to know they do not have to be defeated by those unwise choices.

When it comes to the children in our ministries, how can we not give them grace? It is important we do not expect perfection from children - after all, if you are honest, how many times in a day do you fail to make a wise choice? We want to help children learn to be wise and to make wise choices, but there absolutely will be times they fail. Just as we do. We do not want them to be defeated by their failures, but to learn from them. We understand the children in our ministries are children and are just learning to make wise choices, so we give them grace!

How do your discipline policies reflect grace?