Parenting by the Book
STUDY 209
Text: Proverbs 19
Dear Parents,
GOOD FEELINGS
Feelings are great things to possess! They help us appreciate life so much more! Feelings of joy add so much more significance to life!
BAD FEELINGS
On the other hand, bad feelings can affect us adversely. Bad feelings that get out of control are things that must be mastered.
TEACHING CHILDREN HOW TO MASTER THEIR FEELINGS
Can children be taught how to master their feelings? Wonderfully, “Yes!” (However, this will take time!)
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.Proverbs 19:11
1. What is discretion?
This big word involves a number of elements:-
a) It involves the element of the intellect
The mind can be trained to overcome bad feelings of anger!
b) It involves the element of the will
Children can be taught how to exercise their will. The will and the mind can exercise great control over any emotion!
c) It involves a choice
When children learn to choose wisely, again and again, they would be able to master their feelings. The result? Discretion truly helps a person to be “slow to anger”.
2. Things that cause people to get angry easily
Why do people get angry so easily? Often there is a trigger factor. That factor often involves “transgression”. When we become the victims of people’s transgressions, anger can get the better of us.
Discretion, if well learned, would teach us how to “overlook a transgression”. This involves the following:-
a) Understanding and graciousness
b) Kindness and forgiveness
When we have such discretion, we will never need to yield to feelings of anger.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie