To ask who is God, we must first answer what is love.
We correct loved ones because we want them to be their best. God feels the same way about us.
psalm 119:19-20 tpt
“My life on earth is so brief, so tutor me in the ways of your wisdom. I am continually consumed by these irresistible longings,
these cravings to obey your every commandment!”
Correction! I would say that some people can appreciate correction, but an even fewer amount of people actually like it. Yet is through the calling out of our mishaps (nicely!) that we grow.
“A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.”
Proverbs 13:24 MSG
As I reflect back on my childhood, I see how my parent’s choice of “correction” has evolved. During my toddler years, it was Mr. Poppy, a ruler that my mom would lightly pop my hand with and say, “No, no. We don’t do that.” Once I was in my preteens, I had graduated from Mr. Poppy to Mrs. Taken, where I would loose access to my iPad and other things I liked. By the time I was a teenager, the stakes had been lifted even higher to twins, Learning and Living, where not only did my parents and God correct me, life experiences also had a way of teaching me lessons too.
At every step, I know that love was the motivating factor behind the discipline and that the ultimate goal was to refine me, not ruin me. Correction is not only for children but for any people of all ages. We are incapable of perfection, bound to make mistakes and sometimes we need those around us to point those mishaps out to us.
Accepting correction is not a blow to our ego or intelligence but a testament of our willingness to improve ourselves. Whether correction is coming from a boss, co-worker, family member, friend or maybe a pet (for leaving them alone too long!), we should always strive to receive constructive feedback in the love that it is sent with.
MUCH LOVE, (quoting my mom here, my most loving and gentle ‘critic’ 😉 )
