It hadn't occurred to me before Sunday's sermon, but the principles of effective and Christlike correction and reproof in the church, I think, also largely apply to parents as we consider how to best correct our children. On Sunday, we laid out a few principles for faithful correction, including: have a spirit of gentleness; be direct and not passive; be careful not to fall into sin yourself; engage with humility and correct yourself first; correct with discretion; choose your words carefully; make time and don't rush; assume you have misunderstood; give them time to talk; and be ready for a variety of responses. That's a lot to consider. But, you can take a couple of these principles and, with some thought, see how they would help us in the discipline and correction of our own children. For example, correct with discretion. One mistake we might make in parenting is not being discrete in our correcting, and embarrassing our children in front of their siblings or peers. Taking the time to take them aside and have an unhurried conversation can protect their dignity, avoid shame which builds walls and hardens hearing, and gives time to properly hear from the child and bring helpful correction. I recognize of course this isn't always possible! Often a quick word or action of correction is necessary. When a toddler is running into the street, or one child is attacking another, decisive action is necessary. But even after the moment, you might take the child aside and explain why a different action would have been necessary or preferable. This is something I could probably work on in my own home! To think through another principle, giving the child an opportunity to talk would be a great help in correction. You might learn they were justified in their action, or you misunderstood the situation. Or, you might give them an opportunity to walk through their decision or action and help them see their error. Either way, there's a better chance of learning and growth if there is an opportunity for the child to thoughtfully consider what had happened, instead of simply being told what to do or not do. This is not to say that every mistake or error ought to be analyzed and discussed - that would exhaust everyone. It is to say that where we see patterns of sins or errors in our children's behavior, we might think about how we would correct others in the church (or how we would want to be corrected), and find the applicable principles helpful.