An Higher Understanding

Spare The Rod©

This is the story of two fathers. One was a humble woodcutter who had a son. He knew the verse from the book of Proverbs. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son..”Pro 13: 24). Did he love his boy? Oh yes he disciplined him and he made sure the boy knew his limits. And the boy learned to live as obediently as he could. . As he grew older the woodcutter found that he didn’t make both ends with felling logs. He tried to find other means of livelihood. In those days he was often without job but he still loved his son. So he didn’t spare the rod whenever he thought the boy needed correction. It so happened the boy turned out to be thoroughly bad. Years later he admitted that it was he and not the boy who was to blame. His spiritual counselor queried, “ But you took the cue from the verse from the Proverbs, Did you not?”
“Yes,” replied the old man “ But often my irritations and my own sense of failure got in between like little foxes and they were running the show all in the name of correction.”
When we speak of taking a leaf out of the word of God it so happens that we are letting our own self to come in between. How we deceive ourselves!
The other father was the king of the realm and he had a son. He based his verse once again from the book of Proverbs, ’ Train up a child in the way he should go…” Prov: 22.6 The king pasted the verse in the play room and he constantly watched over his upbringing. Once the boy wrung the neck of a wounded sparrow. The boy wanted to spare the agony of the bird. “It is still unbecoming of you, son,” the king said. He called for a rod and beat the bed hard. . The prince wanted to know why he was beating the bed. “ You came out of it, this morning. Didn’t you?”
The boy of seven nodded. “Well till yesterday you were gentle and caring. Before you went to bed you came and kissed me good night like an angel. But today?
“The bed?” The king was sure some one has to take the blame for every wrong. You cannot be one yesterday and yet another today. So it must be the bed that is to blame.”
The boy understood the logic of his father’s example and restrained himself in the future from unkindly acts.
Later as the boy grew older his father explained as the future king every unjust or cruel act reflected on his subjects as well. The prince when he finally ascended to the throne was noted for his piety, humility and goodness.
He told his father confessor once thus: “ My royal father had a royal understanding. He knew his scriptures but every time he addressed to my own understanding and good sense. As a royal prince- in- waiting I thought the good name of my subjects and controlled myself from wayward passions or thoughtless acts".
One can literally apply the Word of God and yet be letting self to run the show. The other option is to to take it to a higher plane using the innate goodness of the child as a starting point into paths of righteousness.
benny