In a strained, you-will-do-this-or-else tone, Mom said, “Your brothers didn’t stick with the school band—” she fought back tears “—even after we spent all that money on a trombone and trumpet.” Composing herself and pointing a finger, she declared, “So, you two are going to take piano lessons, and you will stick with it!”
My mom only swore me to two things: I had to brush my teeth, and I had to take piano lessons!
We already owned an old upright piano. Besides, she had just come from a meeting with Mrs. Lewis in which she discovered that for a mere two dollars, Mrs. Lewis would, with authority, sit next to us for two hours each week while our stubby fingers butchered John Thompson’s Piano for Beginners. It was several years before it occurred to me how clever she was—for a lousy two bucks, she rented two hours of child care and discipline in the arts!
Mom seemed to live on the edge of panic during our formative years. I think she felt guilty for imposing four Grubb brothers on an unsuspecting community. She once warned Marilyn, “After two boys, quit!” Roughhousing and constant competitive games dominated our rural home in the 50’s. We elevated the sport of body noises to an Olympic level. But why would she insist on music lessons? She must have reckoned the only way to save the world from four criminals was to impose the disciplines of music upon each of her sons.
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” Proverbs 19:20
Her theory worked. Fifty years later none of us have faced indictment or imprisonment. Tom served as a Marine then retired after forty years at the same company. Dave served in the Army and retired after 40 years as an engineer for the telephone company. Me, I became the very first college graduate ever in the Grubb family. My youngest brother, Steve, directs sales for a major manufacturer.
And while not one of us became a musician, all four of us learned that love and discipline are inseparable. We instinctively realized Mom’s music lessons were never intended to punish us, but to create a sense of discipline and responsibility.
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.
For what children are not disciplined by their father?” Hebrews 12:7
As a leader and a dad, I’ve often confused discipline and punishment. I’m just beginning to understand that the two are completely different. I’ve apologized to my sons for blurring the lines between love-based discipline and punishment based on frustration or righteous indignation. As I continue to draw closer to Jesus, I realize He is much more concerned that I learn to endure discipline in order that I might avoid punishment. The word punish implies injury or pain. That is never Jesus’ intention. His intention is that we allow ourselves to be disciplined by Him in order to ultimately avoid the hurt that comes from rebellion.
The word discipline comes from the same source as the word disciple. A disciple is one who accepts the disciplines of his Rabbi. Jesus is my Rabbi. I hope you will continue to make Jesus your Rabbi, your teacher… your spiritual parent.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:19
In a strained, you-will-do-this-or-else tone, Mom said, “Your brothers didn’t stick with the school band—” she fought back tears “—even after we spent all that money on a trombone and trumpet.” Composing herself and pointing a finger, she declared, “So, you two are going to take piano lessons, and you will stick with it!”
My mom only swore me to two things: I had to brush my teeth, and I had to take piano lessons!
We already owned an old upright piano. Besides, she had just come from a meeting with Mrs. Lewis in which she discovered that for a mere two dollars, Mrs. Lewis would, with authority, sit next to us for two hours each week while our stubby fingers butchered John Thompson’s Piano for Beginners. It was several years before it occurred to me how clever she was—for a lousy two bucks, she rented two hours of child care and discipline in the arts!
Mom seemed to live on the edge of panic during our formative years. I think she felt guilty for imposing four Grubb brothers on an unsuspecting community. She once warned Marilyn, “After two boys, quit!” Roughhousing and constant competitive games dominated our rural home in the 50’s. We elevated the sport of body noises to an Olympic level. But why would she insist on music lessons? She must have reckoned the only way to save the world from four criminals was to impose the disciplines of music upon each of her sons.
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” Proverbs 19:20
Her theory worked. Fifty years later none of us have faced indictment or imprisonment. Tom served as a Marine then retired after forty years at the same company. Dave served in the Army and retired after 40 years as an engineer for the telephone company. Me, I became the very first college graduate ever in the Grubb family. My youngest brother, Steve, directs sales for a major manufacturer.
And while not one of us became a musician, all four of us learned that love and discipline are inseparable. We instinctively realized Mom’s music lessons were never intended to punish us, but to create a sense of discipline and responsibility.
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.
For what children are not disciplined by their father?” Hebrews 12:7
As a leader and a dad, I’ve often confused discipline and punishment. I’m just beginning to understand that the two are completely different. I’ve apologized to my sons for blurring the lines between love-based discipline and punishment based on frustration or righteous indignation. As I continue to draw closer to Jesus, I realize He is much more concerned that I learn to endure discipline in order that I might avoid punishment. The word punish implies injury or pain. That is never Jesus’ intention. His intention is that we allow ourselves to be disciplined by Him in order to ultimately avoid the hurt that comes from rebellion.
The word discipline comes from the same source as the word disciple. A disciple is one who accepts the disciplines of his Rabbi. Jesus is my Rabbi. I hope you will continue to make Jesus your Rabbi, your teacher… your spiritual parent.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:19