Pastor

sees good

in rod

PASTOR PATRICIA HOLDER of the Mount Hermon Church, Cave Hill, St Michael, believes that children must be firmly disciplined.

She quoted from Bible verses yesterday to support her position as she addressed the congregation at Sanctuary Empowerment Centre, Country Road, St Michael at the start of Teachers' Week.

"When we correct our children we are showing our delight in them. God is telling us this morning that we've got to correct our children," she said, noting that parents should not allow their children's cries to stop them from being disciplined.

"If we allow the tears to always fool us there will come a time when they will wrap us around their finger and all hope would be lost. Do it while they are yet young. It is said that when the tree is young you can bend it and it will bend way down before it breaks," she said.

The Bible "is telling us not to spare the rod", said Holder, adding that she thanked God for the lashes she got as a child.

"Children appreciate us when we take the time to correct them in love, so if you're going to brutalise the child and abuse the child that is a different story altogether. I would never go to a school and tell the teacher don't hit my child," Holder said.

She urged the congregation to support all teachers. She also said when parents brought their babies to be dedicated she told them they were responsible for them.

"I take the opportunity to tell them your child is not to be trained or raised by the government. You cannot leave your child to be raised by the school system.

"You cannot leave your child to be raised by the church. You cannot leave your child to be raised by the grandparents, by the aunties or anybody.

"It is your responsibility, you brought that child into this world," Holder added. (DS)