My boy had happily spilled his plastic balls (an entire container of 50 or more) all over the living and dining rooms, making the house a hazard zone for the pregnant and elderly. Naturally, something had to be done.
The culprit had to correct this, and orders were barked out for the little boy to keep the balls. Like a toddler, not only did he not keep them, he swept them even more haphazardly across the entire place.
Repeated instructions were given but ignored. So discipline had to be meted out - I gave him a whack of the cane. However, in spite of the caning, he was unrepentant of his defiance and continually refused to keep any of the balls.
As punishment, he was made to sleep by himself that night (I still sleep with him until he fell asleep). The moment after he was put on his bed, he started crying, knowing his dad would not be with him.
To cut the story short, the boy apologised (softly) and his dad stayed by his side that night.
As I laid down to sleep that night, I thought of the similarities between the earthly father and son and the ones up above.
The father, is torn between the need for love, patience and discipline. The father knows that his child, in spite of his youth, understands what is required of him but sometimes chooses not to obey; yet he'll gently and patiently give his child many chances to 'repent', hoping that he would understand the father's intention and choose the right way.
However, when the child repeatedly disobeys, the need for discipline will prompt the father to mete out the punishment required. Even as the father does it reluctantly, he hopes that the child would understand that it had been done for the child's good, and not in malice.
Such, is the father's love.
If we see in the son's perspective - his father had been with him since his birth; the closeness and bond of the father-son relationship is not something that should be taken lightly.
Physical pain could not be compared with the agony of separation from the father. To be denied his attention was something that son could not bear to endure.
Such, is the son's love for his father.
