January 17. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”  All the parents agreed that discipline is a tough issue nowadays. Parents and educators too have to find positive ways to punish children of different ages when they disobey the rules, as corporal punishment is no longer acceptable.  Confiscating a child’s phone, or restricting their TV or computer access, or grounding them, preventing their going out with friends are punishments, while living with the consequences of unacceptable behaviour can also be a punishment.  As a family with children it is important in developing the attitude of respect and the rights of others too, to discuss what the rules of the house should be and what punishment there should be when they are disregarded or broken. George said, “Observing how society overall is operating at times and seeing people taking the law into their own hands makes it very difficult for families to enforce their rules.” Becoming an eco-friendly family:  Discuss the current Novak Djokovic tennis incident in the light of law and the good of society.

King Saul disobeyed the commands of the Lord in a battle so Samuel, the judge, said to Saul: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of rams. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”  Samuel 15:16-23. Pope Francis: It is essential to help children to realise that misbehaviour has consequences. They need to be encouraged to put themselves in other people’s shoes and acknowledge the hurt they have caused.  AL 268.  Institutions develop to regulate human relationships.   Anything which weakens those institutions has negative consequences such as injustice, violence and loss of freedom.   Whether in the administration of the state, the various levels of civil society, or relationships between individuals themselves, lack of respect for the law is becoming more common. LS 142