As we embark on our homeschooling journey more intentionally, our family is learning about the importance of wisdom and discipline. My husband and I definitely don’t have all the answers, but I’m trusting that God is molding us through His Word and the experiences we see through the lens of Scripture.
For October 12, 2024, my son and I read Proverbs 12:1 — “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” We were both surprised by the use of a ‘bad’ word. Why is it there?
In this post, I’ll practice the five habits of grammar* to make the concepts of wisdom and discipline more approachable.
1. What Do “Discipline” and “Wisdom” Really Mean?
Words like “discipline” and “wisdom” can feel heavy for young learners (and even old ones) so I’ll attempt to break them down into something we can understand.
First, let’s look into “stultus”, the Latin word for “stupid”. It means foolish or silly. Lately, our 5 year-old gets easily frustrated over mistakes. I told him that the Bible warns us not to be foolish, and instead be humble and willing to learn from correction. I also realize that my husband and I need to create more wonderful memories for our family to nurture our relationship. We need to let the LORD fill our love tanks to the brim so we can, in turn, nourish our son’s love tank and not dampen his confidence.
Now, “discipline”. In Latin, the word is disciplina, which also means “instruction” or “training.” I do pray that my husband and I be able to model healthy routines, how to make wise choices, and be more intentional towards achieving our goals for holistic growth.
For “wisdom” the Latin word is sapientia, meaning “knowledge” or “good judgment.” Sapientia is derived from sapere which means “to taste” or “to know”. It conveys the idea of deep knowledge or understanding. It’s knowing the right thing to do and choosing to do it, even when it’s hard.
I tried to point out some of the good things our son has done that exemplify wisdom and discipline like tidying up (we call it reset) to prepare for next day and switching to a music app when screen time is up.
2. Why Listening to Correction is Hard (but Important)
Paying attention when someone corrects us isn’t always easy—I know it’s something I still struggle with! I explained to my son that correction is really about helping us grow, not just pointing out what we did wrong.
God created us with two ears and only one mouth as a constant reminder that we ought to listen more than we speak. Here are some questions I’m considering:
• “Why do you think it’s important to listen when someone is teaching you something?”
• “What could happen if we ignore correction?”
I am hopeful that this will open up a good conversation for both of us to think about how listening can help us make better, wiser choices, even when it’s tough.
Memorizing Scripture is a powerful tool, not just for kids but for grown-ups, too. Constant repetition and recitation throughout the day can help us and our children to build a solid foundation. It’s amazing how the Book of Proverbs, 31 chapters in all, can nurture our hearts and minds towards daily wisdom-filled living.
3. Holding Wisdom in Our Hearts
To make it fun, I came up with a little melody for Proverbs 12:1 and we use “toot!” in place of “stupid” . When dealing with a moment of frustration or correction, singing it helps shift the mood towards a positive one. It’s a way to remind ourselves that loving disciplina leads to sapientia.
4. Trying to Live Out Wisdom
Sapientia isn’t just something we talk about— we try to live it out in the small moments of the day. I believe every family, whether homeschooling or not, will benefit when they make the Word of God as primary manual.
Think through these questions on how to put wisdom into practice:
• “How can we show sapientia when we don’t feel like doing our chores?”
• “What’s a wise way to respond when we’re upset or frustrated?”
I definitely don’t have it all figured out yet but I’m learning to celebrate the small wins—like when our son makes a wise choice or accepts correction with a good attitude. Or when I pause and pray to keep my inner Hulk from winning.
5. Learning Through Stories
Stories are such a great way for concepts to come alive as we connect them to real-life examples.
One such story in the Bible is when King Solomon asked God for wisdom (sapientia) (1 Kings 3:5-12). It’s a great reminder that even though we don’t always know the right thing to do, we can ask God for wisdom anytime. It’s humbling to admit my own need for correction and that I don’t always know the right thing to do, but sharing these realities with our son is a way for him to see that learning never stops.
We’re All Learners!
Wisdom is a journey, not a destination. Embracing disciplina and correction are essential to lifelong learning.
As I close, let’s revisit sapere – “to know” or “to taste”. In Psalm 34:8, we read
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Through education, we’re tasting and seeing the depth of God’s goodness and protective discipline for His children.
In pursuing what really matters, I’d like to keep things simple, and trust that God is teaching us through every challenge and success. It is wonderful that God’s Word is there to guide us—especially on those days when we both could use a little extra grace.
*The Five Core Habits of Grammar™ is one of the three major tools of the Classical Conversations curriculum.
ancore! 