Imagine a parent randomly strikes his child.
WHACK!!
That is abuse.
Here is a scary thought: When one criticizes or rebukes a child unjustifiably [because the parent is in a foul mood, or the child needs it but the words are too harsh etc.. etc.] that is WHACKING the child's soul.
That is worse abuse than a black and blue mark. It is long term and deep. What is scarier is that most parents who are unnecessarily critical don't even realize what they are doing. They are consistently eroding the foundation of their child's healthy soul and creating emotional illness that will probably never completely heal.
They don't mean to but they are. They will never be arrested [nor should they be] but they are subtly destroying their child's mental health. Most kids get through it but like I said - it leaves deep scars.
What a child needs is a tremendous amount of unconditional love and acceptance, coupled with firm discipline with an emphasis on warmth and kindness.
אל תגעו במשיחי - אלו תינוקות של בית רבן.
