"Betimes"

"He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. " Prov. 13:24.  I feel like this is a perfect verse for the terrible twos!!  We were reading in Proverbs the other night which by the way is one of my favorite books of the Bible.  One because I feel like there is so much knowledge in this book.  Two, because it reminds me of my Dad.  He is always quoting scripture from Proverbs and I love him for it.  He has truly applied that book to his life and how he raised us up as kids. 
I have read this verse many times and every time I have read it I just assumed the meaning of betimes was many times. One thing I keep learning... you should never assume.  I looked up the meaning of betimes and it actually means 'before the usual or expected time, early or soon'.  Ahhh....I really needed to hear that.  Sometimes I literally feel like I "chasteneth" Emma all day long!! I am sure any parent knows what I am talking about.  Some days I tell myself, well she is just young.  It is really not a big deal right now....right?  Some days her stubbornness makes me cry, but other days I just want to look over it.  You know?  You just get tired of doing your job.  I guess it is just like any other job.  Some days you wake up and you just don't feel like doing it.  It is like that with being a parent sometimes too, and being a stay at home mom has its frustrating days!! This verse just spoke to my heart,  because unlike other jobs, being a parent is the most important thing God has given me to do.  Sometimes disciplining Emma is very hard and I don't want to do it.  But God says, if you love her....do it and do it early.  Do it before it's too late.  I have heard that the first 5 years in a child's life is the most impressionable.  Who knew? Once again, God has written down in scriptures for us something that proves to be true.