Often times as a parent I immediately deal, even harshly, with the sin of my children and even chastise them if they don't immediately respond with humility to my pointing out of their failure.
Not only is this graceless parenting but perhaps it is not following an example our Lord set for us and as is pointed out in a sermon by George Whitefield entitled "The Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent". The advise he gives could teach us in regard to parenting and in any Christian relationships as we seek to reprove, rebuke, and exhort. Here is what Whitefield says:
They heard him walking in the trees of the garden, in the cool of the day. A season perhaps, when Adam and Eve used to go, in a special manner, and offer up an evening sacrifice of praise and Thanksgiving in the cool of the day. Perhaps the sin was committed early in the morning, or at noon; but God would not come upon them immediately, he staid till the cool of the day. And if we would effectually reprove others, we should not do it when they are warmed with passion, but wait til the cool of the day.
A book of selected George Whitfield sermons can be downloaded here for free here:
https://www.monergism.com/selected-sermons-george-whitefield-ebook
