"The Boy" or Lessons From a Duck

Cai - pre-haircut.

Though we have two boys around here.  Anytime Greg or I use the term "The Boy", we both know immediately which one the other is referring to.  In Micaiah's 4 plus years he has been a constant teaching tool for his mother, his father, and all of his siblings.  We are getting the chance to learn patience, forgiveness and compassion daily.

He just seems to be wired for mischief.  Most of his escapades of late have involved knives.  He cut up a plant  {the only indoor plant I have ever kept alive longer than a couple months}, the cord out of our bamboo blinds {they don't go up anymore}, the ties off of our pillow shams, and his own hair {he used 4 different pairs of scissors for that last little gem}.  Last night he decided to use the diaper sprayer for a water gun, and his little brother and all our clean laundry for his target.  {Should I mention that he was also buck naked and perched on the toilet at the time?}

This, of course, has also been a time of intensive training and discipline for him as well.  We have been diligently trying to help him to understand action and consequence, as well as trying to explain why we are working so hard to "train" him.  On Monday we were reading the story The Story About Ping as part of his schooling.  It's a wonderful little story about a duck and his master.  Every night the master calls, and all the little ducks must hurry to the boat. The last one on the boat receives a spank on his back.  

Ping decides that he would rather not get on the boat than have that spank.  He then has a very harrowing night and difficult day without the protection of his master.  Thankfully he finds the boat again and though he is going to be last on the boat and has to receive the spank he does so willingly so that he can be with his master once again.  

As I read the book to Micaiah I thought it was such a  wonderful example of how we are with our parents when we are young, and the Lord when we are older.  {Hebrews 12:11 - All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.}

Micaiah didn't exactly come away with the same observations that I did.  Our conversation went as follows:

Me:  What happened to all the ducks if they didn't listen and were last in line?

Cai:  They got a spank.

Me:  You know how we have been talking about training?

Cai:  Yeah.

Me:  The master is training the ducks to listen carefully for his voice, so that he can keep them out of trouble.  Does that sound anything like how Mommy and Daddy are trying to train you?

Cai:  Yeah!  'Cause when I'm disobedient and don't listen, you hit me with a train too!

Me:  *stifling laughter and realizing this "lesson" is over.*

But just when I think all is lost and he is never going to "get it".  A few days later I overhear him praying with his sister {I should note that when the kids fight, after they apologize, I have them pray for each other.} 

Cai:  Dear Lord, please change my heart.  Help me to hear You, and know You, and please help me love my sister, and be obedient to my parents.  I love You.  Amen.

Me: *MELTING*

Sister - {Who would prefer to remain nameless}:  Dear God, please help me not call the police on my brother like I wanted to, and MAKE him understand that HE was WRONG!!!

Me: *aye, aye, aye, a parent's work is never done.*