Obedience School

Obedience School

Theology in the Trenches

By Kathleen Kjolhaug

 

I was teaching a group of first graders one morning. As I teach reading, we were reading. The story was about a dog named Spritz who had taken many an adventure to places where the outcome was not so positive. Of course my students liked it immensely. They laughed and giggled at all of the trouble the little troubadour had gotten into.

As Spritz got into trouble, the child in the story who was trying to “help” the animal behave became frustrated and noted.  “She does not sit and stay. She likes to chase cars down the street and dig up flower beds.” Finally, in desperation, the child yelled, “‘You are a bad dog.’ At that, the dog looked hurt and sad.”

Wisdom followed as the mom in the story spoke. “Spritz is not a bad dog. She just has to learn.”

Long story short, Spritz became obedient through a little training and was able to survive within the confines of family and society. At a first grade level, this wasn’t exactly stated as such, but it was inferred. Immediately upon digesting the wisdom in that little episode with Spritz, I wanted to copy the quote from mom and stuff it into the pocket of every child going through any developmental stage possible...lest we forget. And, when things don’t quite go as planned, the child can simply pull it out to remind the adults in their world that they aren’t bad, they just need to learn. The inference again is that making them feel hurt or sad isn’t a tool that works. It just makes those we supposedly love feel sad and hurt.

No doubt this line of thinking could be extended into other parts of our world…even marriages. “I’m not a bad spouse, I just need to learn.” In other words, “Please teach me so I may be a better one.” On and on we could go but perhaps that is for another column.

I remember a response from one of ours one day as I posed a question. “So, which teacher or coach did you truly admire and learn from throughout your years of schooling?”

The answer came swiftly. Without hesitation, the name flew off their tongue like a hot potato just waiting to be passed. When I asked why, the answer came just as quickly. “Because they never got mad. They used every mistake I ever made as a point from which to teach.”

Children know when they are being taught and techniques used to simply shame need confessing so forgiveness may follow. “Don’t cry over spilled milk” may have worked as a message sent years ago, but today, we know better. We know that the message of true love comes during teachable moments so generations may follow in like fashion…and that is something that will never go out of style.

Colossians 3: 16-17 speaks. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit…whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Amen.