Oh Yes He Would

As parents we are trying to teach our children right from wrong and help them realize that while they are in charge of their own choices, they can't necessarily choose their consequences.  We've also tried to emphasize that Jesus Christ has been our best example of choosing the right and that we should try to be like him.

Jack seems to get into a lot of trouble.  I don't think he's a bad kid. 

Mischievous?  Yes. 

Bad?  No. 

He just acts without thinking.  After continually hearing us teach him about pleasing Heavenly Father by trying to be like Jesus he started calling us to task as well.  Anytime he'd receive a punishment he felt was unfair - so, you know, every punishment - he'd counter, "You're not being like Jesus."  I'll admit that it kind of stung the first few times because I really wasn't handling situations in the manner of our Savior.  So I began to agree and stated that we could both use some improvement.

One afternoon I had had enough of Jack and his misguided deeds.  He hadn't done anything terrible enough to warrant any serious punishment but I just needed a break.  My idea was to have him spend some time alone so that he could have a break as well.  I sat down with him and explained that he needed to go to his room until I had reinforcements Jeremiah got home.  "What time will Dad get home?" Jack asked.  When I answered that it would be about three hours after the current time Jack said, "Jesus doesn't put people in their room for 3 hours."  By this time the guilt of my parenting tactics being compared to Jesus had worn thin and then I remembered something.  Something wonderful. 

You want to know what I had in my back pocket that stunned my little stinker? 

"Let me tell you about a prophet named JONAH!"