IGNITION: WHO IS AT THE WHEEL?—BE A HUMBLE PASSENGER
my hand went, Matthew and Ellie never took their eyes off the ball. I convinced them that keeping their eyes on the ball would help them catch better, and they were determined to keep learning. T at kind of innocence, that kind of trust and dependence on the instructor, is what God is looking for in us.
T e Story T at Keeps Teaching I remember when my daughter Jenni was about three years old, and
our family lived in Patchogue, Long Island. One night I came home from work and Jeanne was distraught. She told me that Jenni had once again not listened to her as they were walking home from a nearby deli. It was a walk that they often took whenever Jeanne needed to pick up a few items. T ey would pass through a railroad station parking lot as they walked to and from the deli. Here, Jenni let go of Jeanne’s hand and started running through the parking lot, raking her feet through the gravel, with rocks popping up all over the place. Understanding the danger, Jeanne tried to correct her, but Jenni stubbornly resisted. I had to do something so Jenni would stop disobeying Jeanne. It was almost Jenni’s bedtime so I put her into bed, and as usual,
she wanted me to tell her a story. So I decided to tell her what we later referred to as T e Gladys Story.
Once upon a time, there was this little girl, and her name was Gladys. One day Gladys’ mother was going to the deli to buy milk and bread. She told Gladys that they would walk to the deli together, and if Gladys was a good girl, she would buy Gladys some gum. Gladys was good, so when they got to the deli her mother bought milk, bread, and gum for Gladys. She gave Gladys a piece and they started to walk home. All of a sudden, Gladys began misbehaving. She kicked rocks, ran ahead, and didn’t hold her mother’s hand. Gladys’ mother said, “T at’s it! When we get home you’re going right to bed, you’re going to be punished, and no more gum.” When they got home, Gladys had to go straight to her room. A short while later, she told her mother she was sorry. Her mother forgave Gladys and allowed her to have the gum again.
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