On a construction site, the...
Illustration
Object:
On a construction site, the workers had just placed explosives for a large explosion where
a rock ledge had to be removed for the road construction. Danger signs were everywhere
so workers thought there was no danger, but just after the fuse was lit, a little girl came
running up to check things out. The workers began yelling, to warn her away, but instead
she ran away from their warning voices. Fortunately, in a moment the mother came and
sensing the danger to anyone who might try to save her, the mother knelt down, and said,
"Come quickly to mommy, I want to hold you in my arms."
With that invitation, she turned around, ran to her mother's waiting arms, and the child was saved.
I am reminded of the contest that the sun and wind had. A man was walking holding a large coat around him. The wind said to the sun, "Let's have a contest to see who can get that coat off of the man." The wind was feeling powerful and thought it could easily blow the coat off. But as the wind blew, the man clung all the more firmly to his coat, and try as he might, almost blowing him over, the man held the coat tighter than ever. Then the sun said, "Let me try." So the sun shone warmly and gently and soon the man was hot, and for comfort's sake, took the coat off.
So often we feel with our children, or even with other adults, that the way to put your ideas across, or to do what we need to do is by force. We use strong rules that are never broken, while we should use the example of the mother, above, or the example of the sun. So much more can be accomplished by gentleness than by pressure, or loud words.
With that invitation, she turned around, ran to her mother's waiting arms, and the child was saved.
I am reminded of the contest that the sun and wind had. A man was walking holding a large coat around him. The wind said to the sun, "Let's have a contest to see who can get that coat off of the man." The wind was feeling powerful and thought it could easily blow the coat off. But as the wind blew, the man clung all the more firmly to his coat, and try as he might, almost blowing him over, the man held the coat tighter than ever. Then the sun said, "Let me try." So the sun shone warmly and gently and soon the man was hot, and for comfort's sake, took the coat off.
So often we feel with our children, or even with other adults, that the way to put your ideas across, or to do what we need to do is by force. We use strong rules that are never broken, while we should use the example of the mother, above, or the example of the sun. So much more can be accomplished by gentleness than by pressure, or loud words.
