The Obedience Game

 

            For most parents, the best verse in the Bible is Colossians 3:20: "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord."

 

            Gee. How come so many KIDS don't seem to know that verse?

 

            Whether you have weekly devotions with your whole family where you can read that verse and talk about it together occasionally, or you just haul out your Bible and quote it to them, parents need to teach the obedience lesson to their children. It's one of the most important tasks of parenthood.

 

            Here's a fun way to get it done: create an "Obedience Game."

 

            Push the furniture in your family room to the sides. Tape a length of masking tape or duct tape down the middle of the room.

 

            Now, on the right-hand side of the line, dump a bunch of hard, plastic Legos, all along the length of the line on the right-hand side. Keep the left-hand side clear of anything but nice, soft carpet. Put a snack, coloring book or other treat at the "finish line."

 

            Keep your children out of the room so that they can't see what's going to happen. Have them take off their shoes and socks so that they are barefoot.

 

            Now, blind-fold the first child. Tell him or her that this is a game about obeying. Tell him or her to listen to your instructions, and obey you, and things will go well.

 

            Now coach your child along the line, one step at a time. You might have to instruct him or her to step a little more to the left or the right to stay on the line.

 

            Midway through, say, "Let's see what happens if you obey or disobey our instructions. First, take a giant step to the left."

 

            The child will do so.

 

            "Now, step back onto the line."

 

            The child will do so.

 

            "Now I'm going to tell you to do it again - take a giant step to the left. Only YOU are doing to disobey me. YOU are going to choose to take a giant step to the RIGHT."

 

            When the child does, he or she will step on the hard, plastic Legos - OUCH!

 

            Explain that pain is the natural consequence of disobedience, and avoiding pain is why children should mind their parents - just as all of us should obey God.

 

            Hug your child, and let him or her have the snack or treat at the end of the line. It's a little bit of a foretaste of the rewards in heaven for those who are smart enough to walk a straight line, straight to God.