We have a new member of our household. His name is Mr. Switch. Mr. Switch was plucked green from an overgrown azalea bush in the yard. He is quite thin but resilient. He is around 12 inches long with a slight curve. He tapers off to a very thin end.
Mr. Switch lives on top of the bookshelf in my office at home. He is balanced there on the end so that anyone who walks by may see him. Mr. Switch is happy living on the bookshelf, and he doesn't like to come down. Indeed, the only thing that can make him come down is when a certain little boy begins to act wickedly. When he does, Mr. Switch hears from his perch and he comes down.
Mr. Switch has officially replaced Mr. Spoon. We have found that, for whatever reason, Mr. Switch instills greater fear of punishment, and yet he is not as heavy handed. The wife and I feel good about Mr. Switch. Indeed, I feel good that he is watching me this very moment from his ledge on the bookshelf.
"He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Proverbs 13:24).
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Two Voices
12 years ago
5 comments:
You should post a picture.
This author's childhood experience with Azalea branches was that they split easily once they went dry (though conveniently resilient when dry).
Perhaps by God's grace, the terror of punishment will help to instill obedience and obviate the need to cut new ones.
It's worth noting that this expression of love for your child may come under fire: in Sweden (for example) it is already illegal, and "social liberals" undoubtedly would be delighted to see the same in America.
-Turretinfan
Another creative writing assignment? I heartily approve of your office assistant.
Yeah if we continue to give into a spirit of fear and compromise, we can look forward to those nice Swedish liberals introducing their laws over here.
They're out of control, guys. If they try that here, we should spank them and send them back to Sweden.
I knew a family of Switches some time back. They each had a profound influence upon my life. They lived next door to us. They always came on those afternoons when I wanted to play instead of do my homework.
Glad to know that discipline is still in style in some homes.
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