Life Lessons

I am sure I experience life lessons many times every day, however, I’m sure I forget most of them.  Some I do remember. And I appreciate the messages they teach me.

One of my first memories was Panama.  I was five years old and did something I wasn’t supposed to.  My dad told me my punishment was to stand in the corner until I was told I could leave.  I was barefoot, and the floor was concrete.  I stood there quietly, accepting the discipline even though the concrete was hard.

A short time later, Dad returned with a large children’s book.  He set it in the corner and had me stand on that rather than the cement.  My punishment wasn’t shortened but it was more humane.  I learned that discipline can be tempered with kindness and mercy.  (Blessed are the merciful . . . Matt. 5:7)

A year or so later, still in Panama, I remember being teased and taunted by a neighbor boy (and his big brother).  One day, having had enough, I answered his challenges.  It was my first real fight.  It turned out to be very one-sided.  I pinned him down and hit him until he cried.  And then I would let him up (those were the unspoken rules).  His big brother would goad him into continuing, and the boy came at me again.  I pinned him to the ground again and hit him until he cried.  And then I let him up.  This happened once more before my Dad and the boy’s father finally came down and broke it up.  They had been on the patio watching the whole thing before they finally decided it was time to stop it up.  The wives (especially my Mom) were not amused.

I did learn something from the experience.  I learned that almost nothing is resolved by fighting.  He never taunted me again, but I always had a knot in my stomach about the whole thing.  I never felt good about it.  (Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel. Proverbs 20:3)  I also learned that maybe I should have beat up the big brother.

Around the same time, I remember playing marbles with some of the other kids.  There were steelies, cat’s eyes and oversized shooters.  We would also share our stash of coins.  I had several pennies and a dime.  One of the older boys showed me his nickel and wanted to trade for my dime.  I didn’t know any better.  The nickel was bigger, so I figured it was more valuable.  After the trade, one of my friends informed me of how I had been cheated.  I remember feeling hurt and betrayed, and how the older boy showed no remorse.

I learned that I cannot trust everyone, and that I need to be careful about who and what I trust.  (He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much . . . Luke 16:10)  I also learned that value can come in many sizes and shapes, and that it isn’t always what it may seem.  Not all that glitters is gold.  (Ill-gotten gains do not profit . . . Proverbs 10:2)

Across the street where we lived in Panama was our grade school.  It was elevated about ten feet above the ground because of snakes and other animals.  The main floor was up the stairs, and from there, it was very easy to get on the roof of the adjacent building.  We had been warned several times not to go up there, but my friends would double-dog dare me.  And what was I to do?  You can’t back away from a double-dog dare.  It just isn’t done!

Well, one day my Mom caught me red-handed on the roof and spanked me all the way home.  At this point, I must pause the story to introduce the Navy Shore Patrol.  For us kids, they were the boogie man.  We would hear and make up stories about them, embellished by our own fertile imaginations and stories from our parents.  To us, they were big and mean.  They imprisoned and tortured disobedient children, only feeding them dry bread and water.  Ok, back to my story. Once my Mom and I got home, Mom pretended to call the Shore Patrol with me watching, in fear of my eternal soul.  She went on and on.  Finally, “they are asking me if you are sorry?”  I break my neck nodding.  “Do you promise never to do it again?”  Absolutely!  I was relieved.  No prison.  No bread and water.

What did I learn?  First, as my Mom reported me to the Shore Patrol, I saw my life pass before my eyes.  It was pitifully short.  I had to do a re-run.  Second, a promise is a promise. If I promised to stay off the roof, then that is what I would do.  (He swears to his own hurt and does not change . . . Psalms 15:4)  Third, Mom’s word tops a double-dog dare every time.  Fourth, you don’t mess with Mom or the Shore Patrol.