Boys and Manners and the Sand Hill Crane

My sister lives in Florida and has two Sand Hill Cranes that have been coming to her home for years. When their food is not out in the mornings, they go to the window and peck on it! One day I wrote a story for the grandkids about manners and the Sand Hill Cranes. I think it had a pretty good object lesson, because my oldest grandson said, "Uh-oh!" when I read it to them. Enjoy!

Aunt Betty’s Cranes

Abigail and Noah were as excited as they could be. They were going on a trip to Florida to see Aunt Betty and Uncle Tommy, some of their favorite people. The two children packed their bags with cool summer clothes, not forgetting their swim suits and goggles. The beach was calling them!

They ran to the car as fast as their happy bodies would take them. Noah, being older and faster, was the first to the car. Abigail was close behind. Noah threw open the door and jumped in, almost knocking Abigail down. “Sorry!” he said as he slid into the most comfortable seat. He could hardly wait until he got to Aunt Betty’s house. But the trip was long and the children began to get tired and grumpy. Abigail wanted the water first. Noah wanted to watch his movie first. Abigail was uncomfortable and stretched her body over into Noah’s seat. Yes, it was going to be a very long trip.

The car finally pulled into Uncle Tommy and Aunt Betty’s house. Noah crawled across Abigail and almost fell out in his excitement to see them. He hugged them and ran into the house, picking out the bed he wanted to sleep in. “Wow! This bed is right by the window where I can see the golf course,” he said to himself. He set down his suitcase and went outside.

“Abigail, come here!” Noah called. “You won’t believe these big birds! I’ve never seen anything like this before. “Aunt Betty walked outside and explained to them that they were Sand Hill Cranes, and they had been coming to her house for many years. Each morning she put out food for them, and if she didn’t, they would peck on her window, letting her know that they were hungry.

The two children sat outside and watched the cranes most of the day. When it was time to eat, the male crane stood guard a few feet away and allowed the female to eat her meal in peace. Afterward, the female stepped aside and stood guard while the male ate his food. They seemed to always be looking out for one another, and Mr. Crane always showed thoughtfulness to Mrs. Crane. What a gentleman he was! After a full day of eating and playing at Aunt Betty’s house, the two cranes walked to one end of the golf course, flapped their wings, and flew off straight down the golf course to their nests. What a day it had been! Noah and Abigail were tired and hungry and they went inside to eat their dinner.

Noah ran to the sink and washed his hands, in a big hurry to get to the meal line. As he pushed his way ahead of Abigail, he was reminded of the thoughtful crane and how he always allowed the female to go first. “Here, Abigail, get in line ahead of me. I want you to go first. It seems that I have been so excited to be here that I have forgotten that a gentleman always thinks about the needs of a lady first. I am so happy that we came to Uncle Tommy and Aunt Betty’s house. I have learned an important lesson from the Sand hill Cranes. They keep the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ I’m sorry that I have been thinking of myself so much. Please, tonight I want you to take the bed that is by the window.”

Have you ever written stories for your children or grandchildren? They love the personal stories and always want them re-read. It's a great way to teach without preaching. You know, our greatest Storyteller was the Lord Jesus Himself.
Be blessed.

Boys and Manners #2

I love gardening, but any of you who garden know that it is a time-consuming endeavor. As I have been digging in the dirt, much has come to mind concerning the training of little boys--and girls, for that matter. But since we are presently discussing little boys, we will apply our "flower counsel" to them.

Some flowers take much time and cultivation in order to grow into beautiful treasures of joy to the beholder. Roses love sunshine and epsom salts and deadheading. Sometimes they get black spot that has to be treated. My lantanas, once they are established, just go crazy and grow and grow. But they need tender loving care to begin with. Wildflowers, on the other hand, pop up whenever and wherever they want, leaving us to wonder how God could grace us sinful creatures with such beauty. Then there is the stubborn mondo grass that comes up and blooms with only God's assistance. Even when you think you have carefully pulled it all up it surprises you once again, giving you the undeniable sense that nothing can deter it.

So how are boys like flowers? We have already discussed the exhausting task of teaching line by line and precept by precept--over and over and over again. They too must be cultivated. Interestingly, they need lots of sunshine, too. Sometimes they may even need some epsom salts. I think it can be used as a laxative! (Don't quote me on that.) And deadheading? Well, sometimes they are deadheads and definitely need it trained out of them!

Seriously, it seems that some boys--very few of them, I have observed--are like the wildflowers or the often abused mondo grass. They just seem to grow up with an innate understanding of what to do and how to do it. Our "adopted" grandson Kevin is an example. He lives with his dad who works long hours, rarely sees his mom who lives in an altogether different country, and yet he is the ultimate gentleman. He pitches in to help anytime he is around. He takes the baby or the little ones and plays with them in order to relieve my daughter. His manners are impeccable. Kevin--a much appreciated but rare wildflower.

Some are like the lantana, which takes tender loving care as a new young plant, but once it is nourished it just takes off. What nice plants those are! A few short years of training those boys and you have a true gentleman. But don't get your hopes up yet!
















Most, it seems, are more like the roses. They just take lots of care. Every year as they grow up, they need to be fertilized with the Truth and with encouragement to do what is right. They need the sunshine of love and the trimming back of discipleship. When the black spots of sin show up and they are acting like little jerks instead of little gentlemen, they need a treatment in discipline. Oh, but it's worth it! What a sweet smelling savor is a man who has been shone the tender love of a mother and father and grandparents who insist that he be a prize winning specimen.

Enough of my philosophizing today. May you be blessed beyond measure as you bring up those boys.

I'm linking up to:

A Southern Daydreamer

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/2010/05/519-outdoor-wednesday-71.html

Boys and Manners

"A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


I didn't say, did I, that I was going to discuss perfection in boys? I certainly hope not. If I did, I can promise you that I am fighting a losing battle. It ain't happenin'....girls, on the other hand........just joking!

Boys and manners.
Is that an oxymoron? I don't really think it has to be. Boys are boys, now, but they can be taught. It just takes all of your effort for the rest of your life with them. By the time they move off on their own, surely your prayers and your tenacity will have had a positive effect. Of course you will be totally exhausted, taking the next several years to recuperate. That's assuming that grandsons don't come along too soon. If so, just be ready to give all of your expert advice to the mom and dad. (You do know what an expert is, don't you? An ex is a has been and a spurt is a leaky faucet.) I know, that has nothing to do with anything. But besides that, you will be determined to try to overcome all the perceived failures on your part to properly train the sons that God gave you, so you will just dive in with both feet and a staunch determination to do it right this time with your almost perfect-save-manners grandson.

My tip for the day
Go to http://www.wholesomechildhood.com/manners/ and order the e-book "100 Important Things Your Boys Need to Know: A Homeschooler's Guide to Boys and Manners." It's $14.95 and I think well worth it. That's 2 tickets to the movies or one cheap meal out. If you don't want to do that, I will probably critique much of it, but I really think that if you have a boy, you will love it. It is full of practical advice and poems and quotes and stories about boys who needed to learn manners. It has many other helps, as well. I sent the link to all my girls encouraging them to get it as a resource.
Be blessed as you delve into the joys of doing what is right and good for those you love most. Hard work does pay off!