Mercy

Jackson came home from school today and was on "oh no".  This is the worst offense at school for behavior.  Next step would be being sent to the principal's office.  I asked him why he was on "oh no" and he said he was showing kids a magazine that he took to school (Oriental Trading-ha!) because he was so excited about the ducks in the magazine and he couldn't sit still in his chair.  He got out of his seat after multiple requests to stay in his seat.  So he knows the drill.  Usually an "oh no" means no screen time, going straight to bed, etc.  Jackson goes, "I know I don't get any screen time or dinner tonight and I have to go straight to bed, but could you just have that word with me?" I wasn't sure what he was talking about so I asked him if he could describe the word he couldn't think of.  He said, "You remember that time the police man pulled you over and didn't give you a ticket? That's the word."  BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I have told Jackson that we need to show MERCY to each other some times because God was merciful to us in not giving us what we ultimately deserve which is separation from Him.  Because of Christ's death on the cross we have been shown grace and mercy by God.  I used the story of my ticket to demonstrate that the police man showed me mercy that day even though I deserved a ticket for speeding.  I asked Jackson if the word he was thinking of was "mercy".  He enthusiastically said, "Yes ma'am! That's the word!"  Yes, Jackson I will show you mercy.  You can eat dinner tonight.........before you go straight to bed. Oh how I love this kid!

I'm sorry for making your job harder

Jackson had a hard time sitting still and continuously was out of his seat in class today.  His note said there were "multiple requests" by his teacher for him to stay in his seat.  I explained to Jackson that his teacher, Ms. Newman, has a really tough job as a teacher.  When he doesn't listen and respect what she is doing then it makes her job that much harder.  I asked him if he was trying to make Ms. Newman's job that much harder to which he replied, "No, ma'am."  Later in the evening I suggested that he write her an apology note.  He said he didn't know what to write.  I asked him to think about it and tell me what he thought would be a good thing to write and he said, "I'm sorry for making your job harder?" Yes, Jackson, those are perfect words to write to Ms. Newman.  And apparently, that letter made her day when he took it to school! We love you, we care about you and we are committed to you, buddy!