JUNIOR HIGH
EVIDENCE OF GREAT LOVE
GROWING UP, DISCIPLINE, AND TAKING OWNERSHIP
A
By Chelsey Goode, 7th Grade English
A few weeks ago I was at a Little League Softball game for my daughter. We arrived early, and my two kiddos were spending some time in the play area. I noticed some flying objects soaring past the faces of not only my children but of the others playing alongside them. When I started looking around, I spotted a few older boys using the space to throw plastic utensils, baseballs, and roughhousing with one another. After a while of watching this, one of them accidentally kicked a small toddler. My inner teacher was roaring inside. However, I knew I needed to be gracious. I didn’t know these boys; they didn’t know me. I walked up to the group and kindly asked them to take their fun elsewhere and to allow this space to be left to the smaller kids. One of the boys, probably age 10 or 11, wasted no time getting right in my face. Through clenched teeth, he responded, “This is a public park. I can do whatever I want.” He and his friends then proceeded to do just that. They got more aggressive, and they stared at me frequently to ensure I was watching while they did it. At first, this situation angered me. However, after having some time to reflect, my heart hurt for those boys. I wondered if they’d ever had 8 THE WARRIOR • SPRING 2022
someone love them through what ownership looks like. Has anyone ever cared enough for them to correct them? I think as a parent I have certainly struggled with the fuzzy boundary that dances between love and consequences. Does she know I love her even when I punish her? Does he only see the bad-cop when he sees me coming? I don’t know about you, but for me, these thoughts can plague my heart and damage my understanding of this beautiful role in which God has gifted me.
