I have been trying hard to teach Gabe (almost 6) and Shelby (almost 4) to play nicely. When other kids are over they do just fine, but when the two of them are alone they are constantly hitting each other on the head with a matchbox car. I have tried everything to get them to stop. I sit next to them as they play and as soon as I leave the room.....WHACK!!! Well, today it happened again, this time it was Gabe and I had just warned him NOT TO HIT HIS SISTER!
First I sent him to his room so I could decide the punishment. As I was walking through his bathroom a light bulb went off in my head. I brought him into the bathroom, handed him a rag and spray bottle and showed him the dirty toilet.
I explained to him that when we disobey or hurt someone it is sin. Sin makes us dirty just like his toilet. I had him clean off the lid, under the lid, and around the seat....YUCK!!! He was quite disgusted. I explained to him that that is how God feels about our sin and wants us to be clean.
After we had a sparkling clean toilet I took Gabe to Shelby to say "Sorry." Then we returned to his room to pray.
It went like this, "Sorry God for hitting my sister. Please forgive me. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for making me clean again." I gave Gabe a great big hug and wiped away his tears. Then as I left I reminded him to STAY CLEAN!!!! I hope it doesn't happen again, but if it does I have 3 more toilets.....come to think of it this example would work with dishes, laundry, trash, etc.
"Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin."
Psalm 51:1-2
(Oh and by the way, the pictures on this blog are NOT mine. Our toilet wasn't THAT bad! And I put some funny and clean potty humor pics below. Enjoy!)
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