Good Girl, Gidget!

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

GIDGET, A THREE-YEAR-OLD Goldendoodle, stood defiantly in the kitchen, trying to conceal the balled-up sock in her mouth. She eyed Kate, willfully disobeying the command she had just been given.

“Gidget, come,” Kate repeated.

Her dog turned and took a step in the opposite direction.

Gidget was the most strong-willed dog Kate had ever known. She also happened to be the smartest dog she had ever known—traits Kate was becoming convinced might be related.

Kate had enrolled Gidget in puppy obedience school and learned that the Goldendoodle definitely had a strong will, but she also had a strong desire for treats.

Whenever Gidget obeyed Kate’s commands, she received a treat, followed by the words, “Good girl, Gidget!”

Gidget had grown into a wonderful dog who brought joy into Kate’s life. And yet, Gidget’s willfulness remained fully intact. Kate couldn’t break her from stealing socks.

Whenever Gidget snatched a sock, the commands she knew quite well, such as “drop it” and “come,” were ignored.

However, recently Kate had made a fascinating discovery.

After a quick snatch-and-grab during laundry day, Kate had called for Gidget to come. As usual, the Goldendoodle feigned hearing loss. When Kate repeated the command, her elbow bumped into Gidget’s bag of treats. The sound miraculously restored her dog’s hearing, and Gidget took a step toward Kate. “Good girl, Gidget!” Kate said, encouraging her to come closer.

The moment the dog heard the words—maybe enhanced with the sound of possible treats—she ran to Kate.

Kate took the sock from Gidget’s mouth, told her again what a good girl she was, and then tossed her a treat.

From that point forward, whenever Gidget chose to ignore a command, Kate would say “Good girl, Gidget!” and nine times out of ten the dog would obey.

In her early training, Gidget had made a connection between the words and the reward—and it had stayed with her all these years.

As Gidget stood in the kitchen with a defiant look in her eyes and a sock in her mouth, Kate simply smiled and said, “Good girl, Gidget! Come.”

And she did.

Gidget walked to Kate, gave up the sock, and received a treat and a thorough bonus back scratch.

As Kate continued to praise her dog, she couldn’t help but think about the benefits of early training. She was also reminded of the importance of being who you are—and believing what the one who really loves you believes about you.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

Today’s proverb talks about directing your children toward the right path. What are some practical ways you direct your child toward the right path? Proverbs 22:6 is a principle, not a promise. What’s the difference between the two? Have you done everything you can to “train up your child in the way he or she should go” only to watch them go toward the opposite path? Spend some time talking to God about that. Pray for that child today. And then ask God to help you surrender your child’s faith journey to him, remembering God loves your child even more than you do!

Paws & Pray

O Father, it is so hard to watch children go their own way. I realize you know those feelings better than anyone. For those children who are struggling—who are choosing paths their family would have never chosen for them—please lead them back to you, in your perfect timing and will. And Lord, for those little ones being shown the path of life today, cement that path in their little hearts and illuminate it in their sweet souls so that its light may never dim and they may daily walk with you.