Training The Cubs & Kids

One very important lessons I learned from studying the tigers at Busch Gardens….

”Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it. ”

-Proverbs 22:6

I am amazed how much we can learn from studying animals. I knew nothing about animals, until my daughter Ellianna arrived. In fact, I never cared much about the animal world sort of speak. She is the total opposite. Loves studying and interacting with animals. She is absolutely amazing. I cannot believe what she knows about all sorts of animals. Even more so, how she is able to engage them, and how the animals react to her. It’s a gift from God for sure, and I will go to the end of the earth and back to encourage her in her passions for God's creation.

Due to this love and interest of my daughter, and my wanting to support the God given talents my children are given. I have spent many, many, many hours, days, months, and money, at animal places. Such as Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. Personally, I love these places. I have learned so much being there. We go to the shows but it is what we do behind the scenes that are really impacting our support and admiration for these places. We took every single behind the scenes studies, and learned so much about the different animals. Even holding my hand out to a beluga whale until her nose touched my hand. Very comical you had to be there to see that scene as I kept raising my hand higher and higher of fear, and the whale getting higher and higher out of the water. Poor trainer, running over to me, “Stop, put your hand down!” But not Ellianna she was fearless!

So, what’s my point? Yesterday, we went to study the tigers. We learned so much. For this particular devotional, I’m going to make one point. We met 2 tigers from a litter of 4. I walked up to their habitat and the tiger came up to the barrier, I was behind the cage. The tiger looked at me, and I said, “Hi…you’re so beautiful!” The tiger, used his voice to “talk back to me!” The trainer said, “He is saying Hi back to you. Tigers have over 40 different sounds they make, but they do NOT purr. These two tigers are not territorial like their other brother and sister!” I asked the educational teacher, “Please, can you explain why that is?” She said, “Their brother and sister spent the first 6 months with their mother and they were taught how to be territorial by her. Even though they are separated by her now, we have not been able to break that behavior, the tigers are now in their teens, and they will not change.” It was a wow moment for me. Imagine, those cubs were with their mother only for 6 months and they were never able to be taught something different.

Immediately, I thought of the book of Timothy I have been studying hard the last week. Timothy was taught at home by his mother and grandmother. I homeschool my children. I know how hard this job is. We follow the same curriculum of the school, just harder, and much more entailed then the public or private school. It is no easy task. Those of us who have studied about Timothy know how awesome Timothy was. Paul saw him as his son and a huge part of the early church and its growth. I couldn’t help but to think about this verse I just used above. I am not so sure parents understand clearly this concept or the verse. We are to spend a lot of time teaching our children right from wrong. I spend a lot of time on the road, and I meet a lot of different people. I hear so many stories, and I see behaviors of the parents, and immediately, I understand the reasons for the children going awry. I feel sad for the children, not the parents. Those children know only what they are taught. They don't know better for the moment.

Just like those tigers, it only took 6 months to teach the new cubs how to remain territorial for the rest of their lives. A very short time was needed to instill in them how not to share, to make their ground, not everyone was welcomed.

It’s the same concept for humans. What we teach remain engraved in the memories of our children. They become a pattern and imprinted in their memory. Parents have the awesome responsibility to constantly be teaching their children. So then, how do we teach them? We teach by actions first. If we love, they will love. If we build up, they will build up. If we speak well of others, they will speak well of others. If we go out of our way to bless others, they will bless others. Children are not born to hate. But, they do have that instant to hate if they are not taught to love, accept, and encourage. We are to leave behind them a legacy of good and to honor God with everything they are.

It is NOT just about telling them what to do. We must teach by demonstrating actions. Actions is what they are looking for. I am sure the mother tiger taught her cubs how to be territorial by her actions. They followed her behavior. While the other two had trainers who taught them by behavior how to “share,” sort of speak. The other two had good examples while their siblings can't be retrained to share their territory. I watched these majestic animals sit down, jump up, et cetera while the trainer exhibited love towards them. What a huge contrast between two different sets of tigers born to the same mother tiger.

Let’s remember this verse today. Make a serious commitment first to parent our children in the ways they are to go, and when they are old they will not depart from how they were led. Lead with respect, honor, love, and truth. Lead them to the Lord, and make sure they put God first in their lives.

Greatest lessons ever taught were never spoken by the person rather lived out by actions. How do you want to lead your children? As for me, I love being with my children. They teach me so much, and no, I don’t have angels for children, but darn close to it for sure. Tomorrow, I will share another great lesson I learned from those tigers.

#TopicArticle #children #training #parenting