The Penguin Story

I have started collecting Penguins of all kinds (so when you really feel the urge to purchase a gift for me.....). I have a ceramic flying penguin, a bubble package with penguins decorating it, a penguin that winds up and flips over, a finger puppet penguin, a package of penguin gummy bears, and a large and a small stuffed penguin. Today I will be purchasing The Penguins on DVD.

Why did I start this collection?A story I heard a Christian psychiatrist tell once stuck with me. He was going to be a new father and all his friends were telling him how difficult parenting would be. Well, he had a beautiful little girl, and she was a dream child. Never a peep. Not a problem. So he began to feel pretty good about his talents as a parent.

And then he had a son.A son with ADD. A son who didn't listen. Would not obey. Seemed to do the opposite of everything he was asked.

So in an effort to spend more time with his young son and be a better father, he took him to Sea World and spent the day with him. While at the Penguin Exhibit, he noticed the penguins on clue did everything the trainer asked, and did it immediately.

The psychiatrist (his name is Daniel) thought to himself: "My son has to be at least as smart as a penguin. What am I doing wrong?"

After the show he went up to the trainer and said, "My son doesn't listen. He disobeys everything I ask of him. Why do your penguins listen to you--what am I doing wrong?

"The trainer answered, "I do two things you don't do. One, I notice everything they do. And two, I reward them with a fish if they get even close to doing what I ask. You, on the other hand, only notice your son when he does something wrong. Since he wants to be noticed, you are training him to act up and disobey."

Daniel reports that (aside from the fish reward) he started duplicating this: he began to pay attention and notice his son more. And any time the son came close to obedience, he would reward him. Hugs, praise, thank you, small gifts, etc.

Why do I take the time to write out this story? Why do I now collect penguins (and geese, but that's a story for another time)? To remind me to notice others and encourage (see Hebrews 10:24, Ephesians 4:32) and compliment them. Not a bad idea for us all. So can I send you a penguin to start your collection?