I got home one night and went straight on to dispense a glass of cold water from the fridge, when I saw a door knob hanger (except that it was not exactly a knob, but an ordinary door handle) dangling in my cousin's bedroom. The header says, "Obedience - doing what I am told to do". Further down it says, "Carlos is learning to obey."
Carlos is Kaloy, my nephew by a first cousin. I published an entry about him twice before; he's 6 years old now and have been a little bit exposed to the outside world. We seldom play cars now, as he has learned to cross over our fence of bushes and congregate with his playmates next door. He's learned how to bargain Playstation (oh yes, game consoles at 6! I know, what the...) times with his mother and father. And yes, he is having a hard time learning to obey now.
When I saw that door hanger, I must admit I too was convicted by the word Obedience. Patience, trust and obedience are three things I am not so good at. I don't personally believe that you cannot teach old dogs new -- sometimes even the old -- tricks, though. In my line of work for instance, I've witnessed how some traditional librarians I know of, technophobes they may be, have been continually struggling to learn new trends to be more professionally effective every single day.
What's my point then? If I want to be obedient, I have to learn and imbibe obedience. If I choose to be patient, I have to learn and imbibe the virtue of patience. If I need to be more trustworthy, I have to be trusting.
I have to learn everyday.
