Turning the Hearts...Janie, the Little Girl Who Wouldn't Listen the First Time!

Nov 8, 2008
3 minutes read time

Janie was a sweet little girl with a lot of energy. She was a pretty good little girl except that she wouldn't listen the first time. I told this story to my children to impress upon them the need to listen to their mom and me.

Print
One day, the story continues, Janie's mom asked her to come and help set the table for dinner. Janie heard, but continued playing until her mom had to raise her voice and say, "Janie, come in her and set the table!" After that loud command, Janie would listen. Janie's parents were frustrated because Janie was a sweet little girl, but she just wouldn't listen the first time. One evening after dinner, as Dad and Mom were sitting in their easy chairs, Janie started running through the house. She was stomping her feet as she came through the living room on her way to the dining room and into the kitchen. Her dad asked her to stop running, but she wouldn't listen the first time. He had to yell to her to stop running and then she listened. Her dad said to her that she better learn to listen the first time, because there may come a time when he or her mom may not get a second chance to tell her to listen. Sure enough, on Sunday afternoon, Janie's dad was washing his car on the driveway. Janie was bouncing her ball on the lawn when suddenly the ball rolled down the grass and onto the sidewalk. Janie was concentrating on going after the ball and didn't see a rider on a bike coming at a high rate of speed on the sidewalk. Janie's dad looked up and saw the bike and called to his daughter to stop. Janie looked at her dad, smiled, but didn't listen the first time. She stepped into the path of the skidding bike! Her dad rushed her to the hospital. She was bruised and scraped and had a broken arm. The minister was called and came to anoint her. After she was home, Janie told her parents that when she was better, she was going to listen the first time from now on. When Janie was healed and better, her mom asked her to help set the table while she was playing, and she stopped playing and set the table right away. She listened the first time. She was so excited to be feeling good after the accident that she went running through the house. Her parents asked her to stop and she did—the very first time they asked. They were so proud of their sweet little girl who had now learned to listen the first time! We need to teach our children this principle. Since God doesn't want delayed obedience from us, we should not allow our children that latitude either (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Ephesians 6:1). Appreciate your children for their obedience and commend them for it when they listen the first time. Teach them the example of Samuel. When God called him, he listened right away (1 Samuel 3). Set the example for your children by letting them see your obedience to God's Word the first time you find out something to practice. This vital lesson will bring about peace in your home and help your children grow into respectful, active adults (Proverbs 29:17).
Listening the first time
Parenting
Marriage and Family
Youth
Character

Course Content

Gary Antion

Gary Antion

Gary Antion is a long-time minister, having served as a pastor in both the United States and Canada. He is also a certified counselor. Before his retirement in 2015, he was an instructor at Ambassador Bible College, where he had most recently also served as Coordinator. 

Studying the bible?

Sign up to add this to your study list.