Living Worthily

"Are you sure that is all the food I get?" Honeybun asked as I set her bowl down before her.
"You have two days of agility trials, starting today," I told her,"You will get goodies galore as long as you run the course."
She gobbled her breakfast in two seconds.
"You know," I told her as she glared at me accusingly,"Some trainers don't even feed their dog breakfast before trials so the dog will be motivated to run well."
"Don't you ever even think such a thing," growled Honeybun.
"And all you need is one more Q in open standard, and you get to move up to excellent level in that class too. That makes our life easier if all your classes are at the same level, so keep that in mind, Miss Floor-Dragging-Belly Dingo."
"You know," she philosophized, licking the final molecules from her shining bowl, "This agility stuff is fine as long as it means more food. The moment it means less food, I am not so into it."
"Just do your best today," I begged her, "My little girl is counting on you."
"Fine," said Honeybun, waddling away, "Just pack some treats worthy of my effort."

Unbeknownst to Honeybun, I had bought special treats, recommended by our class teacher, Laura. At the last class, Honeybun had been so riveted on Laura's treats, that Laura gave some to Asherel and warned her, "If you want your dog's attention...have the best treats in the class."

Have the best treats in class.
As my team for Science Olympiad was practicing yesterday, they asked what motivator (bribe) I would give them if their helicopter reached 3 minutes, or if they were attentive and focused the whole practice.
"How about just the good feeling that you have done what you should be doing? The feeling of accomplishment?"
"What about a trip to Rita's?" they asked. (Rita's has the best custard in Charlotte.)
I still owe them a trip to Rita's for last practice's bribe.
"I can't afford to bribe you every practice with Rita's," I said.
"Can my mom bribe us then?" asked Ben.
"You'll have to ask her," I said wearily.
This happens as the year winds to a close. I grow weary and less creative in how to motivate my students. I keep hoping at some point, intrinsic motivation becomes the propellant.

I think God grows weary of external rules and regulations and perks to guide behavior too. That's why He brings a New Covenant. In the Old Covenant, He guides His people with the Law. He has a huge list of dos and don'ts, and mostly, his people flounder on the don't side of the ledger. In the New Covenant, He "writes it on our hearts". A day will come when no one will forget how to follow Him, or merely follow Him in search of His heavenly bribes. We will follow Him because we know Him, and knowing Him, want nothing more than to abide in His will.

"Are you crazy?" mocked Honeybun, "The only intrinsic motivation I care about is a full belly."
"What about your love of us...your desire to please your master? Doesn't that count for anything?" I asked her.
She paused, considering. Then she leaned against me as I rubbed her belly.
"It counts for something," she agreed.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-12
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.



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