Jack's Rules

Written by T. A. Morris


I currently work with a young autistic boy I will call Jack. Jack is a very sweet young man who unfortunately has difficulty with the simplest of tasks. One day, amidst a moment of frustration, I gave him some rules.

    #1 Be Quiet

    #2 Sit Still

    #3 Listen

    #4 Do What Your Told (This includes STOP, SPEAK CLEARLY, & PAY ATTENTION)

Jack quickly memorized these rules and proceeded to behave very well for me. Soon, however, he began to misbehave again. He would even go so far as to break a rule while telling me what the rule was! For example: he would speak so that it was hard to understand him. While he was speaking this way he would tell me "you must stop and speak clearly."

Once again I found myself in the midst of frustration when I blurted out "Jack, those are actions - not just words. That means it is something you have to DO, not just SAY."

That entire week, I prayed about the situation. I was praying for a way to teach Jack better behavior, but the answer I received was totally unexpected. God told me "Think about it now. Isn't that how YOU behave towards me?"

Unfortunately I have to admit that it is how I behave towards God and that "Jack's rules" apply to me as well. I am sure that there are many other Christians who could benefit from these rules.

    #1 Be Quiet - Turn off the TV, Radio, Computer, and Telephones so that you will not be distracted from God in your time of prayer

    #2 Sit Still - Psalm 46:10 says BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD - don't fidget with things while your praying. (I'm guilty too!)

    #3 Listen - Take your time to really LISTEN to HIM, for he has really important things to say to you.

    #4 Do What Your Told - Think about Jonah and the Whale. God has a way of getting what He wants out of you.

    When you pray, you need to:

    -STOP- try to find time to pray when your not DOING something

    -SPEAK CLEARLY- don't mumble through your prayer. THINK about what you are saying.

    -PAY ATTENTION- If you keep your eyes on him, you will learn so much more!

    --And remember, these are ACTIONS, not just words that are "true" or "interesting." These are things that we need to DO.

I am still working with Jack, and still trying to help him with his behavior. I am working on MY behavior too. I don't want to put God into fits of frustration with me.

LET US BEHAVE PROPERLY -Romans 13:13a

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