Confessions of a Pastor's Family

Because Everyone Needs Grace

  • About
  • Meet Jennifer
  • Favorites
  • Recipes
  • Popular Posts
  • Connect

Right Away. All The Way. And In A Happy Way!

02.02.2014 by Jennifer // 7 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from one of our church staff members who works in the day school that our youngest son attends three days each week.  She was writing to ask me about the “three-point behavioral system” we use with our kids and that Kory referenced in one of his recent sermons.  She couldn’t recall the phrase, and she wanted to share it with the teachers at the school.  (Or maybe, she needed to use it on our son, and she didn’t have the heart to tell me! Ignorance is bless, I tell ya!)

It’s not the first time I’ve gotten this question from someone who’s either heard Kory share this phrase in a sermon or who has witnessed us use it with one of our kids, so I thought I would share it here.  We learned it in the second parenting class we took as young parents, Preparation for the Toddler Years, written by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo, and it’s proven to be one of the very best tools we’ve been given as parents.  My hope is that, through this post, it might bless another family with young children in the same way that it’s blessed us.

The principle is called “First Time Obedience.”  That is, when training our children, we can expect them to obey our instructions the first time they are given.  

And to help us train our children to First Time Obedience as little ones, we were taught to use this phrase:

“Right Away.  All the Way.  And in a Happy Way.”

But let me be more specific.

First, we expect our children to obey our instructions Right Away.  That means immediately.  Not when we count to three.  Not when it’s convenient for them.  And not in five minutes when they feel like it or after they’ve been threatened with a consequence.  (We also expect them to come to us when we call their names, and we expect an oral response such as “coming mom.”  Right now, our littlest one is taking me to task on this component of First Time Obedience by saying, “I’m not here!” when I call his name.  Ugh.  There’s always a new challenge presented in parenting!)

Second, we expect our kids to obey us All the Way.  That means exactly as we instructed.  Without modification based on their own preferences.  And with good effort (but not perfection).

And third, we expect our kids to obey us in a Happy Way.  That means without huffing.  Without puffing.  Without negotiation.  And without complaint.

We found that using this phrase when they were young was really helpful because it’s catchy and it rhymes.  This made it easy for our kids to memorize and recite it at a very early age.  And when we taught it to each of our children, we counted to three using our fingers as we recited the three points.  The symbol for the number “three” became a symbol for our expectations regarding obedience, and we could use it from across a room without saying a word.  And it worked…most of the time.  

No doubt we’re in the throws of training our littlest one regarding First Time Obedience.  And right now, at his ripe old age of three, we are struggling mostly with the “Right Away” component.  But we’re working on it.  Thankfully, we have two other children who, for the most part, have this aspect of First Time Obedience down, and they serve as great reminders that our hard work will eventually pay off!  Someday.

As our two oldest have grown, we’ve found using the phrase “Right Away, All the Way, and in a Happy Way” is helpful in a different way than when they were pre-schoolers.  Because as they’ve grown, when they are disobedient, it has become more subtle.  Usually, it’s less about whether they do what we ask (because usually they do obey the first time) and more about how they carry out our instructions.  I’m sure none of you know what I’m talking about!

Are they rolling their eyes?  (Sigh.)  Did they slam a door?  (Gasp!)  Are they negotiating with us like we’re engaged in a real estate transaction?  (Seriously?)  Or are they downright arguing with us?  (Who do they think they are? Lawyers?)  The three point phrase allows us to break down their responses to our instruction, and it helps us to identify the root of the problem we’re dealing with so that our consequences can be appropriately tailored to deal with that particular issue rather than something else.  (Some of the Bible stories we’ve used with our kids to break down the standard of Biblical obedience are 1 Samuel 3:1-10, which I referenced in a different context here, and the story of Jonah.)

But First Time Obedience is useful beyond child training too.  It’s an excellent standard to set for ourselves, isn’t it?  Because Biblical obedience is done Right Away, All the Way, and in a Happy Way.  Whether we are 3, 33, or 103.  And that’s the context in which Kory has shared it in his sermons.  

So…

Do we struggle to obey God’s word Right Away?  Do we struggle to obey God’s word All the Way?  Or do we struggle to obey God’s word in a Happy Way?  

I’ll go first.  

I’m a rule follower by nature.  And, sad to say, I’m somewhat of a legalist too.  So I usually do what I’m supposed to do, and generally speaking, I do it fairly quickly after acknowledging that it’s the right thing to do.  But as I shared here a few weeks ago, I (a/k/a Ursula the Sea Witch) don’t always do it in a Happy Way.  That’s where I struggle the most.  And that’s where God continues to work on me…thank goodness.

How about you?

“Do everything without complaining and arguing.” 

Philippians 2:14

 

 

Edited with BlogPad Pro

Filed Under: Faith, Family, Popular Posts

Comments

  1. Amber says

    February 9, 2014 at 6:14 am

    I’m a rule follower just like you, but I do like to procrastinate, and sometimes I’m not happy about everything. Reframing is a good way to get back to a happy spirit though.

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      February 9, 2014 at 2:43 pm

      I agree! That is why it’s always helpful for me to look at what I need to do as opportunities to serve, rather than as burdens. Sometimes I remember to do that, and then there are the other times…

      Reply
      • Amber says

        February 9, 2014 at 3:18 pm

        That’s part of being human. All we can do is strive to improve.

        Reply
  2. moshera says

    February 10, 2014 at 3:36 am

    I heard Kory mention this at AUMC years ago… I use it at work. I apply the standard to myself, and also to others. We’re all adults, (well, some more so than others) and it still works. We’re here to serve our customer, after all – Right Away, All the Way, and in a Happy Way.

    Reply
    • JenniferJennifer says

      February 10, 2014 at 6:16 pm

      I love the application of this phrase to adults! It’s an excellent standard to set for ourselves, and it’s also an excellent tool to apply during reflection.

      Reply
  3. Kim says

    February 11, 2014 at 1:59 am

    As a mother of three and also a pastor’s wife;)….I was struggling to get my kids to “obey right away” and felt that either they were just out to rebel against me or I was failing as a parent. It was so refreshing to read Sally Clarkson’s blog post about this very issue. I respect and admire her so much a s a momma that has traveled the path before me and has four “arrows” now who lead their lives whole heatedly for Christ. Take a moment to read her post here…

    http://www.itakejoy.com/first-time-obedience-really/

    It is enlightening and encouraging. Thankful for God’s grace as I don’t always obey the first time every time either….especially when I am tired/hungry/stressed….my tongue can be harsh. Every time I say I am going to do better and almost every time I fail….ugh! Thankful for the one who can wash me white as snow. I can’t do it in my own strength…only through the power of the Holy Spirit!

    Blessings to you!:)

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      February 11, 2014 at 3:34 am

      Kim, I so relate to what you have shared here! I have a sharp tongue and a quick temper, and it has been the thorn in my side my entire life. I, too, always say I’m going to do better, and sometimes I do. But then, there are the other times. The busy times. The stressful times. The exhausting times. And in those situations, I very often fail. Thank goodness for God’s grace as extended to me regularly through the hearts of my husband and my children! It is humbling to seek their forgiveness when I fall short, but that always draws us nearer to one another and to God. Thank you for sharing this piece from Sally Clarkson’s blog. From my personal experience as a mom, I agree that real training occurs when we reach the hearts of our children! Beautiful things happen in that place, and it is a joy to take part in the work God is doing in our children! Blessings to you, your family, and your ministry! Thanks for stopping by to chat!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to moshera Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet Jennifer

Subscribe by email

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Noonday

Popular Posts

Why I’m Willing To Pay Movie Theater Concession Stand Prices, and What My Daughter Has To Say About It

Why I’m Willing To Pay Movie Theater Concession Stand Prices, and What My Daughter Has To Say About It

Right Away. All The Way. And In A Happy Way!

But how will this affect the kids?

But how will this affect the kids?

Living In The Fog: Three Ways To Live Well When Life Has You Wandering

Living In The Fog: Three Ways To Live Well When Life Has You Wandering

I Love My Kids But I Want To Vacation Without Them

I Love My Kids But I Want To Vacation Without Them

Copyright © 2021 Confessions of a Pastor's Family · Site by Design by Insight