Our Busy Little World
Jul. 7, 2006 - The Prodigal Son and Where The Wild Things Are
I received a comment/question regarding my opinion of "Where The Wild Things Are" that I thought would make for some good discussion. And since my answering comment was getting a little lengthy, I just decided to make a new post of it! Hopefully that's ok - I just thought it might be easier to answer this way.
As a note for you all, please do feel free to sign your name to comments even if they disagree with something I wrote. I enjoy lively discussions, especially as we are all learning as we go along and can learn much from one another.
The comment/question was:
Thanks so much for your comment and continuing this discussion! I do have to say that while the prodigal's circumstances (lack of friends and money) were probably part of what brought him to repentence, I personally believe that he was indeed repentent. I say this because in Luke 15:18, the prodigal son says to his father: "I have sinned against heaven and before you . . ." This seems to be a repentant heart, not just a hungry person desperate for food.
In either case, though, I really think this story is comparing apples and oranges in relation to "Where The Wild Things Are". The story of the prodigal son, if I'm not mistaken, was a story about an adult son. The little boy in the Wild Things was just that: a little boy. Proverbs 19:18 says "Chasten your son while there is hope and do not set your heart on his destruction". A small child is still in the "while there is hope" phase. They are under the authority and training of their parents. An adult son is no longer in that same phase. And if adult children are in rebellion, as the prodigal son was, the "hope" of the parent is found in praying fevently for the repentence of their son. And of course any parent would rejoice greatly to see such repentence!
The problem I have with the Wild Things story is that it is very typical of what I think is a big problem in our culture: a lack of disciplining our children. If I were to read the story to my girls the way it's written (which I think I have before), we would discuss what happened, and even Isabelle would most likely see the problem. Even if the author intended to imply that the little boy was repentent, I don't see it, and I definitely don't think my little ones would see it. I am very careful, like I said, in what I read to their little minds. Of course God graciously forgives our transgressions when we confess them, but that does not negate the fact that sin has consequences. In the end of this story, there was no consequence for sinful behavior, no true discipline, and no stated (or implied that I can see) repentence - just indulgence of a disrespectful little boy. I just don't want to read something over and over to my girls that will put a little seed of thought in their minds that they can sin and just get away with it. I want them to know that when they sin, they must repent and seek forgiveness, which they know will be lovingly granted by us as parents, by their sisters, and most importantly by their Heavenly Father.
Of course my girls know that some children are not disciplined, and they know it's that child's parent's responsibility, and not their concern. Little ones are so perceptive - they can see another child throwing a screaming fit in a store, and recognize that child needs to be disciplined. But if I read a story about a little stinker, I want the girls to see that he was a stinker and have the story answer that situation. Example: Narnia - ok, you all already know I love these books, but it really is a good example. Edmund was truly a first-class stinker. No getting around that. But the repentence in this story is beautiful, as are the restored relationships afterward. That is the kind of story I desire to see my kids read and live out in their own lives. I would have them rejoice in forgiveness - not in getting away with sin. We all have so much to rejoice in when we consider our transgressions, so thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Comments
Jul. 7, 2006 - yes, and also
I would add that "Where the Wild Things Are" is a celebration of well "wild" behavior. It has been typical of us fallen humans ever since the garden to want to laugh at and do whatever we can to normalize our sin. You hear moms all the time talk about their wild kids and "enduring stages" rather than encouraging one another see sin as sin and train our children in the way they should walk. We should never laugh at or be entertained by sin and rebellion.
The prodigal son learned his lesson about laughing at sin --in the end you will find yourself living with the pigs! The story that Jesus told was not to normalize sin but instead to illustrate to us the lavish grace and love our Father has for us when we turn from our wicked ways.
~Amy
Edited by reformingmama on Jul. 7, 2006 at 2:21 PM
Jul. 7, 2006 - True
Posted by TwaddleMeNot
That's a really good point that I hadn't thought of - thanks Amy!
Melissa
Jul. 7, 2006 - Thanks for your reply, I still disagree
Posted by Anonymous
Luke 15:17
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'how many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.''"
As you can see here his motivation was purely hunger driven. It was not true repentance, it was based on his desire for food. I also would like to point out that "Where the Wild Things Are" does not indicate whether he apologized or told his mother he loved her, and it also does not indicate whether it was dinner waiting for him or breakfast the following morning. Also, the Bible never mentions his age, it only refers to him as the younger son, and never refers to him as an adult.
Thanks for your interest in knowing who I am, however, I see no point in putting my name when you have no way of knowing who Ken Adams is.
Jul. 7, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by TwaddleMeNot
Hello Ken,
Thanks for your reply. I suppose we are interpreting both the bible and the story differently.
Matt Breese
Jul. 7, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by KarenW
As a former public school teacher (gasp!!) I have a copy of this book. It was always upheld as a fine example of children's literature. But I found in reading it aloud to my class, that it was the teachers that liked it and not the children. I do not recall any child asking me to read the book a second time. My own children were pretty vocal in telling me it was a weird book and they didn't like it at all. I still have it simply because I didn't want to give it to anyone. Perhaps I will think of it the next time we are looking for kindling for the fire.
Jul. 8, 2006 - Great response...
Posted by FaithfulGrace
for me it is the ugly pictures. I don't like the pictures, so I've never read the book to my children.
Usually my children cringe when they see another child acting up in public.
Sorta like they feel for the child's lack of self-control.
I would love a post from on you as what you define as "twaddle".
I've been doing a lot of pondering about what Charlotte Mason would deem as twaddle in today's bookstores.
I love, let me say it again, love the darling pictures of your daughters.
Do you have a flickr or photobucket account?
Have a blessed day,
Linda
Jul. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by TwaddleMeNot
Karen, your comment made me laugh! I have to admit we did that once (kindling) with two "books" that were given to the girls. They were really more like pamplets and were truly hideous - no real plot, just kind of a creepy poem thing. We were so low on kindling and newspapers that year, that into the fire they went!
Hi Linda, I do have a photobucket account, and I just yesterday figured out how to use it for posting pictures on the site! Oh, on books, did you have a chance to read my recent post : Choosing Books For Our Children? While I wouldn't claim to be any expert on what Charlotte Mason would call twaddle nowadays, that post talked about some of what we call twaddle. If it didn't answer a question you have, let me know and I'd be happy to post something else.
Have a great weekend, all - it's "monday" for us, so I need to go get Matt's lunch ready!
Melissa
