It Was Only a Nickel

By Donna Faughn       When I was growing up as a little girl, we lived next door to my paternal grandparents. Those were much simpler times and life seemed easier. We lived within one block of a small ice cream stand that could actually be seen from my grandparent’s porch. A small ice cream cone cost 5 cents – one nickel! (I know some of you are thinking of just how old I am!)     On one particularly hot summer day, my grandpa was sitting out on the front porch and I decided to ask him if I could have a nickel to get an ice cream cone. He reached into his pocket and held out a nickel to me, but before he let me take it from him, he said these words: “Don’t ride your bicycle to the ice cream stand.” No explanation, just don’t do it.     Well, as children are prone to do, I thought I knew better than he did. I thought if I rode my bike I could get back home more quickly before the ice cream melted. So I disobeyed him and rode my bike, never giving a thought to the fact that he could see me disobeying.     I rode to the stand. I got my ice cream cone. I started riding home on the sidewalk, but when I came to the curb to cross the street, my bike went off the curb…and you guessed it…my ice cream bounced out of the cone and onto the concrete.     Never being one who gives up easily on what she wants, I went back to grandpa and asked for another nickel. I can still hear his answer inside my head. “You disobeyed me, and you cannot have another nickel.” I cried and pleaded that it was only a nickel, but the answer was still no.     Many years have come and gone, but I still remember the lesson I learned that day about obeying your parents and grandparents. He knew more than I did because he had lived more of life. In my childlike wisdom I couldn’t see what might happen if I disobeyed. I thought I knew an easier way, a better way, a quicker way. I was wrong.     I tell you this story today as a reminder to parents and grandparents to stand up for teaching obedience to your children and grandchildren. We live in a world which has placed children in charge in many instances, even though they have not had the experience to know how to handle certain things in life.     Teach them to respect you and your word. Let them know that you always have their best interest at heart even if they can’t understand it at the moment. Don’t try to meet their every desire. That just isn’t realistic in life and the sooner they learn that, the better off they will be.     It was only a nickel, but it taught me a great lesson in life.   “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you…” Deut. 5:16

- Donna Faughn is the wife and mother of preachers and is a frequent speaker at women’s events. She is a member of the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.  She may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org