A lady came to me complaining from her son who entered the day care center. "For the last few days," she told me, "I have been patiently scolding him for doing something wrong, saying, “Don't do that.” But he kept answering me, “No, I will do it.”
"I would tell him gently, 'Honey, that's wrong.'
"But he insisted, "I will do this. I will do it."
I was surprised to hear this because I know this kid to be a
very gentle boy. He loves me and we get along well together. I ignored the situation (so that he would not get used to having violent arguments with me or with others) and left the place pretending to be smiling.
The next day, as I was joking around with him, I asked him, "What's your opinion about what you were doing yesterday?" He answered, "Hmm. . .I know that what I did was wrong."
I asked him, "Then why did you insist on doing it even though you knew that it was wrong?" He answered immediately, "I had to do this, otherwise my personality would be weak! Whatever I want to do, I'll do, even if it's wrong!"
I was surprised at his answer because this was a kid who wasn't even six years old. "How could he consider listening to my advice-and I am his beloved mother- to be a sign of weakness of personality?" asked his mother. "What can I do," she asked, "to correct his misconception without losing him?"
Since I found that the lady was confused, I said to her, "I advise you to do something wrong in front of him, on purpose. If it happens that he says to you, 'This is wrong,' say to him, 'You are right,' and correct the fault. Then after one or two days, ask him, 'What do you think about my listening to you? Do you think that I have a weak personality?"
Dear youths, many times we have the same attitude as this kid. So, we think that to have a strong personality is to insist on our own opinion without listening to the opinions of others, especially those who love us like our parents. The strong personality is that which doesn't take the stubbornness of the children without getting the benefit of the experience of the fully grown. It was said about our Lord Jesus Christ that he was "subject to them" (Luke 2:51). That is, to St. Mary and St. Joseph. And he is not only their Creator, but is the Wisdom of God Himself!
Adhere to the Lord so that you may carry the spirit of humbleness which will support your will power in Him and grant you a right personality, allowing you to learn how to deal with everybody, and how to benefit from the experience of many!
Obedience
How hard is it for me to be obedient; I want to have authority, not to be ordered! I think that by this I have a strong and right personality. You came to our world You were obedient to your mother as well as to St. Joseph. You are the Creator and you obey the created by the obedience which is combined with love! You who Heaven and earth are obey! Your obedience doesn't diminish Your authority. Sanctify obedience in me! Yes, bind me to you so that I won't shy away from obedience! I'll obey so that I'll feel that I am a partner with you in obedience How bitter is obedience, for in my sight it is being beaten, But with You I find it so sweet. Teach me, train me, grant me the experience of your obedience, So that I may see you working in me, you who are truly obedient!
You who became obedient (Philippians 2:8), representing us, practicing righteousness.