The Lion's Tamer

Around our house, The Lion’s Tamer has become a favorite activity for PawPaw and the grandsons. Basically it consists of PawPaw grabbing a kid up while he tries to run away, then PawPaw’s arms wrap around the child’s neck. This is followed by wrestling/tickling/and making crazy noises while the grandkid laughs and squeals mercilessly until one or the other is worn out. Yeah, usually it is ol’ Steve who needs to catch his breath.

We use this form of “discipline” to keep these boys straight. You know how little toddlers can get out of line! They need some roughhousing often to keep their energy spent and also to let go of some aggressions they might be harboring.

The Lion’s Tamer is most effective on Walker, since he can actually participate the most being that he is three-years-old. Connor is almost eighteen-months-old and mostly just loves being nestled in PawPaw’s arms and being tickled. Besides, how much pent-up aggression can a little kid that small have, right? I am so glad you asked!

The other night, Connor was tired. And cranky. Missing his afternoon nap didn’t help his temperament at all. After supper, he was one perturbed young fella. After a few little tantrums because he didn’t get his way, Daddy had had enough. It was clear that something drastic would have to be done so my son-in-love did what had been tried and proven before: he used his own version of The Lion’s Tamer on Connor. Off they went to the back bedroom, with Connor fully ensconced in Casey’s arms. Oh, the pitiful cries that came from that room! They were soon followed by angry cries as I am sure Connor tried unsuccessfully to get out of his daddy’s grip.

Louder and louder, and I felt my head pounding and wondered if they would ever stop. Wait! A brief moment of silence. Had little stubborn Connor finally realized he wasn’t going to win this battle? Yay! Maybe some of his determination to always have his way was losing to the authority of his daddy who really is supposed to be the one in charge. Speaking of Daddy, let me interject here to state that Casey is one patient man. He is not an arguer nor a man who rants and raves back. While holding his son(s) for this type of discipline, that's what he does: he holds them. He doesn't try to rationalize, nor does he preach to the kids. He holds them until the fight is gone, knowing that sometimes they just need to rage and get it all out before they can move forward. And in Daddy's strength, they realize they are safe. In Daddy's arms, they are secure.

So back to the Connor drama. Alas! The peace was not to be. Round two—or was it three, four, or five by now?-- continued. It was not a pretty time. Wanting to go in there but not daring to disrupt this time of discipline, I asked my daughter to at least go close the door so we all wouldn’t have to suffer the wrath of Connor’s anger. Several minutes later, it quieted down again. Dare we hope? Could the storm really be over? Sigh. A few more minutes and then, yes, the gentle squeak of the door opening and the soft footsteps as Daddy brought a smiling Connor back to us. Lovingly he placed him in PawPaw’s arms and the kid just sat there, looking at us all with the most peaceful, serene expression on his face! He smiled and we all told him we were glad to see him again. Well, Walker only briefly looked up from the book he was reading, but I could tell he was glad to have his sweet brother back with us versus the angry little monster who had disappeared only a half-hour ago.

I pondered on this a while, partly because it fascinated me and partly in a little fear that it wouldn’t last. But it did. I went over to Casey and Ashley and I told them, “You don’t know this yet or may not realize it but this little incident is a good reminder of how we act towards God. We pitch our fits, stomp our feet, cry and scream when we don’t get our ways. Finally, He has enough and just like Casey did, He puts The Lion’s Tamer on us and eventually we stop struggling.” I went on to say, “Look how peaceful Connor is. Daddy indeed knew best and now his little fit is over.” How much easier it is to give in to him rather than to fight.

The Lion’s Tamer. The Lion of Judah calms us when we are uncontrollable. He holds us until the fight leaves us. He soothes us and whispers in our ears that He will win. He tames us. He loves us. And when we stop fighting Him, we too can have peace.