Discipline is Love

"Just five more minutes..." Bob Marley played out Three Little Birds on the phone's alarm as the sun rose outside Peela's window and the real birds started to greet the day. She thought, How nice it would be to just lay here and listen to how happily they chirp, in this warm lighting of this spring day...

It wasn't but a few seconds and Peela had once again, overslept, even after a stern decision she had made before to get up before the birds, before the sun, and before Laal would have a word with her.

Sleeping in was a regular bad habit that often Peela laughed off. What was done, was done, what else could she do?

Except today Laal was home and Laal didn't like to laugh. Laal was the epitome of seriousness, and all about Peela's business. Peela, was of course an adult, but still a child. She needed to grow up, she needed to learn and be responsible. If she did as she pleased she would sleep in all day, eat as many cookies as she wanted, and be as lazy and fat as the slugs in the garden that were destroying the marigolds that Laal so tediously tried to manage.

"You said you were going to get up at 3:33am," Laal said to Peela, her voice was slow at first, testing, waiting to sink her teeth into Peela and really let her have it. First, she wanted the excuse, she wanted Peela to shrivel up like a salted slug and feel the awful sting of what a failure she was. It was, of course, the only way to get her to change.

Peela felt weak today, she was tired because she kept trying to convince herself every five, ten, thirteen, or twenty-so minutes to actually get up. The bed was so comfy, and her dreams were so lovely. Surely Laal could understand that, right? Everyone had dreams they loved, even someone as grumpy as Laal.

Peela began, "Well, I was a bit tired, but I had this dream..."

Laal snapped, "It's over! Your life will be over and wasted if all you do is sleep in all the time! You're so worthless! Do us all a favor and leave this home! You don't contribute anything useful!"

Peela was deeply hurt, for she was just a child thought she was in an adult body, and she had nowhere to go as she sniffed back a sob, "But I live here... I belong here."

Laal was in control. "No spoiled brats allowed! Get out, get out, get out!"

Peela ran and hid in a dark, dark corner of a space she called The Heart. She was so ashamed of herself. She knew she could do better, why did she keep failing? She was convinced the home would be better without her, but she really had nowhere else to go. She didn't even know how to leave. So she stayed and waited, keeping her mouth shut so Laal could do what Laal did best, and take charge.

The day went on, but the sun was too bright, and even the birds were annoying as they seemed to squawk loudly while Laal tried to tend her garden. She was still mad that Peela had slept in and thrown her whole day off. Now she needed to work faster and harder to get things done. She tore out dirt and weeds, flinging them around angrily.

I just need to get this stupid work done, alone!!

One bird, a robin, noticed how aggressively the woman, who seemed to be nothing but an angry child in an adult's body, flung dirt, flowers and weeds all over the place.

He intervened with a caring song:

Hot head, hot head, courage is the color red

Choosing anger makes the heart tight and dead

Love is discipline, not intimidation

Loving words, kind but stern are the reflection

Of the one who masters the art, of self love

"Go away!!" Laal screamed and started throwing clods of dirt at the robin. He flew away, unbothered, for he had worms to catch, and knew every child must learn at their own pace.

For Laal, the speed of the rest of her day was slow and antagonizing. She finally went to bed, fed up with everything. There was no joy, everything that once felt like a game had become a chore.

"What is the matter with me!?" Laal cried out. "I can't stand myself!" She considered, at least she didn't have to put up with Peela, who might have helped her in the garden, but she would continuously ask for cookies every hour or so, and Laal knew how bad they were for the teeth and body. At least she didn't have to listen to that today...

But what had she been listening to? She replayed her miserable thoughts all day.

"Why am I so unhappy? I was working so hard..."

"You're trying too hard," a quiet voice peeped and she gasped as she jumped off the bed. From underneath it, the foot peeked out of the little girl who was in the body of an adult.

"Peela! Get out from under my bed! What do you think you're doing?"

Peela had tears in her eyes and dust all over her squishy body. She muttered, with a quivering lip, that made Laal realize Peela was just waiting to be ridiculed and belittled, "You just seemed so serious and it makes me sad to see you this way..."

"Well, you're never serious!" Laal snapped.

"I am serious that I want to change. I don't want to be fat and lazy and hold you back from your work. I know it is important to you, so it is important to me too..." Peela was crying.

Laal suddenly softened, as the robin's song came to her mind and she muttered, "Peela. I was so miserable all day without you. You're so playful and joyful. You teach me how to notice the simple things and remind me that life is just a big game. I'm so sorry I was so mean. I don't want to play this game of life without you. I need you to help teach me to relax and have fun. What can I do for you? If you can forgive me, I want to help you be disciplined, I want to help you grow, not cut you down."

Peela hugged Laal, grateful to see she was no longer bitter and demanding. Peela said, "I don't want you to be angry. I don't want to do things that make you angry-"

Laal interrupted her, "My anger is my problem! If I can't forgive you because you make mistakes, how can I forgive anyone else? Let's change together and make this garden into something beautiful for everyone."

Gardens grow slowly each and every day. To see everything in bloom took time, but with patience, consideration and love, Peela and Laal learned how to love each other. Peela and Laal learned how to love themself.