Continuing Lessons at Home with season 1 of “Little House on the Prairie.”
Ep.10 The Raccoon. This episode had me rolling my eyes a bit, I am not going to lie. I understand we have more information TODAY then they had in 1860s but the fact that the Ingalls allowed Laura to have that racoon pet in the first place …. lol, just seemed irresponsible. HOWEVER, it was a sad episode but one that led to good conversations with my children about telling the truth – even when a loved one has asked you not to.
Mary didn’t tell her Pa that Laura had been scratched/bit by her racoon. And when they thought rabies was a possibility, Mary felt completely guilty for not saying something in the first place. What a burden for a child.
TAKEAWAY: One, I spoke to my children about animal safety. This really is important. Secondly, we discussed how the TRUTH is always the right choice, even when you’re afraid of being in trouble or something bad happening (like the raccoon having to be taken away.) Even if your sibling, best friend, anyone asks you to keep a secret – it’s better to tell the truth, always!
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
EP.11: THE VOICE OF TINKER JONES. This is a wonderful episode that has actually been brought up again, even after we stopped watching it. The church wants a bell but the adults start feuding when the discussion comes up on who will pay for the bell AND get the credit for it. Yes, the Olesons are involved. lol.
Tinker Jones, who is a mute, gathers the children together to build the bell. The children make a big sacrifice to make the new bell a reality. It teaches the adults a humbling lesson.
TAKEAWAY: When we do things, we need to be CHEERFUL givers and not do it to take credit for ourselves but to bring honor and glory to CHRIST. Anything we give already belongs to the Lord and so we should not make giving a pride thing.
This is a great episode to open up a conversation about house chores. We do not help our parents or siblings in order to RECEIVE but to GIVE. We work as unto the Lord. HE is our reward and treasure. It’s not about doing good things in order to get credit.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
EP12: THE AWARD. What a sweet episode. Poor Mary, eager to win the new History Dictionary, stays up to study and study when she’s not supposed to. In disobedience, she causes an accident and her Ma steps in and doesn’t allow her to take the special test because she disobeyed.
Mary has to take on a job in order to make amends for the destruction she caused, ruining something *no spoilers* Miss Beadle had given her.
TAKEAWAY: This episode was such a good reminder to us Mamas that we need to stick to our discipline, even when it hurts our hearts to do it. Our children have to learn hard lessons in order to be trained by it. Ma didn’t “give in” to feelings but remained true to her word – her punishment for Mary’s foolishness. And Mary …. well, I won’t ruin the ending…does she end up obeying her Ma or going against her?
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Just a heads up, I won’t be reviewing episodes 13 & 14. I didn’t watch these. The Ingalls get pregnant with their 4th child and then lose that baby. This subject is difficult for me. I have had 3 miscarriages and we’re going through second infertility. I am sure there are wonderful lessons to take from these episodes but I just decided to skip them. I pray you understand my decision. We’ll resume with episode 15 and so on.
WITH LOVE JILLIAN 