How much is encouragement? 10 cents a branch...

There is so much work to be done around here lately. The recent wind storm didn't help. So at 10 cents a branch, the children were asked to take a branch and haul it to the burn pile. That is about a 2 acre walk.

We also paid Luke 10 cents for every branch he encouraged Daphne to haul. At first, Luke wanted to haul all the branches so he could make the most money. So he was running up and down past her to get the most branches. Daphne tripped several times on the blacktop. She was crying. She was cold, and wet. Luke was grumpy when I asked him to help encourage his sister, and to slow down. So at the end, 10 cents made for a good lesson for both children.

Luke slowed down and walked along side of Daphne. Telling her she was a big girl, and a good worker. T hen they were happy, laughing and Luke was such an encouragement to his sister! The mood lasted all day. Then they both counted money and chatted about how it is better to work as a family, then to just play. Wahoo!

There have been many projects since. Now I do not have to pay Luke, he is just encouraging her on his own. He does need to be reminded, from time to time. But it just warms me all over to see them working together.

Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

^{Ecclesiastes 4:9-10}
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.