Crosshill Christian School
  • Home
  • Prospective Families
    • Online Campus Tour
    • School Mission
    • Academics
    • Student Services
    • Mission Trips
    • Retreats
    • Athletics
    • Head of School Blog
  • Admissions
    • Welcome
    • Admissions Inquiry
    • Online Application
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Financial Aid
    • Continuous Enrollment
  • Resources
    • Store
    • Giving
    • Daily Schedules
    • Pick-up & Drop-off
    • FACTS Family Portal
    • Supply Lists
    • College Prep
    • Immunization Records
  • Staff
    • Leadership / Admin
    • Teachers
    • Employment
  • Calendars
    • School
    • Athletics
    • Year At A Glance
  • Events
    • Ticketing
    • Summer Camps
  • Contact

Messages of Encouragement

Ring the Bell

10/12/2018

 
​by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

Recently the joyful sound of laughter filled the house as my teenagers shared a YouTube video featuring two cats ringing a bell for treats. That adorable, comical performance inspired our latest family “cat project”. We reminisced about our previous attempts at cat cuteness. Our festive Christmas photo with family and cat in matching jammies did not end well (wearing pajamas seems to elicit erratic behavior in cats). There was also our short-lived adventure in toilet training the cat. He was fascinated, yet focused more on emptying the cat litter into the toilet than doing his business.  The kids and I found it hysterical; however, my husband, who is also in charge of maintenance, was not amused, and educated us on the science of cat litter and plumbing.   

Undeterred by past failure, a bell was ordered and the process began. A few weeks into it, the cat’s unforeseen fear of the bell decreased, yet his stubbornness increased. Enough time and treats had passed for him to have fully grasped this simple concept.  We rang the bell and dutifully doled out a tasty treat, encouraged him to ring the bell, and repeated the drill. After another week, I entered into some intentional trust-building (he knows I’m not his biggest fan). I took his paw, rang the bell, and gave him a treat (over, and over, and over).  Now it was his turn to do it by himself; we both sat on the kitchen floor staring at each other, the bag of treats, and the bell, in awkward silence. This behavior modification plan needed some serious work.

Changing behavior is never easy, nor is recognizing its power to serve as a “red flag” or symptom of a need for heart and mind transformation.  As believers, our goal is to address our sinful behavior and become Christlike, yet we cannot achieve it by human will or determination. The Bible instructs us to “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:23 (NLT). The more we engage in practices that draw us near to God as our source for truth, encouragement, and transformation, our hearts and minds will begin to align with His, and our behavior will follow. 

I have come to the realization that our cat may never ring that bell, but I don’t plan on giving up anytime soon. Thankfully, God never gives up on the hearts and minds of His beloved people “being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:10).

– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Adam Kronberger
    Head of School

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015

    RSS Feed

SUPPORT

Giving

NETWORK

Facebook
​​YouTube

QUICK LINKS

Contact
FACTS Family Portal Login

FACTS Payment Plans
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Prospective Families
    • Online Campus Tour
    • School Mission
    • Academics
    • Student Services
    • Mission Trips
    • Retreats
    • Athletics
    • Head of School Blog
  • Admissions
    • Welcome
    • Admissions Inquiry
    • Online Application
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Financial Aid
    • Continuous Enrollment
  • Resources
    • Store
    • Giving
    • Daily Schedules
    • Pick-up & Drop-off
    • FACTS Family Portal
    • Supply Lists
    • College Prep
    • Immunization Records
  • Staff
    • Leadership / Admin
    • Teachers
    • Employment
  • Calendars
    • School
    • Athletics
    • Year At A Glance
  • Events
    • Ticketing
    • Summer Camps
  • Contact