What? You want a cookie?

What exactly is a parable? Does everyone define a parable in the same manner? Merriam-Webster.com defines parable as a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle. Collins Essential English Dictionary defines a parable as a short story that uses familiar situations to illustrate a religious or moral point.
So we can see here that the word parable does not mean exactly the same thing to everyone. In my opinion, to put it simple, a parable is a way of painting a lesson to make it more understanding so that all who hear it will take heed. It is not to offend or hurt people, but to teach and allow people to grow through the paintings of other people or objects.
When asked to write an essay on a parable of our choice, and then explain how it applies to cultural, ethical or religious issues today, I was faced with a mission. Sure, we could just pick one and write, but I wanted it to be meaningful. After looking up and reading over fifty parables, the decision was difficult, but then I thought…'what would apply to today?' Then there it was!! A servants duty hit me straight on.
A Servants Duty from the King James Holy Bible says:
(7) But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? (8) And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (9) Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. (10) So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:7-10)
My, oh my!!! This scripture sparked an interest! If there isn't a bigger ugly trend about people these days which appears to not be so new of a trend, is people wanting to be rewarded for what they are 'suppose' to do. Back in the day, when I watched television, I was viewing Chris Rock one night. After I read this scripture, the cookie was translated. Chris Rock says this: You know the worst thing about 'people'? 'People' always want some credit for some 'stuff' they supposed to do. For some 'stuff' they just supposed to do: A 'person' will brag about some 'stuff' a normal man just does. A 'man' will say some 'things' like, "I take care of my kids."
You're supposed to, you dumb 'person.' What are you talkin' about? What are you braggin' about? What kind of ignorant 'stuff' is that?
"I ain't never been to jail."
What do you want, a cookie?
You're not supposed to go to jail you low expectation having 'person.'
I find this hysterical because people actually think this way. I feel more than obligated to speak of my personal beliefs on this topic because I use to be one of these people. OH YES! Once upon a time, this saved lass used to be an awful sinner, one of the worst. Before I accepted Christ, I was defiantly on a runaway train straight to hell. Through the kindness of strangers, who became my friends, and the patient and kind people who took their time (and sanity) to spend time with me to re-verse my way of thinking, I was able to overcome and conquer this way of processing mentally. It was not easy. I had justified almost all of my wrong doings with 'good intentions.' Someone once said to me, "It doesn't matter what your intentions are, if it's wrong, it's wrong." Sounds simple right? At the time, this person didn't make sense to me at all, but after a few years, this statement rings clear and true.
I like this parable, because it explains, we ought to do right, because that is what we are suppose to do. I think it starts in the beginning. For example, there are some kids who want a reward for being ‘good’ all day, but they should be good without being rewarded.
This starts in our preschools and even younger. "Be nice today and you will get a treat," is often said by daycare workers. So children as young as three are taught if they are nice then they get a treat. I interviewed *** from Cornerstone Daycare to ask her about this way of 'treating.'
-How often is the class disruptive?
-Do you reward with treats for good behavior? Why?
-What effects do you think this has on a child in the long run?
-Does it work?
Although treats may help settle the children temporarily, there is still a matter of teaching to be done and children will pick up whether or not they will be rewarded for being good. If a child gets use to being treated for being good, and that becomes the only reason, then what incentive does he or she have when the treat is not available? What would motivate a child to do the right thing if they are not going to be rewarded for it?
Sometimes it is better to discipline than to reward. Discipline builds character, because when you discipline someone, you teach them what ‘not’ to do and rather, what should be done. Rewarding someone for something they are suppose to do does not teach that person how to be, just how to act at certain times. A child, which will eventually grow up, will be taught to change their disposition in different situations to get what they want by manipulation; therefore causing an unstable child and in turn an unstable adult who is likely to negatively affect the people around them.
So, at what age does this way of thinking (‘as long as I’m good for -this amount- of time’) turn into a problem? When should we as adults begin to start doing the right thing and punishing our children when they misbehave? What is the answer? A child who is disciplined correctly, will automatically behave. If they are treated just for doing what they are suppose to, these children will see authority figures as people who ‘owe’ them something. These children take on the mentality of “You better do what I want or I’ll get mad” or “you better give me what I want or you’ll be sorry.” Hard to believe? If you need proof for this, just go step into your local Wal-Mart for about thirty minutes, walk around and see just how many children there are in tantrums, screaming at their parents, demanding their parents to get them something. Then watch as some parents, who in the mist of losing their sanity respond with “FINE! GET THE TOY!“  This is how parents, not only daycare workers, reinforce this horrible way of thinking.
I went to the best manual I could find, to look for some guidance for this particular topic. According to the King James (in English) Bible, the chief daddy of all instruction manuals, over in Proverbs 13:24 it says, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."
So, if you whoop, spank, or get a good old fashioned hickory switch and beat the devil out of your child when he or she misbehaves, then the Bible says you love them. If you do not discipline your kids the Bible says, you HATE them. Take a jog down memory lane and look at the kids whose parents let them run wild, and the kids whose parents had better sense; which kid stayed out of trouble more often? Do not get me wrong, in no way is it good to beat your child just because you feel like it. Not every mistake deserves a belt. While some parents think it is better to ’give them the belt just incase,’ punishing your children too much will cause the child to act up and misbehave even more so. One subject, who they call Sterling Winslow in the book, The Child Abuse-Delinquency Connection states:
I received a lot of physical abuse from my father. He'd use belts and wood paddles and sometimes they'd break when he hit us but he'd just make more….He'd hit us anywhere. Once I got hit in the eye…other times, he'd hit me in the groin…My mother was a very passive person who usually would come to me after a beating and say my father really didn't mean it, that he loved us. However, she also attacked me on a few occasions. Once, she threw a can of soup at me. It hit me in the head and I had to have seven stitches. I also received a lot of abuse from my brother who was five years older than me…he was also very psychologically abusive. He'd constantly tell me I was no good, stupid, that I wet the bed, which I did until I was sixteen. He'd set me up and take pleasure in watching me get a beating. (p #7-18)
Sterling is a bi-product of too much abuse. As you read his story, you will find that he began breaking into people’s houses, shattering car wind shields, amongst other acts which mostly involved violence. His story is one of many in this book, along with the countless people walking around us everyday, whose parents or guardians decided to lash out on the child rather than get some help for themselves.
These two examples also come from two types of parenting, permissive and authoritarian. 
What does this have to do with anything, you ask? It's not good to senselessly beat your children. So don’t allow any justification of senseless beatings just because someone says ‘The Bible says so,’ because that is not what the Bible says. There must be balance.
Grow weeds or plant seeds. A cookie will give them cavities, a spanking will help them learn.

Source: Rock, Chris. Rock This! New York: Little, Brown & Company, 1998.

Jesus loves you