NO!!! no, no, no.
At the Crowell’s there is a big difference between NO! and no, no, no.
Early in my teaching and coaching career, the following story impacted me.
A teacher was hired specially to take control of a wild, out of control classroom.
The first day the teacher laid out some rules. He said very clearly, “Do not leave the classroom until I dismiss you.”
At noon the school bell rang. The class stampeded out the door. The teacher was angry.
After the lunch break, the teacher said, “I told you not to leave the classroom until I dismissed you. When the next bell rings I will be standing in the doorway. You’ll have to run over me this time.”
Unfortunately for the teacher one student was very big. Much bigger than the teacher when the bell rang this student ran through the teacher.
Growing up my mother taught her six children to obey on the 4th command. The first three asks were requests.
Come to dinner, or time for bed.
Hey, it’s time for dinner, or get to bed.
BOYS, you better get going right now.
I’M MAD NOW! It was time to obey.
Learning to say NO! is a crucial skill for both giver and receiver. If you say NO! mean it and back it up.
NO!, and no, no, no, is a gigantic difference.
NO! Means stop, don’t do it or you will not like the consequences.
No, no, no, is a gentle warning. You better think twice about do it.
Some examples:
Crowell’s explain to drivers of family autos. If you drink alcohol, use drugs, or let friends drive the car, we cut up your license. This is a NO!
Fred on eating sweets. Too often it is a no, no, no. Saying NO! is very difficult. My new goal is… (I will keep it private until I have some victory, telling others your goals often diffuses the energy needed to reach those goals.)
Girl with boy, “NO, if you touch me I will call 911 right now.”
Boy with friends invited to drink or take drugs. “NO! If you ever ask me again we are not friends.”
Some adult children cannot say NO! to controlling parents or in-laws. WHY?
Fear of people. Read WOH on people fear.
Some employees cannot say NO! to the boss, and some bosses let bad employees off the hook because they can’t say NO!
Some parents can’t say NO! to their child.
Some coaches won’t say NO! to star players
If you can’t say NO! your YES is in jeopardy.
No wonder Jesus taught you are either for me or you are against me.
Joshua 24:15 speaks loud and clear to knowing how and when to say NO!
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15
