Library Lessons to be Learned

1. Library books are fun to read
2. Library books are not to be ripped
3. Library books cost money to replace
4. Library books are expensive
5. Library books are replaced with money from my "Money Jar"

These are lessons Cambri has most recently learned about the library. We have had a great many struggles with Cambri lately, one of which is the way she treats her library books. It baffles me to no end because checking out books from the library is no new thing around this house. We have been taking Cambri to the library to check out books for TWO years and NOW we are having problems?! Little Miss Cambri loves and has always loved reading books. Going to the library is a highlight for her. Why she is having issues now, we are unsure, but we do hope she has learned a lesson.

Here is the story:
It has been routine to read two books at nap time as well as bedtime each day. We keep her library books, in a book bag, in her bedroom. Following one of our routine readings, when she should have been sleeping, she apparently went through one of her library books and made about 5-6 tears on the bottom of each and every page. She did not rip any pages out, thankfully, but the book was basically destroyed. I made a phone call to the library asking what the process is to replace a book as we have never had to do so. I was told to meet up with a Librarian in the children's section to let them assess the damage because perhaps, it does not need to be fully replaced. I very well knew that they would want to replace the book but to help Cambri learn a lesson and to be accountable for what she had done we went in to the library. She walked with me up to the counter, carrying the damaged book, as we told the librarian what happened. As I expected, she did want the book replaced. When Cambri's library books were due we went in to the library to return her books and then carried her damaged book as well as Cambri's jar of money up to the counter. (*Note: You are not allowed to replace the book and bring the new copy into the library, it has to be ordered through their system so you will pay the cost of the book plus a processing fee) The sweet woman behind the desk pulled up the book in her system to request a new copy and gave us our total to replace the book.
$16.95 (book) + $5.00 (processing) = $21.95
At that moment I experienced, in a very small way, how our Savior and Heavenly Father must feel when we make mistakes and have to suffer the consequences. As a mother, I was heartbroken. I wanted so much to pay for the replacement but what lesson, if any, would Cambri learn? I knelt down beside her, as she and I pulled out the money necessary to pay for the damage. All the while, she said, "Don't take all of it, just one, two, three, four!" After we gathered enough money from her jar I had Cambri hand it to the librarian. I wanted this experience and learning opportunity to be as real as possible to her. I wanted her to play an active role in making right what she had done. The cost of the book ended up wiping out half of the money she had saved in her jar. Even though she is still so young I hope she will remember this experience and will be able to gain strength from having done the right thing, even though it was not easy.

Just as I love my daughter and want what is best for her. I know our Father in Heaven loves each of us, his children, and wants what is best for us. What is best for us is not always what is easy. At times in life we will have to watch our children suffer from their decisions just as our Heavenly Father but we must continue to love unconditionally regardless of their choices. I am so grateful for Cambri and the wonderful teaching opportunity this experience provided for the both of us.