Eli's Startling Revelation

My youngest grandson, 6-year-old Eli, bragged to Amy, his mother, "i cleaned my room good, but Joseph and Ethan (his older brothers) did theirs in a hurry and didn't do it right.  I did mine right.  They did theirs wrong."

Amy answered, "That's good, Eli.  You chose to do yours right."

After a long, thoughtful pause, a startled look crossed this little face.  Incredulously, he answered, "You mean you get to CHOOSE?"

Of course, Amy took this as a teachable moment and gave him other examples.  She reminded him of when he'd come in crying and complaining because they had done something he didn't like.  She had told him then something like, "Don't let that bother you!"  "But I can't help it," he'd reply. 

But this day, it was as if, for the first time, it had hit the little fellow that he could choose his reactions.

"You mean you get to choose?"

Yes, yes, yes!!

Let that phrase echo in your spirit!

Those of us that are a lot older than 6 sometimes forget that simple, yet life-changing lesson!

Dr. Bev