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Things I Didn’t Know (Vol. 4, No. 39) With muscles cramping slightly, I bent over to pressure the last puzzle piece in place. This was our third puzzle for the afternoon and we worked from our usual spot – the middle of the living room floor. As soon as the puzzle was completed, Landrye snatched it up and paraded it proudly before her grandmother. I could hear appropriate gasps of wonder coming from the kitchen. And Landrye’s sense of accomplishment made her face positively glow as she made her way back to me. Depositing herself and the puzzle on the carpet beside me, the little girl said as only little girls can, “Grampa, you didn’t know that I could work the puzzle all by myself?” Only the upward inflection at the end signaled that this was a question. “No, I didn’t know that,” I said with a smile. I can’t help but smile at Landrye. She reminds me of her dad and uncle at similar ages. And the pure delight of a child who understands her unique role in helping an adult discover new things is infectious. I’ve learned a lot from her. I didn’t know that a little munchkin was going to jump out to scare me – again. I didn’t know that she’d want to read “Mr. Paint Pig” right before bed time when she spent the night. I didn’t know that it’s best to tear up the doggy treat for Snoopy so she won’t get choked on it. I didn’t know that Landrye could get in the swing by herself. And there are things I should have known. I should have known that she wouldn’t want to try the green beans. I should have known that today she wasn’t Landrye – she was Wendy, Peter Pan’s best friend. I should have known that her love for I really should have known how upset she would be when I scolded her for being a little temperamental. I should have known my heart would melt when I heard her tell her grandmother to talk to me and let me know how I had hurt her feelings. And her Meemie said, “It’s okay, sweet girl. He didn’t know.” A child’s sweetness comes largely from her choice to expect the best from those around her and the ability to forgive us when we don’t deliver. Most children learn to lower their expectations. The need for forgiveness lessens. I hope I can teach Landrye to keep her expectations high and to develop a tremendous store of forgiveness. I dread the day when our conversations focus on what I should have known. I talk daily with people who are fixated on the failures of others and dwell there. For now, I’m on a wonderful journey with a beautiful little girl leading me from discovery to discovery. She counts it joy to help me understand. “You didn’t know this, Grampa?” No, I didn’t know. But I will learn. “He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me.’” Matthew 18:2-5 (NIV).
Shine On!
copyright 2004 Joe L. Cope
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