~ Dwight L. Moody
I don’t think there is much else that will strain your
control as a parent like potty training your child. Our son is almost three and
a half. He was doing so well at Christmas that we thought for sure he would
soon be out of diapers and in big kid underwear. Somewhere along the break he
lost his confidence. We are now helping him get back on track.
The other morning my wife and I decided he was making
progress. He could handle wearing big kid underwear before school and he would
do fine. BIG mistake. We learn from our mistakes just like he does.
Rebekah got Ethan all ready and rushed out the door. I
only had to take the trash out and feed the dog. Five minutes tops. Ethan was
playing on the floor with my iPad as I scrambled to get the trash together.
When I was done running from room to room I noticed him
standing in the living room with a large wet spot on his pants. Dadgummit. “Okay
buddy, let’s get you changed.” I got him changed, cleaned up and all was right
with the world again.
“Running behind now; here is the iPad. You sit here and
I’ll be right back.” I rushed the trash out to the curb and grabbed the dog
food. Dog is fed, trash is out, I've got my keys, and we’re good to go.
I rounded the corner to the living room. There’s Ethan
standing in the middle of the living room with a large wet spot on his pants. Not
again?!
“Okay buddy, here we go; double time now. We’re running
way behind so we have to get going.” Got him changed and cleaned up once more.
Dog is fed, trash is out, I’ve got my keys, let’s get in the car and go.
“Where is my shoe Daddy?” “Um, here it is. Let’s get that
on and get in the car.”
“Where is my jacket Daddy?” “Um, it’s in the closet.
Let’s go get your jacket and go.” “Don’t want that one Daddy. It’s cold.” “No
buddy, it’s not cold. It’s raining.” “Raining? Not cold?” “No buddy, it’s not
cold it’s raining. Let’s put this on and get in the car.”“Okay Daddy”.
“Daddy, I want some water”“No buddy, we can’t have water
right now we have to go to the Tee Pee” (his daycare)“Yay! Da Tee Pee!”
We slowly meander our way to the car making sure to point
to every toy on the way and touch every item in the garage. I got him buckled
in, gave him a kiss and told him I loved him.
“I want sunglasses”“Are you sure buddy? It’s raining.”“I
want sunglasses”“Okay buddy, here you go.”
“Daddy, what are you doin’?”“I’m driving.”
“Daddy, what are you doin’?”“I’m driving.”
“Daddy, whatareyoudoin’?!”“I am taking you to the
Tee Pee!”
“Daddywhatareyoudoin’?!!!“I’M DRIVING YOU TO THE TEE PEE!!!”
It was about at this point that I couldn’t take it anymore.
I wanted to scream, but all I could do was laugh. I couldn’t be mad at him
because he simply wanted to know what I was doing. He wanted my attention. He
wanted to know that I was engaged and involved in what he was doing. He wanted
to interact with me. He wanted to be a part of something with his daddy.
Isn’t that what we are all looking for? Don’t we all want to
be engaged with others and have them interested in us and what we are doing?
Even those of us who prefer to be more isolated and self-dependent like it when
people are interested in what we are doing; we want to know that the work we do
means something to someone other than ourselves. We want others to be proud of
us. The pride and interest from others in us, makes us feel good about
ourselves. We want to be valued.
I recently heard a pastor use a comical illustration of how
he too once made his father proud of him when he was a child.
His father gave him a brand new dollar bill because he was
such a good boy. Being the good son he was, he wanted to impress his daddy with
his financial skills so he traded his dollar bill for two shiny quarters,
because everyone knows two is better than one. Johnny came along and traded him
three dimes for his two quarters, but it was Johnny’s loss because everyone
knows three is better than two. Then he ran in to Bill and Bill wanted him to
trade four nickels for three dimes. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse, because
everyone knows four is better than three. And finally Sally came and traded him
five pennies for his four nickels, but he wanted to teach her a lesson in
finances, because everyone knows five is better than four. At the end of the day my preacher friend told
his daddy of the great financial success he had had and how he had changed his
one little dollar in to five shiny pennies.
The boy’s dad was so proud of him all he could do is turn
red in the face with pride… he couldn’t say a word… he just walked away
speechless shaking his head. His father may not have told my preacher friend
how proud of him he was that day, but my friend just knew.
Whether you are making great strides in your financial
decisions, struggling with potty training your children or having a difficult
season running your business to its full potential, take a break and smile.
Even in the worst situations there is always hope. There is always a reason to
smile and there is always a lesson to be learned.
Take a moment, look at those around you and ask them what
they are doin’. You might just be surprised by the answer, and they will be
glad you showed interest.
I am sure if we all take a little more time to be interested
in the works of others, our own works will be noticed and our community will be
better because of it.
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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, February 3, 2013 issue
of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.
