"Out of the Mouths of Babes"

By Vickie Paver

Last Sunday evening was suppose to be one of celebrating. Instead I spent the first half of it fuming. Someone at the party treated me badly and for once I was innocent of any wrong doing. Now I do admit that I may occasionally offend someone (grin) but usually not on purpose.

Letting something "ride" is not one of my strengths. I was ready to tell someone off for treating me unfairly. Fortunately, most of the time I pop off to my husband first. This usually keeps me from totally embarrassing myself. As we were sitting at a booth with four of our grandchildren, my mouth just took control, and away I went. I burst forth with a most mature attitude, "I'm sick and tired of being treated like garbage!!" My granddaughter Tammy asked, "What did you say grandma." Sheepishly I said, "Nothing at all." Then I felt my grandson's hand patting me on the back in the most sympathetic way and saying to everyone at the table, "She said she is sick and tired of being treated like garbage. Aren't you grandma?" I was taken by surprise at what I was hearing. Listening to a child repeat what I had said---just put a different perspective on it. Then I looked at all four of my grandchildren and laughed so hard that tears were rolling down my face. Now they all looked at each other, then at me, and started laughing too. I think they all knew how silly grandma sounded. All the time we were laughing, I realized it didn't matter how I was being treated. What mattered most is my response to it. I could pass on "bad attitude" to my grandchildren or gratitude for being able to celebrate a birthday together. So in the end---they saw that I could look at the foolishness of it all, forgive myself and have a good laugh. 

So how is it with you today? Remember that gratitude is an inheritance to be passed on to others we love. So what inheritance will your children and grandchildren receive, attitude or gratitude?

Proverbs 13: 22 " A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children."

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