Friday, June 21, 2013

Cuties Have Cooties

CUTIES HAVE COOTIES
Justin and Joshua

Warm rays of sunshine were cast down from the sky as pollen filled the air on that beautiful spring afternoon.  I saw yellow buttercups in full bloom as I parked my white Escort station wagon in front of Justin’s school.  The cold, dreary days of winter were gone and spring was definitely in the air.
 
Joshua was three and a half years old and sat quietly in the back playing with his hot wheels cars in the seat beside him.  I was greeted by his babyish grin when I opened the back car door.  His big, brown eyes met mine as I took him out of the car and placed him on the pollen covered sidewalk.  I couldn’t help but smile when he slipped his small hand in mine, led me to the front door of the school and said, “Gotta get brudder.”

I opened one of the heavy blue double doors and we walked inside.  It slammed behind us and echoed through the school as we started down the maze of hallways that led to the back of the school where Justin’s class was found.  Joshua stopped several times along the way to look at the colorful, whimsical murals that were painted on the walls.

As we approached the classroom door, I paused to admire his class’ artwork that was so proudly displayed on the bulletin board.  I felt my heart fill with joy as I looked at all the colors swirled together on the white piece of paper with Justin’s name on it.  To me, it meant he did something he found difficult that most people do with the utmost of ease. 

I turned from the colorful artwork when I heard the class room door open.  Justin’s teacher stepped into the hall and carefully closed the door behind her.  Jennifer brushed the blonde hair from her eyes.  She placed one hand on my arm and said, “I just have to tell you what Justin did today.  He was just so sweet.”  She then placed one hand over her heart and began, “During recess, Justin walked up to a group of girls and told them they were cuties!”  Not my boy, I thought.  Not flirting with little girls already at the tender age of seven.  Jennifer thought it was the most precious thing as she continued to give me details about the event.  I had to admit…..it was cute.

We eased into the classroom and I found Justin on the playmat dancing to children’s songs playing on the portable CD player that had been placed on a wooden table.  His small, frail body awkwardly moved to the music as he tried to snap his thin, little fingers.  His jean shorts revealed the braces he wore that came up to his knees.  He turned around as he danced to the music and I caught a glimpse of his angelic face.

Jennifer told him to get his book bag, but he was in his own little world and continued to dance.  She walked closer to him, clapped her hands and in a sterner voice told him again to get his book bag.  Justin clumsily walked over to his cubby and retrieved his Spider-Man book bag while he said “Time go.  Time go.”  He slowly made his way to where Joshua and I stood as his classmates told him goodbye.

We made our way back to the car and as I placed the boys in their seats, I asked Justin about the little girls he spoke to at recess.  “So, I heard you told some girls they were cuties.” I said as I buckled his seat belt.  Justin giggled and gave me a big smile.  His two front permanent teeth looked like they were too big for his little head and I couldn’t help but think he looked like Bugs Bunny when he smiled.  I laughed, told him he was silly and closed the back door.

When I opened the driver door and sat in the seat, I heard Justin say loudly “Key-oooooties!”  Then he and Joshua laughed like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.  “I know, I know.” I said.  “You think those girls were cuties.”  “No! No!” Justin exclaimed adamantly.  “Key-oooties!”  As I listened to the laughter bellowing from the back seat, it finally hit me like a bolt of lightning.  “Justin” I said. “Did you say those little girls were cuties or did you tell them they had cooties?!”  He glanced at me with a mischievous look on his sweet little face and said, “Yeah! Yeah!  Key-oooooties!”

It was that moment I realized I was still the only “girl” in my son’s life…..probably the only “girl” he could think of that didn’t have “cooties”.  As for Justin’s teacher, she still believes to this day that Justin told those girls they were “cuties”. 

Thanks for reading,
Angela :)

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Doing Unto Others

Doing Unto Others
How Justin would look when he was mad.
 
God tells us in Matthew 7:12 (KJV) "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:"  and He goes on in 1Peter 3:9 (KJV) to tell us "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

We all want to be treated fairly, but have we always treated others fairly or have we done what was right for us and not care whether it was fair to others?  Have we always been kind to each other in our times of anger, or have we plotted revenge and said things to deliberately hurt someone's feelings just to get back at them?  I know it is hard to be kind to someone who is mean and hateful to you, but repaying them hatefulness for hatefulness does nothing but fuel the fire so to speak.  After all, isn't it easier to work out your differences if you chose to be kind instead of mean?

I began to look at how Justin views things and for the most part, he treats people the way he wants to be treated.  He also doesn't plot revenge to "get back at someone."  He knows when he hasn't been treated fairly and he'll be the first one to tell you "Dat wong.  Dat jus wong.  Apolgize Dudin (translation: That's wrong.  That's just wrong.  Apologize to Justin)".  On the same note, Justin also knows when he has done wrong and will apologize (when that stubborn streak isn't rearing its ugly head).  He wants things to be back to normal as quickly as possible and doesn't like for people to be mad at him.

Isn't that what God wants for us too?  He doesn't want us spending our time angry and bitter, but to spend our time at peace with those around us.  So my closing thought is this; instead of sowing seeds of discord, sow seeds of love, peace, kindness and understanding.  If you do that, watch the blessings you will reap.

Wishing all my readers peace and love,
Angela :)