The Cookies

My aunt shared this story with me today.

It can be so tempting to jump to negative assumptions. But, when we do, especially when we’re wrong, we miss out on what could have been a beautiful moment…

~

A young lady was waiting for her flight in the boarding room of a big airport. As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies.

She sat down in an armchair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace. Beside the armchair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading.

When she took out the first cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated but said nothing. She just thought, “What nerve! If I was in the mood I would punch him for daring!”

For each cookie she took, the man took one too. This was infuriating her, but she didn’t want to cause a scene. When only one cookie remained, she thought, “Ah…what will this abusive man do now?”

Then, the man, taking the last cookie, divided it into half, giving her one half.

Ah! That was too much! She was much too angry now! In a huff, she took her book, her things and stormed to the boarding place.

When she sat down in her seat inside the plane, she looked into her purse to take her eyeglasses out and, to her surprise, her packet of cookies was there…untouched and unopened.

She felt so ashamed. She realized that she was wrong…she had forgotten that her cookies were kept in her purse.

The man had divided his cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter…while she had been very angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now there was no chance to explain herself..nor to apologize.

There are four things you cannot recover:

The stone after the throw.

The word after it’s been said.

The occasion after the loss.

The time after it’s gone.

 

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a surprise

“Mom, we have a surprise for you! But, first we need you to take us to the pet store!”

I had three faces eagerly looking up at me.

And watched as three bodies jumped up and down before me.

Ava then handed me a blue velvet jewelry box.

In it, was a fistful of crumpled up dollar bills. The kids had pulled together their money and stuffed it all inside the tiny box. They knew exactly what they wanted to buy with their earnings, but just needed a bit of help getting there.

Unfortunately, their daddy was away on a business trip, so they had to appeal to the only other driver in the house.

Over the past week, they have commented on what they want to buy with their money. Ava still wants an iPod Touch, but know she has a lonnnnnnggggg way to go. Garrett and Grady had their heart set on the Lego Atlantis Golden King’s Palace. They were only $2 short. But then, while we were up North, the kids put on a little Christmas Extravaganza with their cousins. Their papa, who served as producer, gave them each $2 when the show was over. That gave the boys what they needed to buy the one item Santa did not come through with!

I figured we’d be making a trip to Toys R Us this week, so the pet store thing left me wondering.

The night before I took the kids to PetSmart. The boys have wanted a hamster for quite a while. Ava has two guinea pigs and they wanted a pet that was “theirs” too. They have been so good and responsible and well…I just wanted to get them one. So, I said, “Yes.”

We purchased the cage, but the hamster won’t be in until tomorrow.

They are quite excited.

Since we had just been at the pet store, I knew they must have seen something else they thought I’d like. Lord only knows there was no way I’d go for a snake or a pet tarantula!

We piled into the minivan and set off again to PetSmart.

They grabbed my hands while in the parking lot and literally pulled me into the store.

They then let go and took off…

racing…

almost stepping on a dog who, with it’s owner, was walking toward the main entrance…

and made a beeline line right to…

the bird section.

“It’s still here! It’s still here!!” they cried out. As I approached them I remembered how, during our previous visit, they admired one bird in particular.

A little green parakeet.

“It’s your favorite color Mom! And now you can have something special to sing with too!!”

Yes and Yes.

So, we have another addition to our family and after we get the boys their hamster tomorrow we.are.done.

Hmmm…I think I may hold off on taking them to see “We Bought a Zoo.”

Anyhow, meet my new parakeet.

I haven’t named it yet, but it’s really sweet and seems to enjoy sitting on my hand. I have no idea if it’s a boy or a girl, and neither did the workers at PetSmart. The boys have decided that if their new hamster is a girl, then they’re naming it “Cupcake.” If it’s a boy, then they’ll call it “Crackers.”

So, I think I may wait until they name their pet and then go with the other name for mine. 🙂

You know what?

I have some pretty fantastic kids.

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