COMPLIMENTS, WHO NEEDS THEM?
Ted and Betsy have four children.
The oldest is Keelie. She’s a whiz kid, the smartest in her class. Her teachers praise her, and her friends admire her.
Benjamin is a couple of years younger than Keelie. He is an athlete. His talent has been evident since he was a toddler. He could throw his Nerf football farther and more accurately than anyone thought possible. His room is filled with trophies, and his iPhone is filled with social media postings of his athletic prowess.
Elianna is musical. And not just in the way of a tween who likes to listen to music. She makes music. She can hear a song and play it on the piano without notes. She has perfect pitch, and her voice is extraordinary. Everyone says it. She sings like an angel.
And then there’s Cole. The youngest in the family. He struggles in school. He’s picked last in gym class. He’s tone-deaf. Yet he has the most talent of all his siblings. He is kind. He sees the good in others that someone else would miss. He finds the rainbow in every cloud. He is selfless, helpful, and kind.
So, while Keelie, Benjamin, and Elianna receive accolades from others for their high-profile talents, it’s Cole who gets the most attention from Ted and Betsy.
The parents are proud of all their children. Sure, they are happy that their three older children are
gifted and work hard to be their best selves. But they don’t make a big deal about it. They see the attention the three older kids get from others and shrug it off.
It’s Cole who deserves the accolades.
And that’s where their focus lies. They have always encouraged Cole to be kind and then they would praise him for for each good deed he performs, his cheerful smile, and the kind gestures that didn't always come naturally to the young boy.
Some would argue that kindness is God’s gift to Cole. Others might give all the credit to Ted and Betsy for recognizing that their son needed positive reinforcement.
But, if you ask Cole, he’ll tell you everyone can always be kind to one another. And then he’ll sweetly
encourage you to try.
By Susan Diamond
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