A Work in Progress & Proud of it!

The following took place on January 28, between 4 & 5pm.  Events occurred in real time.

Grace came up to me and showed me the following paper....

She said, "See mom, this shows that I'm not that smart."  She wasn't sad, just matter of fact.  

I was taken aback hearing her interpret this marked up assignment so negatively.  I said, "That's absolutely not true, Grace.  This doesn't mean that you're not smart, rather it shows me that you're learning with the rest of us.  You make mistakes like the rest of us.  You're a work in progress.  Do you know what you did wrong?"

"Yes," Grace said, and she corrected each problem.

"See, Grace, you are smart!"  From the look on her face I knew she knew.

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....the best part is that later that evening I was in the kitchen making dinner and lo and behold there was Grace's less than perfect assignment hanging on our bulletin board for all to see.  There's no way I was that secure in my youth.  

Even as an adult it's taken time for me to be able to celebrate my work.  Years ago I made a cross-stitched design for Wayne's grandparents.  I had never cross-stitched before and didn't know to separate embroidery floss.  I cross-stitched the whole thing using 6 pieces of floss through a needle.  After it was framed I felt like something was off; the design was "thick," but I supposed that was just the look.  It wasn't until after I gave it to Wayne's grandparents, and it hung on their wall that I could see my small mistake.  It glared at me, but in reality the few missed stitches were insignificant.  I knew I put a lot of time and love into that project, but couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed about my oversight.  I even pointed it out to several people (including Wayne's grandma) who had paid me a compliment.  I said, "Thanks.  It's not perfect though, see?  I missed a few stitches here."  Wayne's grandma sincerely embraced the gift, noting it's beauty and my thoughtfulness, and didn't give my oversight a moment's notice.  Grandma B. has a special place in my heart because of moments like this when her simple reaction taught me a life lesson.  She was always good to me.

Then along comes my flesh & blood, Grace, who not only knows that pretty = divine nature, but also has enough self worth to grasp in a moment that she is in fact a work in progress, and that feels good.  Effort and progress are to be CELEBRATED!  I celebrate that my children are learning this long before I did.

Thank you, Grace.