July 9, 2004
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Keeping Promises
I promised Tucker a few things earlier this week. Now I have to tell you, that I do not like promises. I don't like to make them, I like it even less when I am offered one. I'm aware that there are circumstances which can prevent me fulfilling a promise, so I try very hard to avoid saying I will do something when I can't 100% guarantee the fulfillment of that word. I don't want to hear a promise for the same reason. There's something about the words "I Promise" that negate a whole lot of reason for me. I may understand in my head that it wasn't your fault that you weren't able to fulfill it, but my heart is disappointed. To avoid having that between us, I'd rather not hear the promise to begin with. If you want to do something, just do it.
Earlier this week I made Tucker not one but two promises. At the time I uttered them they were something in the nature of pleas and prayers for his recovery, bargaining with God. The first thing I told him was that when he got well enough to eat, I'd let him choose anything he wanted for lunch and if it was in my power, he'd get it. Yesterday, he came to me and said, "Mom, you promised >>>" He didn't have to invoke the magic words, I would have fulfilled my promised anyway, but it was interesting how I felt about that. I was proud of us. He wasn't demanding or whiney the way I've heard kids be when they are trying to extract a fulfillment they don't really expect to see. He was confident that by phrasing his request this way, he would get it. He was letting me know, this is no ordinary request, I'm calling in your debt. And I, remembering the fervent prayer for his healing that was behind that word, heard his request with a sense of gratitude that I would have the opportunity to grant it. He wanted McDonald's, and the kid who eats 4-5 chicken nuggets when he's really hungry ate NINE yesterday. I finally cut him off because I was afraid that he was going to make himself sick for reasons that had nothing to do with a virus.
My second promise to him is that there will be fireworks tonight. He has already asked me, "is this the day of your promise?" Yes, this is the day of promise.
Yesterday, craktpot had a quiz posted on her site. Here is my result:
Your soul is STEADFAST. You are a fiercely loyal
person who would never cross a loved one.
People always know they can rely on you and
your dependability is well-known. You're
probably a little on the quiet side, but your
faithfulness is never doubted, and you always
back up your kith and kin whether they want or
need it or not. You are a dependable and
trusted soul.
What Is Your Soul's Trait?
brought to you by Quizilla
Comments (7)
yeah..promises can be a bad thing..when you can't keep them...but when someone holds to it..it can make your day!
I got Open-Minded... my soul is open-minded. Well what else is new
I'll put the results up on my page as well. Thanks for the little bit of fun!
Moana
It's good when they get well enough to eat after being sick. I remember once when my son was young and very, very sick. I had read a story in Guideposts about a mother who had made her sick son a shoo-fly pie. I made one, and my son ate some and began to get better. It is one of his favorite pies now. I hope all goes well with the fireworks!
We went through Colorado on a trip out West a few years ago. It is beautiful country! I bet you hate to leave Indiana, though.
I like putting the quilt top together better than quilting, too. I have a lot of UFOs (Unfinished Projects).
It is amazing what a child can teach us.
Sail on... sail on!!!
"is this the day of your promise?" ::tears::
oy!
I'm the same thing (regarding the quizilla)
I feel exactly the same way as you do re promises - try to avoid them as much as possible. But the ones you gave to Tucker were special, and sounds as if everyone enjoyed their fullfillment.
By the way - I took the quiz and came up Open-Minded.
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