Well, as I said last time, I came within a hair’s breadth of saying some very choice things to Arnie Thralling. I mean, really, could he have acted any less concerned about the fact that he had given use of his car to a legally blind resident?
I needed to share the history (again) so you could understand my surprise about Grandma Bricken’s reaction to the story. She has a gift of sifting through an entire tale and finding one part that can become a lesson.
So when I let her get a word in, Grandma did what she always does. She smiled and took my hand. Then her twinkling eyes locked onto my stormy ones. “Katrina,” she began.
I dropped my eyes to the table. Oh, crud, here comes the lecture, I thought.
She patted my hand, “Katrina, look at me.”
I did. Instead of the ‘lecture look’ I saw respect.
“You have done something today that makes me proud.”
“Really? I’m not getting a talking to?”
Grandma laughed out loud, still one of the warmest and most beautiful sounds I know. “No. Today, you reminded me of what my mother said about me when I was almost your age.
“What?”
“When you become wise,” she said, “your emotions are controlled by a kind heart, your mouth by your brain and your brain by God.” That is what you did when you chose to say nothing hurtful to Arnie."
I was stunned — in a good way. So what I did next seemed small but important. I gave her a firm kiss on her brown, weathered cheek. She grinned, patted my hand again then left the table to tend her always-delicious moose stew.
It isn't like Grandma hadn't said something similar before. And, she had tried to get through with love before. So, I don't know why this time her words hit the mark in a big way. I just know they did. I resolved that , wherever I could, I’d try to be kind. I’d try to look for the good and to use my words as a balm instead of a sword. Until I lose my temper, that is – kidding.
Until next time,
Kat