“The Water Bottle”

      During a telephone conversation with her dad, my youngest stepdaughter, Tiffany, shared the following story about her three year old son, Connor:

“Upon finishing my fitness class at the YMCA, I was in the midst of picking CJ up from the day care and paying the sitter, when I forgot my water bottle that I carry back and forth to class every week.  It wasn’t until we pulled into our driveway that I realized I had left it, and I absent-mindedly mentioned how I hoped it would still be there when I returned a few days later.  For whatever reason, Connor was very concerned about that water bottle and urged me to return immediately to retrieve it.  It was already 8:30 and I didn’t have the energy to go back, so I told him I would just hope someone would set it aside for me and I would get it later.  He was still concerned and brought it up a few more times before he went to bed.

The next day when Bubba came to baby sit, he announced that he would really like to go to the YMCA and play on the playground.  She took him to the playground and then he took her on a tour of the pool.  Then he says, “Bubba, I’m thirsty.   You know, there’s a water fountain inside the YMCA—maybe you should take me in”.  So she walks him into the YMCA, he leads her to the water fountain that is right next to his classroom and then he looks into the locked room and spots my water bottle sitting on a desk.  He convinces Bubba to go find the janitor (who lets him carry the keys) to unlock the door so he can get the bottle.  My little guy brought the water bottle home and set it right on the kitchen table for me.  I walked in from work and saw it sitting there, and I knew immediately he was the one who went to get it for me.  He had orchestrated his entire afternoon around his mission to retrieve my favorite water bottle.  What a kid.”

As we discussed this humorous, yet touching story a few thoughts came to mind concerning the lessons Connor had unintentionally taught:

• The power of staying focused on a task and being persistent on accomplishing the mission. 
• The impact one can have on another’s heart when they take time to focus on and meet the needs of that individual.  The power of servanthood.
• The importance of modeling respect and concern in the home.  (Here I must proudly and thankfully say that I have never witnessed neither my son-in-law nor daughter exhibit disrespectful behavior toward one another, even in the midst of disagreeing.)  The power of the Golden Rule.
• We do not have to “go it alone” when accomplishing a task.  It is commendable and often necessary to seek help from others.  The power of brotherhood.
• People observe our actions, behaviors, and attitudes; our lives are the most powerful means of teaching, even if that is not our intent. The power of example. 

Thank you Connor for being a wonderful grandson. . . Thank you Tiffany for sharing the story. . . Thank you God for the power of example.

-Tiffany Novotney, Dean and Jennifer Watson

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