Transformation requires hard work

I took my two year old grandson to Target and accidentally bought him a tow truck. Wrapped heavily in all the cardboard and wiring that keep such things in place, my grandson was quite eager to get through the checkout line and on with the unveiling.

Clearly, this was not his first rodeo. He immediately asked the sales clerk, “Do you have scissors?” Alas, she did not.

I said, “Hey, we will be home soon and Meme will get out her scissors and we will free your tow truck!”

He looked up, he cocked his head, he replied, “Ok Meme.” Then he added, “We can do hard things! Good job Meme!” And then he clapped.

I do not know what seemed hard about this situation to him. Was it the difficulty of ripping into the box to retrieve the truck? Was it hearing “no” from the sales clerk? Was it having to wait until we drove home and arrived at Meme’s house to play? I do not know.

But what I do understand is that in the moment when something seemed hard, my grandson thought: We can do hard things. And he is correct. Together, we can do hard things. He celebrated with clapping and a big grin. My granddaughter, who is even younger, does the same thing. She claps when she stands up unaided. She claps when she grabs a piece of food and manages to get it in her tiny mouth. These kids know how to celebrate small next right steps - and I trust we are learning how to as well!

Working the Twelve Steps may feel all about us when we are crafting our responses to all these lists and noting all our shortcomings but it takes a support team to help us complete the work. I celebrate each and every one of you who even consider this practice! We can do hard things! (I am clapping for you!!)

I pray for you the satisfaction that my grandchildren possess when they complete a task. I pray for you the willingness to celebrate your accomplishment and even your considering change!

Whew! These are all the blogs on the fourth step….for now. Tune in tomorrow for a new topic.