Forgive Those Who Hurt You

Do you recall the children’s book, Are You My Mother? If not, here’s the gist of it: the little bird popped out of the egg and looked around. He was all alone. He jumped out of the nest and landed on the ground. Since he could not yet fly, he walked around meeting cats, dogs, and others all the while asking them, “Are you my mother?”

When Sam and David were young (as they were in the picture), it was common for some to ask me, “Are you their mother?”

The first time something like this happened Sam and I were checking out at WalMart. In the middle of the transaction, the youngish cashier asked, “Are you the nanny?” I’ll admit her forwardness stunned me. Since I was born and raised in Mississippi, I found her approach downright rude.

I was younger then and not as polished with my reply…