A Lesson from a First Grader

This entry was written on Sep 18, 2009 by our Dad Guru John Valadez

Lessons are taught every day. I couldn’t say how many, but I’m positive everyone is given at least one lesson a day. It’s truly up to us if we learn it or not. I suggest starting to look for them on a daily basis. Your lesson can be subtle or a bang on the head, like seeing a car get pulled over while you’re speeding as well; to being pulled over and receiving a warning for speeding; to getting a ticket for speeding; to being in an automobile accident. My theory is depending on your negligence or lack of wanting to learn your lesson depends on the severity of the lesson being taught. I’m sure you’ve heard people say, “I don’t understand why my life is so bad, what did I do to deserve this?” or “Why do I keep meeting the biggest jerks in the world?” If we take the time to exam the “why”, our answers are right in front of us – literally. There is a lesson to be learned and we haven’t learned it yet.

If you want to change your life then you have to change yourself first; easier said than done. If you want to stop meeting jerks you have to change your thoughts and inner dialogue first; easier said than done.
People are given the opportunity every day to improve their lives, if we begin to understand we are divine creatures and are meant to be prosperous and happy. Pay attention to your daily lessons. One of my lessons, yesterday, was taught to me by my six year-old daughter. I picked her up from school and when we arrived home I asked to look at her backpack. Each day I sign a communication sheet from her teacher. The sheet allows me to see how she behaved in school. I initial the sheet and place it in her folder to return the next school day. When I opened the pack there was no folder. I asked where it was and she began to cry and told me she forgot it at school.
My reaction could have been to yell at her or just brush it off as no big deal or console her or ignore her and on and on. A parent’s response to any situation differs from parent to parent. My response was to console her. I hugged her and let her know how well she’s been doing and told her to let her teacher know in the morning she left her notebook in her desk. I also went on and said, “You have to remember to bring your notebook home every day. You’re a first grader now and a big girl. The teacher doesn’t check everyone’s backpack each day to ensure you bring your notebook home like in kindergarten. Do you understand?” “Yes,” she replied. “Good girl, now finish your snack.” I always give her a snack after school.
My lesson was in tolerance, just like the day before. Unlike the day before I reacted with love, respect and reassurance in her ability to remember in the future. I’m thinking this lesson will repeat itself until I build up my tolerance and my tolerant reactions become second nature.

Take some time today and attempt to notice your reoccurring lessons. Lessons that repeat in your life and, to your understanding, seem to never go away. You don’t have to ask why this keeps happening to you any longer; you just have to begin to handle the situation differently when it occurs. Try acting the complete opposite, rather than the way you are presently handling the situation. Do this and I’m sure your life will improve for the better. Have a great day and God Bless.