Opening Hearts is as Easy as Opening a Window
Two-year-old Owen goes to speech therapy twice a week. The therapist's office is small and gloomy. There is one large window, but the shade is always down and very little light comes through. Each time we go there, I can't help but feel depressed by the atmosphere. Last Tuesday the teacher wanted Owen to repeat words he knows for objects outside. They were sitting on the floor in the middle of the stagnant room. "Say tree," she said to him, and Owen mumbled, "No." "Owen, say tree," the therapist tried again. Owen just stared at her. I could tell the therapist was frustrated, but I could also see that Owen was far from being inspired. For a moment I wished I had stayed in the waiting room, where at least the florescent light keeps things bright and cheery. The therapist tried a new approach: "Owen, can you say bird?" Owen frowned. This certainly isn't going well, I thought. He talks more at home, for Heaven's sake! Then Owen got up from his spot on the floor. He toddled over to the closed window shade and pointed. "Open," he said. "Owen, I need you to pay attention," the therapist said from her place on the floor. "Open," he said again. Finally the therapist joined him at the window and reluctantly opened the shade. Sunlight spilled into the room, casting a new joy and energy throughout that almost seemed tangible. Owen's face brightened. "Bird! Car! Tree!" he yelled excitedly. "Grass! Road!" Two days later, as we were driving into the parking lot for Owen's session, he looked out the car window and pointed. "Open," he said. He smiled triumphantly, looking at the outside of the therapist's window, which now had the shade drawn permanently up. "Well, look at that," I said. "She's kept the window open!" And then suddenly it crossed my mind: With love and God's help, it's even possible for someone as young as two to plant a seed and watch it grow. About The Author **The following MUST be present in any reproduction of this article, and the URL must be actively linked!** Sarah Smiley's syndicated column Shore Duty appears weekly in newspapers across the country. Check out her website www.SarahSmiley.com for more information. admin@sarahsmiley.com
Related News
‘The Express’ delivers inspirational story - The Daily Beacon
‘The Express’ delivers inspirational storyThe Daily Beacon, TN -16 hours ago... his performance as the historic Schwartzwalder is impressive and his character’s leadership and strong ethics is inspirational. ... |
Wrexham school 'inspirational' says children's champ - Evening Leader
INSPIRATIONAL! Eddie McGuire Earns A Fortune Doing Absolutely Nothing - Defamer Australia
Inspirational golfer renews swing - Sunshine Coast Daily
Inspirational golfer renews swingSunshine Coast Daily, Australia -19 hours agoThe key to good golf, Mary Joyce said, was to just get out there and have a good time. The 85-year-old said she’d been a golfer since she was a teenager. ... |
Inspirational Donna to address women - Maitland Mercury
Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies - Beliefnet.com
Top 20 Inspirational Sports MoviesBeliefnet.com, NY -19 hours agoIn celebration of the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, Beliefnet contributors made their personal picks for the Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies of All ... |
Tracy Lawrence Performing at Inspirational Country Music Awards - CMT.com
Inspirational firm really is first-class - Bradford Telegraph Argus
Inspirational firm really is first-classBradford Telegraph Argus, UK -16 hours agoWorld-famous pram-maker Silver Cross, which has seen rapid expansion since being rescued, features in a new national initiative to help UK firms. ... |
Top 15 Most Inspirational Olympic Moments - Beliefnet.com
Top 15 Most Inspirational Olympic MomentsBeliefnet.com, NY -19 hours agoWhat makes for an inspiring Olympic moment? Is it the years of hard work and sacrifice that culminate in a gold medal? Is it competing because you love your ... |
SHOWMAN SEVE SO INSPIRATIONAL - UK Express
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Extreme Self Care
EXTREME is not a term usually connected to self-care. Self-care usually portrays a picture of gentleness, kindness, loving self or being nurturing. People don't consider it necessary to take extreme action when it comes to self-care. Why?
Imagine How Different The World Would Look Just By Knowing What Type of Learner You Are
Are you a listener or a writer type of learner?
He Who Laughs...Lasts---Where Has All The Laughter Gone?
I love to watch people at airports, malls and even
at our church. I wonder, what got them here? What
attracted those two people to be together at this
time? What makes that one tick or that one over
there work so hard? And sadly, I wonder where has
all the laughter gone?
Aim High
Change is difficult for many people. Often times our whole identity is wrapped up in what we've learned as children will work for us when dealing with people, allowing us to survive, thrive and fit in. While some people have had to learn to thrive in the midst of change and learned to be adaptable by being open to new ideas and embracing change, many others have had to fight for survival and every table-scrap that came their way. Behavior is learned and it takes work to unlearn and dismantle these old beliefs.
Improvisational
Why are we trying so hard? It is like we are in a race to get somewhere and we don't even know where that is anymore. We have lost contact with spirit and the purpose we have given our lives and we are going around in circles chasing our tails.
The Amazing Power of the Human Will
The human will is the most incredible thing. I believe it is the human will that keeps us going, when everyone else expects us to sit, or even quit. I have always been fascinated by the heroes and sheroes who have made indelible marks in world history; and illustrated distinguished triumphs over seemingly, insurmountable adversity.
Anamchara - Living a Meaningful Life
At some stage of living your life you will ask the question "What does it mean to be here?"
How to Conquer Fears and Worries
"More than any other time in history, mankind face a crossroad. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, and the other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly." - Woody Allen (Side Effect)
Forgiveness
"If unresolved anger is a toxin to the spirit, forgiveness is the antidote." - Brian L. Seaward
Spiritual Bread Making
All the ingredients to make 12 loaves of bread already exist. The probability that any kind of bread already exists in your reality and it is simply is a matter of combining ingredients to create a possibility. The ingredients do not have to be created to make brown bread, they already exist. What is it that makes brown bread?
The Great Challenge of Life
Here's the great challenge of life - You can have more than you've got because you can become more than you are.
Who Is Dr Robert Anthony and Why Is He One of My Mentors and Heroes?
So who is Dr Robert Anthony?
No Problem!
Thanks to Walt Disney's "The Lion King", children the world over know the Swahili expression "Hakuna Matata". It means "No Problem" and we grown-ups should use it more often.
The Ant Philosophy
Over the years I've been teaching kids about a simple but powerful concept - the ant philosophy.
A Bad Move
Direct Answers - Column for the week of April 7, 2003
The Pursuit of Greatness
On June 3rd, 1948, a blast rocked the Black Hills of South Dakota. Ten tons of stone were dislodged from the mountainside and tumbled to the earth below. Earlier that day, a man named Korczak had ascended the mountain and single-jacked four holes at 6,740 feet above sea level.
The Seasons of Life, Part 1 of 5
Life is about constant, predictable patterns of change. For the six thousand years of recorded history, as humans have entered this world, received parental instruction, classroom instruction, and gathered the experience of life; many have set for themselves ambitious goals, and dreamed lofty dreams.
My Journey
I believe it's important for you to develop a mission statement for your life; one that is unique and articulates your values, goals, dreams; how you want to live.
Body Calling: Eye Sight Cured Naturally
Lorenzo C. an inspiring young teenager who fell to the inevitable statistics of a major automobile accident. A victim in the back seat of his family's car that had been involved in an accident and their car lost control and hit a tree, crushing down on Lorenzo's side of the vehicle and on Lorenzo. Rushed to emergency care Lorenzo survived but suffered severe eye damage. After many months in cosmetic reconstruction and surgery doctor's final diagnosis was poor, if not null and void. Lorenzo's father went to all levels of research and help to restore his son's eyesight, to no avail. Then one day the father ran into an old friend, Professional Golfer, Justin Morris, who suggested Lorenzo take vitamin nutritionals and supplementations and one specifically referred to as Visionex. Lorenzo began taking them with his meals daily as a regular course of action, pretty much auto-pilot.
The One Thing You Really Want
There is one thing you want...
|
