Making Mud Pies
The Thanksgiving meal had ended, and Company had gathered into the close-knit living room. Laughter, jokes, and anecdotes of times gone by wrapped themselves around full bellies and sugar-flushed cheeks like warm hugs. Hands clasped lukewarm hot chocolate mugs and plates with half eaten pumpkin pie balanced precariously on laps. Caroline, the youngest of the cousins sat in the corner of the room, quiet and sulking. In the midst of chortles and doubled over bouts of laughter, she quietly slipped over to her mom, Amy. With tear-filled eyes she quietly whined, “mom… no one will play with me. All of the older kids are playing with each other and I’m all alone.”
Much to her surprise, her mom seemed to be amused at her upset. With a small smile, Amy whispered back, “What are you doing to make anyone want to play with you?”
Caroline replied, “Well… No one is playing with me so I’m not doing anything. I’m just sitting by myself. I can’t do anything, mom.”
Amy chuckled, “Sounds like you aren’t giving anyone a reason to want to play with you. How about this: No matter if you are by yourself or not, go outside and dig a hole. Go find as many things as you can and make yourself a mud pie.”
“A mud pie?!”
“Yes. A mud pie. Go outside and make the most amazing mud pie you can. Dig a deep hole and find the most interesting ingredients for your pie. I don’t want you to come back in here until you’ve made a real effort.”
Caroline, a bit confused, sauntered out the back door, coat in hand, and began to search for the softest ground to dig her hole.
After about 45 minutes, Amy peaked out the back door. Much to her bemusement, 4 other sets of small, mud-crusted hands had joined Caroline’s as she meticulously sorted pine cones, dead leaves, and pebbles into stacks to decorate her mud pie.
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When it’s easy to look outwards at how other might be wronging us… Instead of allowing ourselves to put the blame on others, how can we reflect and take personal responsibility? You might be surprised what a little ownership can accomplish.
By Lexi Brookey, 4th Degree Black Belt
Team Chip Abilene