By Brenda Cannon Henley
Recently I wrote about the life lessons I have learned from my exceptionally bright and creative five year old granddaughter. I have come to the conclusion that each of us adults should plan to spend some time with a four or five year old to help us better understand the issues of life these days. Maya Grace Stancil doesn’t worry about much. She loves her life and told me so. She loves her friends and tells them so. She plays hard and I will venture to predict she will become a hard worker. She is dedicated to the task and sticks with it like a bossy bulldog until it has been completed. She has a mind of her own and displays it daily. I like that about her.

She keeps with her possessions and guards them when necessary. She is protective of her family and her home. Just say something about her brothers and sister. Her dad is her personal hero and she loves to play games with him.

If you knew Maya’s back story and what she has been through, you would share my excitement and love for her. Without going into much detail, my son and daughter in law fostered Maya for almost two years. She is a heart replacement recipient and has spent weeks in the hospital. She knows the ropes of admittance, getting to a room, the hospital gown in a very small size, hours of testing and waiting on results, several surgeries, medicines, and eating by way of a feeding tube. She loves her nurses and doctors and laughs readily. Sunday school and Master Club are some of her favorite activities and she adores school and her teachers, and being with her good friends.

I am keeping Maya Grace today because her dad and mom are in Haiti working at the orphanage and school they have founded there. They have established the first group home and are helping to get the precious little children settled in a safe and comfortable environment.

If you would like to know more about International Orphanage and Schools, and how you could help Maya Grace’s dad and mom in this work in a badly needy country, read about www.IOS.Vision.

The thing she taught me today really should not have come as a grand surprise to me. But it did. In fact, it was overwhelming and I had to leave the room to keep her from seeing fresh tears. For Maya, it was simply old school, a way of life, and evidence of excellent home training and immense love.

Determined to cook Maya Grace and her friend Destiny an interesting breakfast, I made them a really good omelet similar to what we order at one of our favorite restaurants on the beach, The Frog Pond. I had chopped pieces of baked ham, added three kinds of cheeses, potatoes, fresh bell peppers, salt and pepper, and beaten eggs. It smelled so good cooking and soon our entire kitchen was inviting to our near neighbors I am certain.

Carefully arranging the plates, I handed the first to Maya and the next to Destiny. Maya looked at the warm food, and said, “I haven’t ever eaten this before.” I explained that I thought she had at The Frog Pond. Very quickly, she shook her little brown curls, and said, “I haven’t (end of discussion), but I will try it.” And with that, she dug in and cleaned her plate.

I thought, “If adults could only react that way, how many problems could be solved and strife avoided.” “I will try to see your point of view.” “I will try to understand your hurts and needs.” “I will try to avoid conflict.” “I will try to color outside the lines.” “I will try to help more.”

Yep, another life lesson taught well and in person by my five year old professor of living.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409 781 8788, or
[email protected]

[Aug-24-2020]