It’s (one of) your middle names, and you deserve it. This morning you did something that made me so amazed, so incredibly proud and so astonished that you “get” this at only 7 years old.

See, a week or so ago, Grandma R sent you and your brother packages. You were excited to open, but sad to see the contents. It was a princess gift, and you are now “way beyond” princesses. You had thanked G&G anyway after it came, but were so disappointed in the gift itself that you cried at the time.

So, we decided to give this princess art set to your cousin and that made you feel better. After all, she’s just turning 5, and loves that kind of stuff. We thought the whole matter was behind us, and just made the best out of the feeling of unfairness and all (your brother LOVED his gift).

Then, when everything was long passed… that little guy told Grandma on the phone, that you did not like your gift AT ALL.  Yikes!

Today, she surprised you by asking you about it, and justified her choice. I think she was worried/offended/something like that.

In a moment of amazing graciousness, you said about the art set, “it is just perfect.”

Oh my, that was a brilliant thing to say, but even a better thing to feel. You acknowledged the kindness of her gift, helping her to feel complete, and you handled your own disappointment better than most adults do.

I seriously cannot comprehend how a 7-year old could be so sensitive to pull those words out of her own being, when her feelings at the time had been so (naturally for 7) disappointed.

Wow. That is spectacular compassion. empathy. graciousness and gratitude.

I love and respect you.