A mother wheeled a stroller into the elevator. The hair of the child sitting in the stroller was shinny and eye-catching. Then I noticed a mark on his wrist. It was like a “Well Done” stamp.
“Hi. What’s on your wrist?”
I asked him out of curiosity and his mother answered instead.
“It’s a stamp he got at his daycare center. When I tried to remove it while bathing him, he cried that I couldn’t wash around it. So the mark is left.”
I smiled despite myself, imagining how anxious he must’ve been about the stamp being washed off while his mother was bathing him. I was reminded that even whales dance when praised. Animals too dance with joy when praised. How much more do people rejoice?
I came to examine myself; how many times do I praise my family a day? I was sorry for having rarely praised people around me although it doesn’t cost and it’s not that hard.
Even while enjoying the food my wife had cooked for me, I often ate it without any words. My best compliment was nothing more than “It’s good.” When my wife prepares a delicacy, she cares more about my return time than usual. Come to think of it, she might’ve expected a compliment from me on her food. Now I feel sorry to her.
Once again I’ve realized that in order to maintain love between husband and wife or parents and children, we need to speak a word of praise rather than advice and caution. Now I’m practicing what to say to my wife at the table this evening.
“Honey! You’re a fantastic cook! It’s very good!”