Here's a little story I've been saving to send out just in time for
Mother's Day.  I know there are special little boys (or we could change the
protagonist to a little girl) in your life who will come to mind as you
read this.  Enjoy!  Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow mothers, and a
happy day with your favorite woman who is a mother to those of you who are
not one.

>Last week I took my children to  a restaurant.  My 6-year-old son asked if
>he could  say grace.  As we bowed our heads he  said, "God is great. God
>is good. Thank you for  the food, and I would even thank you more if
>mom  gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all!  Amen!"
>
>Along with the laughter from the other  customers nearby I heard a
>woman  remark, "That's what's wrong with this  country.  Kids today don't
>even know how to  pray.  Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I  never!"
>
>Hearing this, my son burst into  tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong?
>Is God mad  at me?"  As I held him and assured him that he had  done a
>terrific job and God was certainly not mad  at him, an elderly gentle man
>approached the  table.  He winked at my son and said, "I happen to  know
>that God thought that was a great  prayer."  "Really?" my son
>asked.  "Cross my  heart," replied the kindly gentleman.
>
>Then in theatrical whisper he  added (indicating the woman whose remark
>had  started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice
>cream.  A  little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
>
>Naturally, I bought my kid's ice cream at the end of  the meal.  My son
>stared at his for a moment and then did something I will  remember the
>rest of my life.  He picked up his  sundae and without a word walked over
>and placed  it in front of the woman.  With a big smile he told  her,
>"Here, this is for you.  Ice cream is good for  the soul sometimes and my
>soul is good  already."

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Oralia Preble-Niemi,Ph.D.
Professor and Head
Foreign Languages & Literatures
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN  37403
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