As I was babysitting my 3-year-old grand-daughter, she just had to make a mud puddle with the small watering can I gave her to play with. She found the perfect spot, applied a lot of water, with the help of grandma of course, and made a nice little mud puddle perfect for her size feet to stomp in.
As she stomped away, splashing the muddy water everywhere and squealing with joy, I realized she loved what she was doing so much because she had made it happen – all by herself! She made the mud puddle, she made the splashes, she made the foot prints in the mud, and she was making it all happen!
As I encouraged her by saying, “Good job Ellie, you are doing it…. you are making mud”, she stomped even harder, giggled even louder and agreed how great it was to make mud! My encouragement of her accomplishment made her want to do it more, and gave her confidence to stomp harder and splash longer in her lovely little mud puddle.
It occurred to me that this was a lesson in how a little encouragement can go a long way. We all need some encouragement every now and then, and when we get it, we are able to go farther, rise higher, stomp harder, splash better, and do it all with more confidence than we had before.ย
Let’s encourage one another today.ย In this way, weย will help others make their puddles in life with more vigor and confidence than before.
What a lovely story :)))) Betcha you never let your daughter do that – grandkids get away with murder!!!
Thanks Elaine! Actually I think I did let my kids do that because I’m kind of a free bird myself ๐ ๐ Of course I didn’t let them track the mud in the house… but I always let them be “free to be who they want to be”. lol Thanks for your support Elaine!
Actually we not only splashed in puddles but my brother and I actually went “swimming” in a big puddle once! We had fun in the country. ๐
What a great story! I can just she her little face as she stomps around in the puddle. My favorite line is the last one that says, “We will help others make their puddles in life with more vigor and confidence than before.”
Thanks Sarah… Yes, I think that is my favorite line too. It kind of sums it all up. ๐
I like that line too. And what a good lesson on encouragement – a little can go a long way.
I love this cute little story, I can picture Ellie in her mud puddle stomping away. This message is a great reminder to keep encouraging others-but not to forget about ourselves. I do that a lot because I get so focused on everyone else but me..oops! Great lesson, thanks Laura!
Your Welcome April and thanks for your comment. Yes, it is good to encourage others and oursleves too! ๐
Laura