104 ~ The Mistake

By Kay Heitsch

I learned a lot of lessons and met many people working in the memory care center.

"L" and I would walk around, and other residents would invite us into their rooms to show us something.

One day, "Doris" * invited us into her room. Doris had been a science teacher by profession, but she was also a very creative person. All around her room were dolls that she had made. They were the most interesting dolls I'd ever seen; each was very different from the other.

From what I gathered from talking to Doris, she'd taken a class in doll making. One day, while I was in her room, she took one of the dolls out of the case to show me. She said that this was the first doll she had ever made. This doll was very unusual, with fine artistic work. The ceramic skirt was made of delicate ruffles. I was amazed that anyone could do such unique work.

As Doris was holding the doll very carefully, she turned the doll in such a way that I could see a slight break in one of the ruffles on the skirt.

Then she said, "Would you like me to tell you about this?" Of course, I was curious to know what happened.

Doris explained that on the way to class, she bumped the side of the skirt. She said she was devastated and almost didn't go to class at all.

When it came her turn to show the doll to the teacher, she had to point out the break in the skirt. Doris was sure that the doll would be rejected because of it.

Much to her surprise, the teacher told her she was going to ignore this break and grade the doll on the other good qualities it had.

Doris said this remark and attitude from the teacher changed her life. She said she knew if that teacher hadn't forgiven that small mistake, she would never have made the rest of the dolls.

I'll never forget Doris and the lesson she taught me. We can overlook the mistakes people make and focus on the good.

* Name Changed

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2