Learning from the Best

One of the reasons I love Abigail is because she is an excellent teacher. Here are a few of the many things she teaches me:

She teaches me gratitude. We were eating dinner, Abigail poised on my lap. Our plates were identical, except for portion sizes and degree of florescence in the platter. Although her plate was not empty, mine held the greater appeal, so she cautiously retrieved noodles and broccoli from my plate, one piece at a time, and placed them on her plate followed by a jovial "Thank Yooo".

She teaches me etiquette. After nearly clearing my plate, she pointed at the center of one of the few remaining morsels and gently informed me "There,". I placed my fork where instructed, ate the noodle, and she pointed to another. "There." And it was so that, under her tutelage, I finished my meal.

She teaches me compassion. I had a bad cold, with coughs that sounded six times worse than they felt, and they felt pretty bad. After each, Abigail's eyes would fill with worry, and she would plead to know that I was "Okay. Okaayee. Okaayee.". There was no consolation until we reassured her I was fine.

She teaches me love of the gospel. On the way to church, Abigail was so excited, so unabashedly thrilled at going to church, that she sprinted down the sidewalk shouting "Runrunrunrunrun! Runrunrunrunrunnnn!". Not even bruising her forehead in a fall on the way diminished her enthusiasm. She was going to church and that was the highlight of her day.

I love the daddy job.