A Gift Outside Of A Box

Time: An hour ago
Place: In the kitchen

Me: Sienna, Mommy is so pleased to see the way you play the piano. You try to keep up a rhythm and carry out your mood even you still stumble on a note or two here and there. It’s ok to make those mistakes. You make it such a fun to play.

Sienna: I know I am almost perfect.

Me: You were born with the gift, Sienna.

Sienna: (A bit puzzled) Gift? In a box?

Me: (Time for some preaching) No. You cannot really see that gift. When you can play the piano well, you bring out the beautiful music. The music becomes the gift for yourself and others. Please understand when Mommy asks you to practice, that’s because I want you to keep that gift of yours. It’s hard work sometimes. Everybody was born with some gifts. Look at Daddy, he was born to paint. He paints beautiful works because he kept it up. Mommy was born with some gift. I didn’t practice piano, so I lost it…

Sienna: (Sympathetically, making a blowing-kiss like gesture) I can give you my gift. You can do it.

Me: That’s very nice of you. It doesn’t work that way. Mommy has other gifts. That’s talk about Mommy’s gifts later.

Sienna: I want to talk about it now.

Me: Well, let’s see what gift your Mommy has.

Sienna: (Seriously thinking for one second. Gently…) Love!

Me: Wow! That’s right.

Sienna: (Throwing herself on my lap.) You love me. And I love you.