I CAN DO ANYTHING BETTER THAN YOU
Once upon a time there was a boy named Aadhan who wanted to be first at everything. Aadhan’s favorite song was, “I can do anything you can do better, I can do anything better than you.” No matter how many times his little sister would say, “No you can’t,” he would say, “Yes I can,” until she would give up and go away. His victories always seemed hollow because no matter how he tried, no matter what he accomplished, he could never please the most important person in his life; his father.
One day in the sixth grade, Aadhan sat anxiously waiting as the teacher passed out report cards. It seemed like an eternity, but finally the teacher stood before his desk and with a big smile placed the envelope in his hand, gently touching him on the shoulder. Unlike the other children, Aadhan could not bring himself to open his report card in class. He could barely hear or see the teacher’s final instructions about having the report cards signed and returned the following day. Finally class was dismissed.
Aadhan rushed out of class, through the halls, out the doors, and across the grassy field to the short stretch of woods that separated his house from the school. Once he was in the woods, he found an isolated shrub where no one could see him. He slowly opened the envelope, and with trembling hands, he unfolded his report card. There before him was a sight that filled his heart with perfect joy. He looked down and saw all “A’s.” He looked again and again, certain he was missing something, but it was a truth beyond all truth’s; he received all “A’s”!!!!! Indeed, on the section regarding behavior, he received all “Outstanding’s”!!!! Aadhan stepped out from the shrub, into the warm sun, stretched his arms, envelope in one hand, and report card in the other and said, “This is a day of all days!!!!”
Aadhan rushed home and went straight to his room where he stayed for fear that something could harm a perfect day. He stared at the clock, counting the minutes until his father came home. Finally, he heard the car pull into the driveway, the door from the garage into the kitchen close, and waited for a while longer for father to have time to take off his coat, put on his house shoes, and nestle into his easy chair. Aadhan, report card in hand left his bedroom, entered the living room, and sat next to his father’s feet upon the foot stool.
He waited patiently for his father to close the evening paper and cherished the address, “Good evening son, how are you.” Without a word, Aadhan reached out his perspiring hand and gave father his report card. Aadhan studied father’s face as he opened the envelope and scrolled the report card with his eyes. Aadhan thought he saw a first time twinkle in his father’s eyes. His father slowly folded the card, and with the envelope, and returned them to Aadhan with what he thought was a half smile. Father said:
The next day he went to first class. His classmate sitting next to him said, "Father said my report card was the best he’d ever seen!!!” Without a word, Aadhan reached into his desk, pulled out a number two pencil, and stabbed his classmate in the hand.
If he built a fort, his father would say,
“That is nice, but the walls could be a bit higher.”
If he drew a picture, his father would say,
“That is nice, but the sun could be brighter.”
If he hit in the winning run, his father would say,
“That is nice, but the catcher was a real fighter.”
One day in the sixth grade, Aadhan sat anxiously waiting as the teacher passed out report cards. It seemed like an eternity, but finally the teacher stood before his desk and with a big smile placed the envelope in his hand, gently touching him on the shoulder. Unlike the other children, Aadhan could not bring himself to open his report card in class. He could barely hear or see the teacher’s final instructions about having the report cards signed and returned the following day. Finally class was dismissed.
Aadhan rushed out of class, through the halls, out the doors, and across the grassy field to the short stretch of woods that separated his house from the school. Once he was in the woods, he found an isolated shrub where no one could see him. He slowly opened the envelope, and with trembling hands, he unfolded his report card. There before him was a sight that filled his heart with perfect joy. He looked down and saw all “A’s.” He looked again and again, certain he was missing something, but it was a truth beyond all truth’s; he received all “A’s”!!!!! Indeed, on the section regarding behavior, he received all “Outstanding’s”!!!! Aadhan stepped out from the shrub, into the warm sun, stretched his arms, envelope in one hand, and report card in the other and said, “This is a day of all days!!!!”
Aadhan rushed home and went straight to his room where he stayed for fear that something could harm a perfect day. He stared at the clock, counting the minutes until his father came home. Finally, he heard the car pull into the driveway, the door from the garage into the kitchen close, and waited for a while longer for father to have time to take off his coat, put on his house shoes, and nestle into his easy chair. Aadhan, report card in hand left his bedroom, entered the living room, and sat next to his father’s feet upon the foot stool.
He waited patiently for his father to close the evening paper and cherished the address, “Good evening son, how are you.” Without a word, Aadhan reached out his perspiring hand and gave father his report card. Aadhan studied father’s face as he opened the envelope and scrolled the report card with his eyes. Aadhan thought he saw a first time twinkle in his father’s eyes. His father slowly folded the card, and with the envelope, and returned them to Aadhan with what he thought was a half smile. Father said:
“That’s nice Aadhan,
But I know that teacher
She gives A’s to everyone.”
The next day he went to first class. His classmate sitting next to him said, "Father said my report card was the best he’d ever seen!!!” Without a word, Aadhan reached into his desk, pulled out a number two pencil, and stabbed his classmate in the hand.
TOMORROW
A REFLECTION ON
THE BIBLE STORY OF THREE BROTHERS
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