Little Richard is one of the little ones I teach in the mornings, and he is probably the most precious child I have ever laid eyes on. I would describe him as a round, baby Taylor Lautner, and oh my goodness, he has the cutest little voice and laugh in the world. I could go on for hours about how perfect he is, but let’s just sum up my adoration by saying that I absolutely love him and spent the past few months scheming up a way to make him mine. No, I’m not kidding, I really have been trying to contrive a way to adopt him (and if you still think I’m joking then ask my parents, it’s true). But apparently someone beat me to it, because Richard is now off with a wonderful family...without me.
Now I know what you’re thinking, shouldn’t I be happy that he found someone to love and take care of him? And the answer is that yes, I should be very grateful and excited that he has found a family to call his own, and I really am, but I still miss him so much. It’s such a frustrating feeling because I realize that wanting him back is nothing but selfishness, and yet I can’t force the feeling away. And if you’re reading this and thinking to yourself “Come on homegirl, it’s just one little boy. Aren’t there fifty more you can still play with?”, then you make a very valid argument, but you don’t understand how much I love this child. I don’t think I could love him more if he really was my Richard. In fact he accidentally called me “Mommy” one afternoon; and listen, if you ever want your heart to melt, have a 3 year old orphan call you “Mommy.”
But anyways, back to my original point, which is this: I learned a big lesson last week on selflessness. I want Richard back more than I can explain, but deep down what I truly want for him is a happy, loving family that he can call his own. I don’t believe that it is selfish to miss him, but it is selfish to want him to return to a less admirable situation when he has such an ideal one now. In situations like this one, you have to remember that it isn’t about you, or what you want. It’s about keeping others’ best interests at heart, and being proud or excited or supportive of them, even when it hurts. Your happiness is important, but when it steps on the goals or hopes of people you care about, it’s not right. We need to learn to step back and find a new joy in their delight, rather than always looking to satisfy our own happiness. I think you’ll find that it is just as rewarding (if not more so) to reap contentment from others’ successes and triumphs, as it is from your own.
Now I know what you’re thinking, shouldn’t I be happy that he found someone to love and take care of him? And the answer is that yes, I should be very grateful and excited that he has found a family to call his own, and I really am, but I still miss him so much. It’s such a frustrating feeling because I realize that wanting him back is nothing but selfishness, and yet I can’t force the feeling away. And if you’re reading this and thinking to yourself “Come on homegirl, it’s just one little boy. Aren’t there fifty more you can still play with?”, then you make a very valid argument, but you don’t understand how much I love this child. I don’t think I could love him more if he really was my Richard. In fact he accidentally called me “Mommy” one afternoon; and listen, if you ever want your heart to melt, have a 3 year old orphan call you “Mommy.”
But anyways, back to my original point, which is this: I learned a big lesson last week on selflessness. I want Richard back more than I can explain, but deep down what I truly want for him is a happy, loving family that he can call his own. I don’t believe that it is selfish to miss him, but it is selfish to want him to return to a less admirable situation when he has such an ideal one now. In situations like this one, you have to remember that it isn’t about you, or what you want. It’s about keeping others’ best interests at heart, and being proud or excited or supportive of them, even when it hurts. Your happiness is important, but when it steps on the goals or hopes of people you care about, it’s not right. We need to learn to step back and find a new joy in their delight, rather than always looking to satisfy our own happiness. I think you’ll find that it is just as rewarding (if not more so) to reap contentment from others’ successes and triumphs, as it is from your own.
This, of course, is Richard. I knew you'd love him too.
