Teaching Story - Always good

by Life Positive

Ten minutes later, Nandini was tucking into a piping hot dish of upma and chutney while Mummy sat across her at the dining table.

“Who told you that you are bad?” asked Mummy. “Pradip, my best friend, did. He wanted me to help him with his Maths this evening but I did not want to because I want to read the new Enid Blyton book daddy gave me. He got angry and said I was a bad girl and that he would not talk to me,” said Nandini, her voice wobbling.

“That was wrong of you,” said Mother. “You know that Pradip has often come to help you with English which is your weak point. Why don’t you call him up and say sorry and tell him that you will come?”

Nandini looked mutinous. “But he fought with me and called me bad. I don’t want to go.”

“Just because he called you bad, does not make you bad. And even though you have done something bad, it does not make you a bad person. You are always a good person even though you may do bad things.”

Nandini looked puzzled. “How can that be, Mummy?” she asked.

“We are children of God, little one, and therefore our nature is always good. So never ever believe that you are bad. You are good and always will be.”

Joy flooded across Nandini’s face. “Am I really good, Mummy?” she asked.

“Yes, my darling child, you are good, and always will be so. But that does not mean that you will not pay for the wrong that you do. You will have to call and apologise to Pradip, but there is a difference between what you do and who you are. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Mummy, I think I do,” said Nandini slowly. “When I think that my behaviour is bad, then I don’t take it personally. When I think that I am bad, all my strength seems to leave me, and I feel all crumpled from within. I can’t even bear to look at myself in the mirror.”

“Exactly,” Mummy beamed.

“Thank you for telling me this. I feel so much better now,” said Nandini gratefully, “I am going to call Pradip right away, and I am never going to forget that I am always good.”

CHILDREN, NO MATTER WHO TELLS YOU THAT YOU ARE BAD – IT MAY BE YOUR PARENTS OR YOUR TEACHERS OR YOUR FRIENDS – NEVER BELIEVE THEM. YOU ARE GOOD AND ALWAYS WILL BE. YES, YOU MAY DO BAD THINGS BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU BAD. SAVVY?