I talked to a twelve-year-old girl, Nora, by video call. I asked her what was going on in her life.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Miss Winters [her teacher] is being more of Miss Winters.”
I smiled, knowing that Nora meant that the not-especially-desirable personality traits of Miss Winters were becoming more pronounced as the school year was drawing to a close.
Nora added, “Poor baby” without the slightest trace of sarcasm.
I was stunned by these two brief sentences.
“My dear, I have spoken to thousands of people, and that was one of the most powerful evidences of real growth and strength that I have ever heard. It was beautiful.”
She shrugged her shoulders in a gesture of “No big deal, really.”
“I repeat, beautiful. Why am I telling you this? To flatter you?”
“No, just information.”
“That’s right. I’m telling you so you know how well you’re doing. In past conversations, you have complained a lot. You complained about your sister, your mom, your teacher, lots of things. Everything was unfair to you. Remember?”
“Yeah,” she said. “When our family started doing Real Love, I thought it was going to be the worst experience of my life. I thought it would take even more freedom from me. I hated it, but the more I did it, the more free I felt. It’s crazy how different my life is now. Mom and Dad are really there for me. They listen. And if I just DO my responsibilities, instead of complaining about them, I get to do whatever I want. I’m FREE.”
“Free how?”
“Free to be with friends or whatever. Nobody nags me, because I have my work done.”
I looked to see if light was radiating from this child. She was peaceful and happy, a long way from where she used to be. The Real Love® and teaching of her parents had transformed their daughter. It’s really all about the parents.
