Jaron was looking at a wooden bank my brother made for him several years ago. The thing is huge and super sturdy. He’s been asking to open it so he can count his money. I finally relented and said he could. He turned it upside down and while checking to see what size screwdriver he would need to open it, he noticed that there was a loose piece to his bank. He examined it closely. Noticing the edges and detail to his wooden bank that he apparently has never fully appreciated before. He asked me some questions about how his uncle was able to make the bank then exclaimed “He must be a carpenter!” I told him he was right and he sat there in a bit of a daze as he pondered that thought. “I’m going to tell Ms Carol about him! She’ll think that’s cool!” then continued, “I have the best life!! My Granddaddy is a pastor, my Mema is a dance leader, my Papa is realtorman!, my Grandma is from Australia, my Uncle Mark is a drummer and used to be in a band, Ms. Rebecca is very nice and careful and when she has the chance she comes to our church, Uncle Clay lives in California and moves around a lot and he plays piano, Auntie Angie moves around with Uncle Clay a lot and will never get divorced with him, I have a mom that knows sign language, a dad who used to be in a band, my Uncle Darryl is a carpenter and that is very very special, Auntie Pam is very loving and whole-hearted and very nice to Tyler and lots of people, Uncle Grant plays music on the stage, Auntie Mary sings on the stage– songs that the church doesn’t know that well.” (why do you say that?, I asked) “well because I don’t know them, so maybe other don’t know them.”
He pauses for a moment and says, “Everyone in my family is something special!”
And now, after counting his blessings, he sits on the floor to count his pennies.