Melt My Heart

Yesterday I asked John to help Ellie put her shoes on.  We were getting ready to leave for school, and he knew she'd be going to the nursery at the Y.  I was running around grabbing other things and managed to catch this out of the corner of my eye/ear, in the sweetest, most patient little voice (as Ellie began to get restless and fussy), "Come on, Ellie.  Let me help you put your shoes on.  Don't you want to go see Miss Mary?"  Reading it, I can't get across how sweet it was.  It wasn't said out of frustration, but encouragement.  As rough and tumble as that boy is, John has got such a tender heart...and melted mine yesterday morning.