May I just say how proud I am of my little girl?  Inside the May edition of Suburban Parent it reads, “COVER MODEL Maris 4 1/2  Maris may be young, but she already has 6 belts in karate.  She also has plenty of pets (2 wolf hybrids, 4 cats, 1 mouse, 2 turtles and several koi).  Good practice for being “a doctor for animals” when she grows up.  Until then, she likes painting seashells, collecting rocks, and playing in the park.”  I think I’m beginning to understand the pride my parents had in me for my accomplishments.  American author John C. Maxwell said:

“There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad.  ‘Good pride’ represents our dignity and self-respect.  ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.”

My father taught me about both kinds of pride.  He lived the good kind, never letting others define him with their own bad kind.  Maris has already had more advantages at the tender age of four than I had in 36 years before marrying.  It is imperative to me that she REALLY understands (good) pride tempered with humility and self-respect without the fallaciousness of “better than” or arrogance.  I am proud of her for the person she is becoming and I love everything she does — from her crayon scribbles to karate kicks.  I remember my daddy was SO proud in that TV audience when I was in the Miss Texas USA pageant.  I wondered why he didn’t seem as proud when I won first place in the state for news writing, or when I got first place in solo singing competitions every year.  I do not believe he was any less pleased, I guess it was just the only time I got to see him there and was able to observe it.  Anyway, forgive a proud mama for indulging.  Her daddy went out and swept up every copy he could find so I know he is proud, too.  I also know how thrilled my mother would be for her namesake.  I am so glad they did not remove her Stella Maris necklace that she always wears.  How fitting that my Marian child would make the cover in the month of May.  So, my precious angel, with my mother’s name and my father’s birthday, here’s to many more accomplishments.  Soar high my darling.  Achukma hoke.