Granny Gheeta felt it was always important for parents, grandparents and other family members to treat each of their children as if they were special. Recognizing and developing their strengths so that they, too, can believe in their unique qualities and "specialness". Granny often commented that being a mother was her most rewarding job because each of her children taught her different lessons about life and about herself. Granny was often heard saying, "God never created any two human beings alike, not even twins."
 

Although twins may have similar thoughts and dispositions, beneath their beings are complex individuals who also have their own desires, dreams and strengths. Granny felt that each person in the universe posessed a skill or gift where they superceded all competitors. It is the excellence in their being that no one can ever take away from them or try to undermine.

For some children, these gifts are recognized early, for others, they are caught later on in life, puzzling everyone concerned.
Even the children, that most people deem as damaged goods, because of certain disabilities, have their "specialness". Like the movie "Rainman", children with Autism or ADHD are blessed with inner genius that no one bothers to tap into until the intelligence startles them with a surprise.
 

Granny may not have been a child psychologist, but, she was a great observer of children and people. Granny Gheets could tell a lot by spending a few matter-o-fact hours with a child just by observing a casual conversation. It was during these times, she was able to determine, if the child had parents who boosted their egos and self esteems, or criticized them with negativity and name calling.

In Granny's world, she believed that it was easier for someone to believe a negative remark than to appreciate a sincere compliment. Therefore, if children lived with negativity day and night, eventually there would be a generation of sad sacks and doubting Thomas's running around. Granny always made each and every one of her granchildren feel special. She never played favorites, but made sure that we were all praised for our strengths, and reminded us that our weaknesses were chances to become better. If we practiced, the goal was easily attained. In her eyes, all her grandchildren were shining stars.
 

Granny would always remind me, "Never let anyone make you feel ordinary or common! If they try to, shame on them, but never let it reflect on you!"

It is funny, how most of us can relate to times when folks in our lives try to take us to places of no return, where sometimes, the remarks are so scathing that we just want to take them down to Chinatown, but instead, we let our special lights shine, and go forward into the light. It is during these times we often become disgusted with ourselves for allowing others to get the better part of us. But we also feel redeemed when we are able to take the high road and not stoop to gutter snipe levels.

The song "Jesus loves the little children of the world", speaks of Jesus finding all children precious in his sight. Therefore, in God's eyes we have superceded "special", to him, we are precious.
We are one of a kind creations, that can never be duplicated or copied. Like any Father, he knows that we are gifted beyond "special" and "precious". We are intricately made to succeed at any task we put our minds to. Therefore, the words common or ordinary should never exist in the same sentence when referring to human beings. Becauses even when people are at their lowest, common or ordinary state, even there you can find that quality in them that resonates like no other human being.

The best advice that Granny Gheeta ever gave me, was, "Always look on the bright side of a person's character, accentuate the positives and eliminate the negatives. Be a builderupper instead of a breakerdowner."

I believe those were the wisest words ever spoken, because if we all sought to build each other up, what a marvelous place the world would be.