Two years ago when Laney was in Kindergarten his teacher Mrs. Spiker read this story to all the Moms leaving there kids off for the first time. But when I read it I think it relates to everything new you and your child go through as they grow. I cry every time I read it. Enjoy!
Once upon a time there was a little boy named Jack who was about to climb his very first beanstalk. He had a fresh haircut and brand-new book bag.
Even though his friends in the neighborhood had climbed this same beanstalk almost every day last year, this was Jack's first day and he was a little nervous. So was his Mother.
Early in the morning she brought him to the foot of the beanstalk. She talked encouragingly to Jack about all the fun he would have that day and how nice his giant would be. She reassured him that she would be back to pick him up at the end of the day. For a moment they stood together, silently holding hands, gazing up at the beanstalk. To Jack it seemed much bigger than it had when his mother had pointed it out on the way to the store last week. His mother thought it looked big, too. She swallowed. Maybe she should have held Jack out a year.
Jack's Mother straightened his shirt one last time, patted his shoulder and smiled down at him. She promised to stay and wave while he stated climbing. Jack didn't say a word.
He walked forward, grabbed a low-growing stem and slowly pulled himself up to the first leaf. He balanced there for a moment and then climbed more eagerly to the second leaf, then to the third and soon he had vanished into a high tangle of leaves and stems with never a backward glance at his Mother.
She stood alone at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing up at the spot where Jack had disappeared. There was no rustle, no movement, and no sound to indicate that he was anywhere inside.
"Sometimes" she thought, "it's harder to be the one who waves goodbye than it is to be the one who climbs the beanstalk."
She wondered how Jack would do. Would he miss her? How would he behave? Did his giant understand that little boys sometimes acted silly when they felt unsure? She fought down and urge to spring up the stalk after Jack and maybe duck behind a bean to take a peek at how he was doing.
"I'd better not. What if he saw me?" She knew Jack was really old enough to handle this on his own. She reminded herself that after all, this was thought to be and excellent beanstalk and that everyone said his giant was not only kind but had outstanding qualifications.
"It's not so much that I'm worried about him," she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just that he's growing up and I'm going to miss him."
Jack's Mother turned to leave "Jack's going to have lots of bigger beanstalks to climb in his life" she told herself.
"Today's the day he starts practicing for them.... And today's the day I start practicing something too; cheering him on and waving goodbye."
Ryan got this from church last week. They had a lesson of forgiveness. I having hanging on my fridge. Its a good reminder that weather we are forgiving something someone did against us or we are forgiving ourselves for our own flaws or asking forgiveness from others or our Father in Heaven we must always remember to forgive no matter how hard it is! (D&C 64:10) "I the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men."
