By Joan Endicott
Dear Young at Heart, I pray this series creates a special opportunity for you to enjoy personally, while also sharing these stories and life lessons with the little ones you love, as well. May it connect with all ages, giving wonderful moments of compassionate conversation that serve to ground every heart, regardless of age, in the timeless Truths of God’s Word. — Joan
The swing swayed gently beneath the old Juniper tree, its branches stretching wide like open arms. Its slow, steady rhythm seemed to breathe along with them—GiGi, Joy, and Princess the pup—tucked together like treasures in a safe place. The late afternoon light shimmered through the branches, casting lacy shadows that danced across the grass below.
The sweet scent of the nearby lavender mingled with the gentle coo of turtledoves singing their evening song. Joy nestled closer to GiGi’s side, while Princess the pup curled contentedly across their laps, her warm belly rising and falling with each sleepy breath.
After a long day, this was their spot—a place where sighs softened into stories, where the world slowed, and thoughts felt safe to wander.
Joy traced a heart with her toe in the grass below.
“I don’t like how it feels when people don’t like me—I wish I were different so they would,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m not good enough.”
Her voice was almost a whisper as tears filled her eyes.
GiGi wrapped both arms around her and held her tight.
“I’m so sorry. It hurts, doesn’t it? I know that feeling, honey. I know it far too well.”
“You do?” Joy asked, surprised.
GiGi sighed. “Ohhh yes, that’s been a very tender spot in my own heart, as well.”
Joy looked up, wiping her eyes.
“Really?”
GiGi smiled.
“Absolutely! I used to work very hard to get people to like me, to try and make sure they approved of me and told me I mattered—even people who clearly didn’t like themselves.”
“Did it work?” Joy asked.
“Not at all,” GiGi giggled. “Even if it seemed to work for a little while, it didn’t last. It was like trying to fill that old broken watering can with water—no matter how much you pour in, it all runs right through.”
Joy’s voice shaking. “Sometimes I think something’s wrong with me if someone doesn’t like me.”
GiGi looked down into Joy’s eyes.
“Ohhh my love, I completely understand that! I used to think that too. But here’s something God’s been teaching me: I don’t want to waste my life trying to guess or manage what anyone else thinks about me. Instead, I get to rest in what God says about me—and that never, ever changes.”
“What does He say?” Joy asked.
GiGi leaned closer, her voice gentle and sure:
“He made you special and wonderful.
He says you are His masterpiece.
He says you are chosen, dearly loved, and fully known by Him. He says He rejoices over you with singing.”
Joy’s eyes widened. “He sings over me?”
GiGi winked and smiled. “Yes, and not just when you’re ‘good.’ He sings over you because you’re His—not because you earned it, but because He made you and He loves you.”
The swing rocked slowly as Joy thought.
“But what if someone still sees me all wrong?” she asked.
GiGi looked out toward the fading sunset.
“Then they’re wearing the wrong glasses,” she said. “People don’t see the world around them as it is—they see it as they are—in that moment. If someone’s glasses are cracked or smeared with fear, anger, envy, or past pain, they’ll see you—and everything else—through that mess. It doesn’t mean you’re a mess—it means their lenses are.”
Joy nodded, slowly.
“And too often,” GiGi added, “I wear those cracked, messy glasses, too. That’s why we can’t even trust our own thoughts about ourselves or others.”
“So, what do we do?” Joy asked.
GiGi cupped Joy’s hands and placed them over her little heart.
“First, we learn what God says in His Word about us. Then we choose—over and over and over again—to believe Him more than anyone else—even our own thoughts.”
Joy rested her head back on GiGi’s shoulder.
“I want to do that!”
GiGi grinned and kissed her forehead.
“That’s one of the best and bravest choices you’ll ever make, Joy—learning to care more about God’s Truth than about anyone’s approval. Even when others don’t understand you, the One who created you always will. The One who knows you best loves you most! And His love doesn’t change based on what you do—it’s anchored in Who He is. God IS love, and nothing you could ever do will make Him love you more—or less.”
Princess let out a contented sigh as the swing swayed on.
For a few golden minutes, the whole world seemed in tune with heaven.
Neither of them spoke for a while. The silence simply wrapped them like a warm hug. As GiGi brushed strands of Joy’s hair from her forehead she was reminded that it was times like this when God’s lessons grow best in our hearts. Peaceful…comfortable…safe havens.
A few days later, Joy came running through the yard, calling out, “GiGi!” She spotted her in the garden, kneeling to gather fresh lavender, it’s calming scent drifting through the air.
“Guess what, GiGi?”
GiGi looked up with a smile. “Well, hello, sweetheart! Tell me!” she said, wiping the soil from her gloves and grabbing a hug.
Joy’s words tumbled out like marbles spilling from a jar. “Remember when you told me I always have the power inside me to choose my attitude—even if I’m having a bad day or someone is mean to me?”
“Well,” Joy continued, taking a big breath, “this morning things felt really, really hard. I got up late and forgot my lunch. Then, on the bus, one boy noticed my socks didn’t match and he made fun of me. I was so embarrassed, my face got hot and it felt like I had a big rock in my throat—like I couldn’t swallow. Everything inside me felt (big sigh) too heavy.”
GiGi set her basket down and rubbed Joy’s back. “Oh honey, that does sound hard—I’m sorry! You’re sure smiling now, though… what happened next?”
Joy’s shoulders lifted. “Well, I remembered what you told me—that even though we can’t control things around us, God gives us the power to control the things inside us…and that our attitude is one of the most important things because that changes everything else! And you told me I can always find something to be grateful for if I choose to look through the gratitude lens.”
She took a deep breath, her eyes brightening. “So… I prayed right then and there—on the bus—and asked God to help me learn to do that. And guess what, GiGi?”
GiGi’s face lit up. “What, my love?”
“HE DID—and I did!” Joy giggled. “First, I looked out the left side of the bus. All I saw were buildings, cars, and people hurrying—and that made me feel even more anxious. But then I looked out the right side… and oh my goodness, GiGi, it was so beautiful! The big blue sky was full of white puffy clouds that looked like giant cotton balls right above a field full of gold wheat. Then I saw two of the prettiest horses running through a green pasture. And before we got to school, there were purple and white wildflowers growing right out of the cracks in the sidewalk!” They laughed with delight.
Joy’s voice softened. “It was just like you told me—no matter what’s happening around me, I get to choose what I focus on. Like which side of the bus I look out of.”
“YES! YES! YES!” GiGi’s eyes filled with tears of pride. “You said it best, my love! That is the perfect example. Life is like that bus ride. When you get on to go to school, certain things outside of you will always be true: the driver, the route he takes, the kids on the bus, the time it takes to get there. But what happens inside, well, you get to decide. The window you choose to look out of for the entire trip—that’s always your choice. You choose your view!
“Today you proved to yourself that no matter what’s happening around you—or where your seat is—you get to choose which window you look through.”
Joy nodded in happy agreement. “And you know what, GiGi? The rest of the day felt so much better because I kept choosing to look through the ‘gratitude lens’.”
GiGi hugged her close. “Oh, my dear, that’s the key—you saw the wonderful difference it could make, and you kept choosing!”
“Every moment of every day ‘I Get To!’® choose my attitude and perspective.”
Connection questions: 1. What was your favorite part of the story? 2. What do you love about that part? 3. Would you like to do that too? 4. What will that look like? 5. Today, when you look through your gratitude lens, what do you see?
Grab your FREE copy of Joan Endicott’s “I Get To!”® book at www.JoanEndicott.com. See Joan’s encouraging words in her short videos on social media. Joan is an Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, Author and Coach whose coaching has reached over 30 countries. Find out more about her speaking and coaching here: www.JoanEndicott.com.
