See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

I'm a 3rd grade teacher and when my girls were younger (maybe 4, 8, 11), they would walk next door to my school if I was working late or on a Saturday to play in my room. They would call me and say, "We're on our way!" and would come to the door closest to my room, knocking on my window so I'd let them in. As I approached the door, it never failed ...they would be standing there in soldier form with each one covering either eyes, ears, or their mouth.

These are NOT my girls...

These ARE my girls (thankfully)

It became a ritual for them when they would come to visit me! I had looked up where this "thing" came from and had forgotten so I refreshed my memory to find it was from Japan in the 17th century. Then I thought of the verse James 1:19 which I often have to remind myself of. I find that if I abide by it, I tend to have better days.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Some days I'm like one of those monkeys and I keep my mouth shut at the appropriate times, (for instance today when my daughter was driving :)...other days I'm able to avoid the anger and rage I may feel, and then there are days when I just zip it up and listen to the wisdom of others (now that's a blessing). I can't quite get ALL those going in sync on most days, but I'm a work in progress....those 3 "monkeys" of mine will tell you that. I get a lot of help from them and they don't mince words most of the time. I appreciate them so much...I really do. I think I'll post this verse on my fridge or in my kitchen window and continue to work on it. The chimps don't seem to show up at school in their positions as much anymore. I just have that wonderful memory...but who knows, maybe they'll surprise me!