Changeling

More times than I can count, I have been warned about children who were considered to have serious problems and to be trouble makers. In psychology the phenomenon is called “priming” as it relates to what happens to a person's perception of another when someone has portrayed that person negatively or positively. For example, if you have never met Sally B. and someone tells you in advance that she is a bad person, psychology says that what a person says about Sally B whom you have never met will make you look for those described characteristics in that person when you meet them.

Many people have told me that such and such a person is a real problem and makes their life miserable. When you have concurrence between many people who hold the same opinion about a person, the intensity of the “priming” effects is more impactful.

What I have found in my experience with children who are purported to be “problem children” is the amazing reality that many times these children have a deep and wonderful character obfuscated by the distorted preconceptions held by people who should be seeing the life of children as a place of joy and wonder.

Today I had the chance to meet a child who has been purported to be a real terror. I had met the child before and during the occasions when we had one on one times together, I discovered a frequently misunderstood yet wonderful person with admirable qualities. The one thing that struck me as being highly unique about this boy was his ability to remember small yet wonderful facts that others forgot. It was a blessing to see this so called “problem child” change from a character described as less than lovely compared to other children yet possessing a gentle caring concern for his friends who had also held to the “primed” image of his being an unsavory character.

Love seeks the good in everyone and every thing. Love doesn't keep a record of wrongs and hardly ever notices when others do things the wrong way. Love always believes the best and hopes the best. Love is patient and kind. Love never gives up.