I am imparting some Shum Advice.  Dr. Shum was a gracious, compassionate, wise pediatrician.  If only I have paid more attention to his words & deeds.  I am sure many of my pitfalls as a mother could have been avoided. However, this one visit is etched in my mind.

Charles had a regular well checkup with Dr. Shum.  He had to be 2 or 3 years old at the time.  He was large for his age, had a huge vocabulary, was eccentric about the placement of his toys, & was not amicable with a natural order of things.  Charles favorite nurse came in beaming her huge, radiant smile.  They sang together while she did her job.  She had a beautiful, full vibrato voice.   So Charles was all warmed up for Dr. Shum’s conversation.

Dr. Shum always greeted us both.  Then he turned directly to Charles & began to visit.  They went through the exam.  Dr. Shum asked about the physical examination.  Charles answered, but in between Dr. Shum would ask about his friends, his play, his toys, his animals… Charles more than willingly had much to share.

Then Dr. Shum turned to me.  “Now, Mama need to practice saying yes.  Most of time, much easier to say no.  Need to practice saying yes when you can.  Too many things you have to say no.  You learn to say yes.  He try to please you.  Much less you have to say no.”  These may not be his exact words, but they are close.  His calm, stern, thick accented voice echoes in my head.

You know this is exactly what God does with us.  As our Heavenly Father he says, “yes”.  In the Old Testament they were under the Law,  shortly put rules that said “no”.  In the New Testament, the Law was fulfilled in Christ.

For this, ” You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ” You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the Law.  Romans 13:9-10

Listen as we children are told “yes” by God through the Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

For all the “no’s” in this world, we can do as much of these as we desire.  Unlimited!  Dr. Shum’s theory, the more you say “yes” then the less you have to say “no”.  I get it!

Small foot note, it worked, so far, pretty well with Charles.  Haven’t been as faithful in the practice with Mary Ellen.  Everything she wants to do usually involves “no”.  Think I better step up my parenting & take some Shum Advice.