Precious Seconds on Father’s Day

by J•R•Heffelfinger

There’s a little five year old girl in the kitchen of her house. She notices two apples in a fruit bowl. She picks one apple up in her right hand and the other one in her left hand.

It was at that moment her father walks into the kitchen and says, “Sweetheart can I have one of the apples?”

The child looks at her left hand and bites the apple. Then the child looks at her right hand and bites that apple.

The father shakes his head. He cannot believe his child is so selfish.

It was at that very moment the child reaches out her hand and says, “Here you go Dad. This is the best tasting one.”

The story about two apples illustrates how we often tend to judge things a little too quickly and harshly. The transformational lesson here exists in asking ourselves this question: Instead of rushing to judgment, what if we assumed a noble intention?

I’m not saying everyone is trying to give you the best tasting apple, even some of the time…but what could we do different to find out?

Assuming a noble intention inspires you to stay calm and curious, encourages you to ask better questions (humble inquiry), compels you to truly listen, and invites you to be open to the possibility … how ‘bout them apples?

Happy Father’s Day.

I heard the story about “Two Apples” from one of the greatest storytellers I know, Dr. Peter Fuda. More powerful than the stories he tells are the valuable concepts, tactics and insights he weaves and leaves you with. I was inspired to bring this story to life while spending time with my brother Jorge and his daughter Isabella in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Happy Father’s Day! * ¡Feliz día del Padre!