As I brought the properly cooked turkey into the dining room, I was proud of what I had done. Monica, my 5-year-old daughter, had other ideas. She suddenly snatched the tray, threw the turkey to the floor, and yelled, “I saved you all!” There was silence in the room, and I couldn’t figure out what had happened.
It turned out that Monica had been hiding under the kitchen sink earlier and heard Victoria, my mother-in-law, talking to my dad about adding something to the food. We were all saved from food that could have been harmful by Monica’s quick thought and bravery.
After that, the evening was a blur of feelings, but in the end, it brought our family closer together. There are no perfect meals or practices that make a family. Instead, there are people who stand up for each other and listen to the smallest voices when they speak the loudest truths.
Monica’s actions that day taught me something important: small and brave people can sometimes make the biggest difference. And I will always be grateful for that.
