Do You Have A "Yes" Face?

Do you have a "yes face"?

I am posting an excerpt from this Family Life article.

Charles Swindoll tells a story reported by Dr. Karl Menninger about the importance of "yes faces":

During his days as president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river which had left its banks because of a recent downpour. The swollen river had washed the bridge away. Each rider was forced to ford the river on horseback, fighting for his life against the rapid currents. The very real possibility of death threatened each rider, which caused a traveler who was not part of their group to step aside and watch. After several had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river. The president agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on, and shortly thereafter the two of them made it safely to the other side. As the stranger slid off the back of the saddle onto dry ground, one in the group asked him, "Tell me, why did you select the president to ask this favor of?" The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the president who had helped him. "All I know," he said, "is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'No,' and on some of them was the answer 'yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."

Do you have the kind of yes face that makes your kids feel comfortable asking? Does your yes face say, "It's okay to make mistakes; I'll still love you"? Do they feel as if you'll really listen to childish requests? Do they believe they're important enough that you'll react to their needs with flexibility?

This was part of question #5 in Linda Weber's "What Makes An Incredible Mom" article.
1. Am I creating a positive environment?
2. Am I creating an environment that's motivational?
3. Am I creating an environment where we really communicate?
4. Am I creating an environment that's safe?
5. Am I creating an environment that's gracious?

To read more of this excerpted article, and about the five points of being an incredible mom, click here.

Excerpted from Mom, You're Incredible! by Linda Weber. Used by permission of Broadman and Holman Publishers, copyright © 1999 by Linda Weber. All rights to this material are reserved.