While I was attending seminary, our two older children (ages 9 and 7) seemed to attract every other child in the mobile home park for after-school games of hide and seek.

Our youngest, Carrie, was not quite 3— and (in the minds of the older siblings) always in the way. It was something you could count on; ten minutes into the games our little one would get pushed aside or skin a knee.

One afternoon she came through the front door crying for mommy. She had gotten the worst again. My wife, Elizabeth, attempted to comfort her by giving her two freshly baked cookies. "Now, don't tell the big kids yet," she cautioned, "I haven't finished; I haven't got enough for everybody yet."

It took less than three seconds for Carrie to make it to the screen door, fling it wide, and announce to the big kids, "Cookies, I gots cookies!"

Great news should be shared with enthusiasm!