I walked into a stranger as he passed by me. "Excuse me," I said. He replied with a smile and said, "Please excuse me, too. I didn't notice you." We apologized and went for our own ways.
Later that day, when I was cooking, my daughter was standing too near. When I turned to reach for some milk, I nearly knocked her over. "Move out of the way!" I shouted.
She walked away sadly. But I didn't feel like I had to apologize to her. While I was in bed that evening, my husband said to me. "While dealing with a stranger, you were polite. But with a daughter you love, you were unkind. Your daughter brought you some flowers that she picked herself this afternoon. You will find them in the kitchen by the door. Have you seen the tears in her eyes?"
I quietly went and sat down by my daughter's bed. "Honey, I am sorry," I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?" She said, "I found them by the tree. I picked them because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like them, especially the blue ones." I tearfully replied, "Sweetie, I'm really sorry for the way I acted today. I shouldn't have shouted at you."
