A while back, I heard from a friend that his dad had referred to him as being stupid. The father in this case wasn't being deliberately cruel; he just didn't have the vocabulary skills to express to a school principal that his son had problems with certain areas of learning.

The son, of couse, heard his dad say this, but also heard the principal respond, "No, your son isn't stupid; he just needs some help in a few areas." Which was really what the father was after---getting some academic help for his son.

Today I heard what that son is up to these days. He's heading up a private school. And his parents are still alive, well, and extremely proud of him.

I love it when things work out like that.