Give a little. Get a lot.

Six simple words: Give a little. Get a lot. What does it all mean?

I have lovely children. Great kids, good students, that are champion sibling rivals. The little ones are very good at seeing what the others have, and making sure that their stash, whether it be candy, cash, cozies, is bigger and better than that of their sisters. I must say that this is not so much for the older one, for her measures now press out to friends who will be getting mommy's old car, but the younger set have in their frontal lobes a running tally of what is theirs and to the penny, wrapper, or hug, what is their sister's.

Their haves and have nots are so accounted for, that at times, I forbid them to share. For from the sharing comes demands for retribution and payment. At which point I separate the warring factions and confiscate the booty regardless to whom it belonged.

There is a book in this house, somewhere, about a King who has a castle full of treasure, but he is not happy. He learns about a quiltmaker and demands one of her quilts, stating, "That will make me happy." The woman refuses his request. Or better said, she gives him the task to get rid of all his wealth and when he has done that she will provide for him a quilt. At first he can't imagine parting with his bounty, but slowly he starts and sure enough with each piece he passes to someone in need, the King's heart grows lighter and the dark weight upon his soul is lifted. It's a message to live by.

Just give a little. Pick up the pencil on the floor, instead of stepping over it, explaining, "It's not mine." Carry your sister's clothes upstairs and put them on her bed neatly. Remember someone else has washed, dried, and folded all of them -- for all of you. Clear the diner table, even the odd fork that somehow gets left, and can't belong to anyone. Remember someone else cooked the food and set the table so you could eat. One day it will be your pencil, your clothes, your fork that gets picked up, delivered neatly, or cleared. And won't that be nice to know someone did something nice for you, no payment required. Teamwork really should start in the home.

For in giving a little, you will get a lot.