Two elegant women sat rocking on a sprawling veranda, their sweet tea glasses catching the afternoon sun. The first proudly gestured to her grand home. “My darling husband built me this mansion when our first baby arrived,” she cooed. Her friend nodded politely, murmuring, “My, isn’t that lovely?”
“And this pearl necklace appeared after our second child,” the first continued, fingering the jewels at her throat. Again came the gentle response: “My, isn’t that lovely?” When she added a diamond bracelet from baby number three, her friend’s reaction remained unchanged – that same gracious phrase delivered with perfect poise.
Finally, curiosity got the better of her. “What did your husband give you after your firstborn, dear?” The second woman’s eyes sparkled as she revealed, “Why, he enrolled me in charm school, sugar.” At her friend’s puzzled expression, she leaned in conspiratorially. “Now instead of saying ‘Who cares?’ I can sweetly say ‘My, isn’t that lovely?'”
Years later, their reunion showed how perspective shapes everything. One mourned her son’s “unfortunate” marriage to a lazy woman served breakfast in bed, while celebrating her daughter’s “blessed” union to a man who – wait for it – did the exact same thing for his bride.
