Muscles

A friend of mine has a three-year-old son named Nate.

He’s adorable and sweet and funny. He’s also busy and mischievous and, well, a three-year-old boy.

So, my friend has been teaching him about how to use his muscles.

Muscles, she tells him, aren’t meant for hurting and breaking. They’re meant for serving and protecting.

I love that.

I also can’t stop thinking about how often her guidance applies in other ways.

Words, for example, aren’t meant for hurting and breaking. They’re meant for serving and protecting.

Power and influence aren’t meant for hurting and breaking. They’re meant for serving and protecting.

Knowledge, even, isn’t meant for hurting and breaking. It’s meant for serving and protecting.

I don’t know what “muscles” you have.

I do know that you can flex those muscles towards one end or another.

Either to hurt and break.

Or to serve and protect.

How are you using your muscles?