Dear Humans,

When my daughters fight they like to use the word “always.” One of them says the other is “always” in her room. Or the other one is “always” taking her stuff.

But nothing “always” happens. When they use the word “always” they’re not trying to tell me the details of what happened. They’re trying to tell me a story about the kind of person their sister is.

But we don’t get to decide that. We can disagree with what a person does. We can criticize what they say and take issue with what they believe. But we can’t decide the kind of person they are. Everyone gets to tell their own story. And we take them as they are.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck