My mother's kiss made me a painter

Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training. . .of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

While his mother was out, [young Benjamin West] found some bottles of coloured ink and proceeded to paint [his little sister] Sally's portrait. But by the time his mother returned, ink blots stained the table, chairs, and floor. Benjamin's mother surveyed the mess without a word until she saw the picture. Picking it up she exclaimed, "Why, it's Sally!" and. . .kissed her young son. . . . . He[later] became one of the most celebrated artist of his day. [Of] his start as an artist, he said, "My mother's kiss made me a painter."

What a challenge to raise our children. . .knowing when to say, "It's a mess!" and when to say, "Why, it's Sally!"