An "Ideal Sweetheart" – Trusting Our Child-Like Instincts

Several years ago, a group of 6 graders was given an “Activity Sheet” entitled: “My Ideal Sweetheart,” which asked them to make a list of the 10 most important qualities of their “ideal sweetheart” and then to “explain” each choice.  One of the girls in the class (obviously not satisfied doing the bare minimum) responded with the following 11 items:Quality 1:  Honest.Why is this important?  If you can’t be honest with each other you don’t trust them. If you can’t trust them, it’s not meant to be.Quality 2:  Kind.Why is this important?  With kindness comes consideration, respect, love and support.Quality 3: Christian.Why is this important?  I love the Lord and it is hard for me to deal with someone who does not have faith.Quality 4: Is always there to support, love, comfort and protect me.Why is this important?  Because without this I would feel lonely.Quality 5:  Is devoted to being with the family.Why is this important?  So that all of us can build a close relationship.Quality 6:  Likes me for who I am, not what I look like.Why is this important?  If he likes me for what I look like or what I do, it’s not love.Quality 7:  Patient.Why is this important?  Because sometimes I have a short temper!Quality 8: Likes affection and is affectionate.Why is this important?  Without this, I would go insane.Quality 9:  Smart.Why is this important?  He can get a good job and support me and our family.Quality 10:  Loves kids and animals.Why is this important? Duh.Quality 11:  Funny, but serious when he needs to be.Why is this important?  Because I have a sense of humor, but I’m also very serious at times.I’m not sure at age 54 that I could have done a much better job with this list.  Ashley, I don't know if this assignment was graded, but, if it wasn't, I give you an A+!