by Jo Ann Larsen
Larry and Jo Ann were an ordinary couple. They lived in an ordinary house on
an ordinary street. Like any other ordinary couple, they struggled to make ends
meet and to do the right things for their children. They were ordinary in yet
another way—they had their squabbles.
Much of their conversation concerned what was wrong in their marriage and who
was to blame—until one day when a most extraordinary event took place.
“You know, Jo Ann, I’ve got a magic chest of drawers. Every time I open the
drawers, they’re full of socks and underwear,” Larry said. “I want to thank you
for filling them all these years.”
Jo Ann stared at her husband over the top of her glasses. “What do you want,
Larry?”
“Nothing. I just want you to know I appreciate those magic drawers.”
This wasn’t the first time Larry had done something odd, so Jo Ann pushed the
incident out of her mind until a few days later.
“Jo Ann, thank you for recording so many correct check numbers in the ledger
this month. You put down the right numbers fifteen out of sixteen times. That’s
a record.”
Disbelieving what she had heard, Jo Ann looked up from her mending. “Larry,
you’re always complaining about my recording the wrong check numbers. Why stop
now?”
“No reason. I just wanted you to know I appreciate the effort you’re
making.”
Jo Ann shook her head and went back to her mending. “What’s gotten into him?”
she mumbled to herself.
Nevertheless, the next day when Jo Ann wrote a check at the grocery store,
she glanced at her checkbook to confirm that she had put down the right check
number. “Why do I suddenly care about those dumb check numbers?” she asked
herself.
She tried to disregard the incident, but Larry’s strange behavior
intensified.
“Jo Ann, that was a great dinner,” he said one evening. “I appreciate all
your effort. Why, in the past fifteen years I’ll bet you’ve fixed over 14,000
meals for me and the kids.”
Then, “Gee, Jo Ann, the house looks spiffy. You’ve really worked hard to get
it looking so good.” And even, “Thanks, Jo Ann, for just being you. I really
enjoy your company.”
Jo Ann was growing worried. Where’s the sarcasm, the criticism? she
wondered.
Her fears that something peculiar was happening to her husband were confirmed
by sixteen‐year‐old Shelly, who complained, “Dad’s gone bonkers, Mom. He just
told me I looked nice. Even though I’m wearing all this makeup and these sloppy
clothes, he still said it. That’s not Dad, Mom. What’s wrong with him?”
Whatever was wrong, Larry didn’t get over it. Day in and day out he continued
focusing on the positive.
Over the weeks, Jo Ann grew more accustomed to her mate’s unusual behavior
and occasionally even gave him a grudging “Thank you.” She prided herself on
taking it all in stride, until one day something so peculiar happened that she
became completely discombobulated.
“I want you to take a break,” Larry said. “I am going to do the dishes. So
please take your hands off that frying pan and leave the kitchen.” (Long, long
pause.) “Thank you, Larry. Thank you very much!”
Jo Ann’s step was now a little lighter, her self‐confidence higher, and once
in a while she hummed. She didn’t seem to have as many blue moods anymore. I
rather like Larry’s new behavior, she thought.
That would be the end of the story except one day another most extraordinary
event took place. This time it was Jo Ann who spoke.
“Larry,” she said, “I want to thank you for going to work and providing for
us all these years. I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I appreciate
it.”
No matter how hard Jo Ann has pushed for an answer, Larry has never revealed
the reason for his dramatic change of behavior, and so it will likely remain one
of life’s mysteries. But it’s one I’m thankful to live with.
You see, I am Jo Ann.
Looking ahead…
As Larry demonstrated, a little encouragement can transform a marriage. None
of us—king or queen, president or business leader, husband, housewife or
child—is without the human craving for appreciation. Mark Twain once said, “I
can live for two months on a good compliment.” A kind word is like that. It
fuels our energy and infuses us with new enthusiasm for facing the challenges
life throws our way.
I invite you during this week’s discussion to consider the incredible power
of encouragement. As you apply each principle, I think you’ll find that the sun
shines a little brighter and your day runs a bit smoother. You might begin by
simply telling your partner how much you appreciate having him or her
around.
- James C Dobson
From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James
& Shirley Dobson
Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights
reserved.
“A Most Extraordinary Event” by Jo Ann Larsen. © 1992. Used by permission of
the author.