Children are amazing because of their innocence and honest curiosity. They speak whatever comes to mind and ask whatever questions come to mind.

Mrs. Cynthia, a long-time waitress, is Holland’s favorite. She works at Waffle House in Fort Myers, one of Holland’s favorite cafes. Mrs. Cynthia has known Mrs. Holland since she was a newborn and has always sat her at her beloved corner booth, bringing her favorite raisin toast and apple juice.

Mrs. Cynthia was well-known in the family by the time Hollard turned one. She had nearly become like an extended family member.

They share information about their lives and even pray for one another.

Mrs. Cynthia prayed for Mrs. Holland’s adult son, and Mrs. Cynthia prayed for Mary Katherine’s struggle with breast cancer.
Author Mary Katherine Backstrom composed a novel in Mrs. Cynthia’s area of the restaurant, drinking numerous cups of coffee served by the waiter to feed her creativity. But no one admired Mrs. Cynthia more than Holland.

Holland desired Waffle House birthday parties. Mrs. Cynthia is such a regular that she orders the moment she sees her car pull in. Their connection is lovely, full of adoration and affection for one another.

Until Holland surprised her mother with a question she asked Mrs. Cynthia one day, during the subsequent stillness, you could have heard a pin drop. Mary Katherine’s heart rate tripled.

«I wish I had dark skin like you, Mrs. Cynthia.» «How come your skin is so dark?»

Mary Katherine, on the other hand, should not have panicked. Mrs. Cynthia responded to her query with such raw and beautiful honesty that it gave both Holland and Mary Katherine a life lesson.

«Because God made everyone unique!» Isn’t that fantastic? »

Holland agreed with a nod. But she still had childish, sincere questions for her pal. The most significant, of course, was about her favorite Disney character.

But, Mrs. Cynthia, if I had your skin, we’d be able to dress up like Tiana!»

Mrs. Cynthia couldn’t stop smiling at her little friend’s thoughtful remark.

«You may dress like Tiana whenever you want, honey.»

And then the educational opportunity was gone, a life lesson learned by both Holland and Mary Katherine.
My three-year-old daughter recognizes the distinction between a black woman and a white woman. Humans are not born blind to their differences. And, to be honest, pretending these disparities don’t exist is an insult in so many ways. What we must do is actively teach our children to notice and appreciate the characteristics that distinguish God’s people. Whether it’s because of their ethnicity, nationality, or religious views… We must discuss these issues. Because, spoiler warning, our children have already seen them.

Even though Mary Katherine hesitated when Holland casually introduced the issue of race with the girl she loved who had a different skin tone, she recognized it was because she didn’t want to mess up her response. She didn’t want to offend anyone by saying the wrong thing. She wanted her daughter to understand that skin color is irrelevant.

«…fear lies. And quiet is an awful teacher. Thank God for Mrs. Cynthia’s wisdom and grace. I will not stop my children from learning about the world around them in the future. I’m not going to quiet them and educate them that «diversity» is a harmful or forbidden subject. Instead, I’ll tell them the straightforward, honest-to-goodness truth, as told by our wonderful friend, Mrs. Cynthia: ‘God made everybody different.’ Isn’t it fantastic? »

Mary Katherine shared a brutally honest and lovely parenting moment with everyone online. We can only hope that all children, like Holland, grow up appreciating the beauty that exists within everyone rather than simply what is visible on the exterior.