Chloe and Cole were discussing one of Cole’s boo-boos. Chloe said he’d heal up and his boo-boo would fall off. While not scientifically accurate, I was amazed (and amused) at her understanding of the human body’s ability to heal.

After a few minutes, while they continued to discuss Cole’s boo-boo, he said, “You’re right, Daddy. My boo-boo’s going to heal up and fall off.” Cole was giving me credit for Chloe’s statement.

It made me feel good that he would say I was right, even though I’d contributed nothing to their little conversation (hey, I take praise however I can get it).

Chloe, however, was infuriated that she didn’t get the proper recognition. She fairly screamed at her brother, “I’m the one who told you that!”

Cole replied, “Daddy said my boo-boo would fall off, and it will.”

“No he didn’t, I did!” she screamed.

I believe they can have disagreements and ought to learn how to work things out. But when it reaches the screaming stage, I step in. “Cole, Chloe said your boo-boo would fall off, not me. And Chloe, you shouldn’t yell at your brother.” There. Cole was corrected and Chloe was recognized. Once again, all was right with the world.

Chloe was so mad when she didn’t receive the recognition she felt she deserved. Do we ever do that?

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the issue of doing things for recognition (Matthew 6:1-18). Speaking specifically of giving to the poor, praying and fasting, he said that if we do such things for the recognition of man, we’ve received our reward in full.

But if we do such things in secret — without calling attention to ourselves — God will see what we’ve done (even though no one else may) and he will reward us.

This applies for any and all work done in the name of our heavenly father. If we work for the recognition of others, are we doing it out of a sincere desire to serve God, or are we doing it so we’ll get a pat on the back?

Another issue that follows quickly on the heels of this one is, what if you are credited with someone else’s work? Are you comfortable taking credit for something you never did or said?

As much as I liked to hear Cole tell me I was right, I couldn’t take credit for something Chloe had said. I had to remind Cole that it was, in fact, Chloe who said his boo-boo would fall off.

This hopefully teaches Chloe and Cole that Daddy is both honest and fair — and that they should be, too.

Parrish Myers is pastor of Pine Crest Baptist Church in Gainesville. His column runs every other week in Sunday Life.