Promises or commitments lie in two categories. The first category is one that tends to fade with time. In comparison, the other category is of promises that remain engraved in the memory forever. Giving someone a word is more than just an agreement; it transforms into something timeless.
“Keep every promise you make and only make promises you can keep.”
-Anthony Hitt-
Promises hold a very special place in everyone’s heart, but for children, the case may be even special and complex. Children are sensitive and vulnerable. For them, even the smallest promise means a lot more than it would for adults.
“The promises we make to our children, and the promises we keep, shape the future.”
-Barack Obama-
As adults, the promises we may make to children hold significant importance as they lay a child’s developmental foundation. For children, the very first role model in their life is either a parent, a teacher, or a sibling. So, whatever they do, children observe and adopt. This is why the impact of a promise made and kept lasts forever.
Calvin Dudley’s My Promise to Emily is a story narrating a moment from the author’s very own life. It is a testament to the statement that ‘the impact of promise is everlasting.’
PROMISES MADE IN THE MOMENT
Calvin Dudley’s memoir-based book My Promise to Emily revolves around the author, Calvin, ’s own life. Through this book, he recounts a pivotal moment in his life when a young teenage girl profoundly impacted how he thought about and processed promises.
It was a chaotic Tuesday afternoon after school when Calvin decided to go for a fishing trip to relax. After he set up his equipment, he met Emily. She was about thirteen years old. There was something about her that captivated his mind.
They talked for a while, and Calvin found himself drawn toward her. He ended up promising Emily that he would gift her his big catch. Calvin saw her eyes light up with happiness, and he caught a glimpse of gratitude and respect for him, even though he was a total stranger. But things turn to disappointment when Calvin’s catch turns out to be the biggest catch he has ever gotten his hands on.
The story then moves forward with how both Emily and Calvin felt as one to whom a promise was made and as the promise maker, respectively. Themes like disappointment, wavering trust, guilt, redemption, and the impact of pledges have been explored throughout the book.
THE EVER-LASTING IMPACT
Promises are like anchors when made with sincerity and genuineness. They tend to keep us in one place even when life pulls us in different directions and courses. For Calvin, the promise he made to young Emily tied him to a much higher purpose: to teach, mentor, and uplift children and young teens around him. For Emily, that promise was a reminder that she mattered, that her story was seen, heard, and valued.
Promises, when made to children, provide a foundation of trust and hope. A promise always assures a child: You are important. I believe in you. I will not forget you. Those are the words that echo across a lifetime.
Children are naïve and innocent. They carry promises and commitments made to them in their hearts. The way they perceive promises is significantly different from adults. A single broken promise can teach them to doubt, but a fulfilled one can inspire them forever.
The chance encounter with Emily reminded him that every child like Emily deserves dignity, hope, and compassion. Promises have the power to not just change one life, but they tend to spread outward, touching everyone connected to them.
ANCHOR THAT HOLDS ON
Promises, pledges, or commitments are not just words that pass through the mind in a moment, meaning nothing. They are like seeds that have the tendency to grow into legacies that are lived for generations.
In My Promise To Emily, Dudley displays that even a single promise has the power and strength to light up a child’s world and revolutionize an adult’s purpose. This book is way more than a heart-touching memoir; it is an eye-opener that offers an insight into how promises leave an impact that tends to stay with people, especially children, for a lifetime. The book also serves as an inspiration for not just children, but parents and educators as well.
Promises protect us in times of hardship and guide us through mprints on hearts and minds. My Promise to Emily by Calvin Dudley is available on Amazon.
uncertainty, and leave everlasting imprints on hearts and minds. My Promise to Emily by Calvin Dudley is available on Amazon.