Tears of Joy

While putting Sharon to bed tonight I leaned over and gave her a hug and began to talk to her about trying to get along better with her sister.  In middle of the lecture (her sister would get one soon after), I picked her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist.  I spoke to her about not tattling, how to express her feelings and thinking about her actions.  Just as I was about to finish my talk, she burst into tears.  "What is the matter?" I ask, waiting for her to tell me it isn't all her fault that she's been bickering with her sister so much lately.  To my surprise she looks me in the eyes as tears drop onto my shoulder and says, "You could have never done this before."  She's absolutely right!  When she was little, I couldn't even walk into her bedroom and tuck her into bed at night  So, how is it that I was able to hold my eight year old daughter at 9 o'clock in the evening?