God has given us a very wise two year old. It's probably not just her. I'm sure it's just the same innocence and wonder that every child is born with before life and growing up get in the way. But because she's mine, it seems special.
Pretty much every morning Abi has toast with peanut butter for breakfast. Sometimes, if she's not too grumpy when she first wakes up, she likes to stand in the kitchen and wait for her toast to pop up. Judging by her excitement and anticipation, you would think she was waiting for the space shuttle to launch. And when the toast finally does pop up, she jumps and squeels with joy. Over toast. And one morning earlier this week I stood and watched her in awe. I don't remember when I stopped finding the joy in little things like toast popping up. But now I find myself trying to do just that.
The weather this week has been beautiful (which I stopped to appreciate the beauty and joy in). We've been playing outside a lot and going for walks. Usually when we walk Abi wants to push any combination of babies and stuffed animals in her stroller while I pull Madi in the wagon with Jack on the leash. Sometimes I get so aggravated with her because she is constantly stopping in front of me or slowing down. Until she said, "Mommy, look! It's an ant's house!" (an ant hill) I hadn't even noticed we were walking over a collection of ant hills. "Yes, you're right, that's an ant hill. Let's keep walking," I said. Then she hits me with, "Mommy, did God makes those ants?" And I realized that we are walking by God's beautiful creations every day and not even noticing. Talk about shame. So we stopped and watched the ants go in and out of the ant hill for a long time. I won't say I still don't get frustrated when she is constantly stopping during what will most likely be my only exercise for the day. But I do try to be patient enough to let her be curious about the beautiful world God created for us.
This morning we had a couple errands to run. So I just threw on a hat over my unwashed hair, looked in the mirror and prayed we wouldn't see anyone we know while we were out. Especially someone I knew from teaching so they wouldn't think 'you left your career as a professional educator to spend your days getting your oil changed and not showering!?' I come downstairs and Abi says, "You look beautiful, Mommy!" Something she has never said on her own without Adam prompting her to first. My heart melted. She was right. Ok, no. I'm certainly not going to win any beauty contests today. But I'm spending the day with her and to her, that makes me beautiful. Way to put my priorities in order kiddo.
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| The reasons I never have to time shower, and the reasons my heart overflows with happiness |
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