Forgiveness - they do it quick and complete. I, on the other hand, hold a grudge, or need some time and space to get over the hurt or anger, or have to convince myself that it is the right thing to do, even if it doesn't feel like what I want to do. Not the little people in my life. You apologize, you ask for forgiveness, there's an "OK," maybe a hug and kiss and what seems like not a second thought. How do I add those skills back into my life? Where along the journey of life do we get so jaded to holding on to it all and struggling to let go? It is so much easier to just move on without the extra baggage. It is incredibly humbling when they do something to tick me off and try to apologize and I am so mad at them I don't even want to see them for fear I will explode. Yet when I do lose it, and then have to crawl back to them with my head hung low and apologize for not controlling my anger, they so quickly forgive me.
Living life with your whole body - kids run, they jump, they laugh, they color, they glue, they talk, they climb, they explore, they play, they sing, they imagine, they smell, they taste, they make messes, they use all that God gave them to experience all that God created. We walk, we occasionally exercise, we keep to our schedules, we make lists, we veg out in front of the TV, we cook and clean, we read, we talk. Yes, some of our responsibilities require some of our behaviors, but wouldn't they all be a bit more enjoyable if we did more things from the kid list?
Loving Unconditionally - This ties into their forgiveness, but kids have an ability to love beyond what any of us "deserves." I think about kids from abusive homes, and as awful as their situations are, and as horrible as they are treated, they love their moms and dads because that is all they know. Love is in them, even alongside the hurt and the pain, there is love. Now, as those same kids grow older, that changes, but as little ones, the love is pure and strong. I see glimpses of that in my own kids as I mess up as a mom and find myself guilt-ridden for the many ways I fall short. Yet their little pure hearts love me anyway, and love me deeply and love me fully. If we had that same love for others this world would be a completely different place.
Don't take life so seriously - For anyone who knows me they know how much I need to learn this. As a control freak and a perfectionist (about some things, not all) it is very difficult to not see every thing that is wrong, or out of place, or less than perfect. Which makes most things feel like a lot of work. Even though it doesn't need to. When my kids mess up I project it to the future..."oh no, they told a lie, they are going to be lying for the rest of their lives and we will never be able to trust them again." Where what I should be thinking is, "they are 4, and trying to tell you what you want to hear so they won't get in trouble and if guided appropriately, hopefully won't do it too many more times in the future." I have to work to put my mind in a frame of reference to relax, be playful, enjoy it, and don't try to control it. It is not easy. It is a long and difficult journey I will continue to be on for what appears to be a very long time. But, I am daily reminded about how much more enjoyable things can be by watching how carefree my kids live their lives. I am reminded that if you want it to be fun, you can make it fun. How bending certain "rules" and stepping out of the routine can have huge rewards.
Faith - Over and over in the bible Jesus talks about having childlike faith. Teaching our kids about God we have been able to watch this first hand. I am so in awe of how easy it is for them to believe God, who they don't see, created everything, loves them and sent Jesus to die for them. They have questions, but when they hear the answers they are satisfied. They don't question if it's true, they trust that we wouldn't tell them if it wasn't true. They don't try to disprove it. They just trust it and believe.
Enjoying Nature - Kids love the outdoors. They are happiest splashing in a stream of water, climbing a tree, digging in the sand, squishing their toes in mud, building a fort out of sticks, and feeling the warmth of sunshine on their active little bodies. Why oh why do we stay inside so much as we get older? We really are missing so much of the joy of what God has created. That is one thing I have really appreciated about getting to be a full-time mom. I get to spend a lot of time outdoors. Thanks to my kids, I get to appreciate the world around us with fresh eyes and a more adventurous take on it all.
Just Be Friends - Ever notice how kids can meet someone at the playground for the first time and within minutes they are the best of friends, playing and laughing and enjoying each other's company? We have so many social stigmas in place that keep us from being warm and friendly. We fear rejection, we analyze and size up and judge. Before you know it we've convinced ourselves to not even try. But think of how much fun, not to mention how many lost friendships we have passed up by NOT just being friends with whoever we come into contact with. My kids have helped to show me that the more we are at ease, the more we put those around us at ease. So if we take the first leap, usually others will follow our lead. Instead of worrying so much about what might happen if I say something, I just need to do it.
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