A Morning with Douglas

Our kids amaze me all the time.  I love continually catching more and more glimpses of who they are underneath all that baby skin.

The other day, Douglas sat in the bathroom.  He's still in the process of learning this whole scene.  When he's going to be there for a bit, we read one of two books with him.  Usually his choice is the truck book.  Each page has a picture on it and says what kind of truck or tractor it is.  One page has an airport fire truck.  The next page is an ambulance.  We make the fun siren noises and everything - good times.

Douglas knows that ambulances help people because one time (and one time is all it takes for him to remember something for forever and ever because his mind is a freaking steel trap, I tell you) we were driving and had to pull over for the noisy ambulance to go by.  I told him that someone was hurt and needed help getting to the hospital where a doctor could help them and that this ambulance was taking them there.  Next time we turned onto that street (one that we don't drive on all that often), in the exact same spot that we had pulled over previously, he says, "someone needs help."  It took me a minute to realize what he was talking about.  Blew my mind.

Multi-tasking.  Notice the sippy cup under his arm.

So fast forward to today.  He was on the ambulance page and said, "Someone needs help" and I said yes and explained again what ambulances do and how they help people.  He said, "Someone's hurt."  And then, while patting his chest with his hand gently, he said, "Makes me sad" with a look of such compassion and concern that I just had to cry about it.  I said, with tear-filled eyes, "Buddy, that's so kind of you.  We send people lots of love from our hearts anytime they are hurt or need help, don't we?  And we pray that Jesus will take care of them and that they won't feel afraid."

There was a 2-3 second pause. 

And then he looked down at the toilet and said, "That's my brown poopy."  Indeed.  Thank you for pointing that out. 

I LOVE the way kids' minds work.  They are whole people - integrated.  The deep, emotional, stuff of life stuff intermingles seamlessly with the day-to-day basics like brown poop and whose it is.  I love this.  I think this is the way it should be.  There are two realities - the one we see and the deeper one we can't see - both going on at the same time, both intermingling, weaving their way in and through each other constantly.  Kids are somehow able to stay fully present to them both.  It doesn't even occur to them to live as if the two are disconnected. 

 

Guacamole Man

Desired Things

I know I've been inconsistent on this here blog of mine these past few months.  You can't say that I didn't warn you, though!  Mommy brain does crazy things to my writing life when I have a newborn.  It's literally like I have fewer intelligent thoughts for about 8 months.  Then slowly, almost imperceptibly, the fog lifts and I have something to say again.

This is not that day, friends.  Sorry to say it.  But I do feel that day coming.  Timon is 7 months old now, and he's settling in to life on this earth, which means he can put himself to sleep instead of needing me to rock him and bounce him and shhh him until I want to slam my head into a wall repeatedly.  This new development of his has been a total game-changer for me.  I LOVE IT!!!  I'm so much more myself - I haven't even driven aimlessly around town with the kids to avoid having to actually parent them in way over a month!  Woohoo!  I'm more myself...but still the mom-of-a-little-baby version, not the fully rested, sit at a computer and be contemplative kind...yet. 

Today I'm going to share with you someone ELSE'S contemplative writing.  It took my breath away.

This poem was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann.  It is called Desiderata, which means "desired things" in Latin.  It was quoted on Momastery, and when I read it I first thought that it must have been written recently because it's so relevant.  But then I wondered if maybe it was very old but remained relevent because it was timeless like so many pieces of inspired literature.  I googled it and learned that it was written 85 years ago.  It reminds me of something a grandfather would write for his grandchildren, passing on the wisdom he's gained through experience on this earth.  Maybe it was.  Ehrmann was 54 when he wrote it.  

"Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.  Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.  Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.  Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.  Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.  Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.  Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.  And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.  Strive to be happy."

Have a lovely day.  It is still a beautiful world and you have a right to be here.