Lesson from a 4 year old

Last week I brought my two Albany grandsons to my house to spend the night. We pulled into the driveway and Andrew, my 4 year old, stepped out of the car and  said, “Mimi your yard is a beautiful garden”.  At first I wondered what he was talking about. Then I realized he was looking at all the yellow dandelions in the front yard.

I pondered his beautiful garden idea for a few minutes and found myself wondering why adults don’t look at dandelions the way a 4 year olds does. God has provided a beautiful spring garden in our yards and we try hard to get rid of those weeds.

When we talk about dandelions we use words like weeds and ugly. We associate dandelions with work and think of them as bothersome with no good purpose. I contemplated God's purpose for dandelions. Perhaps food, perhaps beauty, perhaps for little boys to pick for mommies.

Moving into greater reflection I wondered how many other things God provides for me that I try to get rid of, don’t appreciate, complain about or even choose to ignore. Things like interruptions in my day, bugs, problems, broken things, rain, people, etc. These things I tend to look at as weeds but God has placed them there for my growth.

Why wouldn’t we step out of the van, see a yard full of yellow flowers and say, “wow what a beautiful garden”! Why wouldn't we thank God for the things he brings into our lives each day!

My mom

Many lessons learned along life’s journey came from watching, learning and imitating my mom!

My mom always made my birthday a special event. A high school friend reminded me recently about a time when my mom took my friends and I to see the movie “Love story” on my birthday. Something I had forgotten until she shared her memory of that day. And then there were the yearly birthday sleepovers. I’m not sure how moms survive those “sleepovers” that girls love to have but my mom did.

My mom also spent countless hours at chorus concerts, hockey games, basketball games, lacrosse games and more chorus concerts. She let me try anything I showed an interest in from piano lessons to majorette lessons. Allowing me to test my organizational skills she let me plan a carnival in our backyard to raise money for muscular dystrophy.

My mom planned vacations for us including numerous camping trips. I always remember helping mom pack the camper with food and necessary items for a long road trip. She worked hard to make those trips fun.

As life continued my mom helped me mature and become a mom myself. She was always there when I needed her, helping an exhausted momma during those first weeks. She gave me much freedom to explore this new role and I knew she trusted me to me a great mom!

My mom prayed for me when life took on new adventures and took me miles away from her. Although I knew she did not like me being so far away she discovered ways to enjoy learning about new parts of the country by visiting us as often as she could.

My mom ironed our clothes (really) and invented new supper meals out of hamburg always able to provide a good meal on a modest budget.

As my mom  & I have traveled life’s journey together I have learned how to make life a little easier by creating fun times. I have learned to invest time, energy and money into others. She taught me to believe in myself and to try new things. My mom taught me to accept life’s trials and find the good even when life takes a turn you don’t like. Mom taught me to say yes as often as you can and don’t think something can’t be done but rather try to make it happen. My mom allowed me to play in the creeks not just look at them!

Thanks Mom, Happy Mother’s Day and I love you!

Kathy