Tag: children

The Children’s Hour.

We have little ones visiting our office today; their pattering feet bustling with the joy of a new discovery.

And, never to be dissuaded – they fearlessly sidle up, transfixed by the whirring spinning dots of a high tech computer screen.

“Can you make it green like my Mommy’s eyes,” the youngest boy pleads. And just like that, a spark of wonderment illuminates the air.

I must say, I somewhat ‘envy’ the arduousness of their task – rising each morning for the singular purpose of revealing…

A ‘climbing tree’ to the right of our building, and a car ‘that goes really, really fast.’

And don’t forget the strawberry frosted donuts left on a table in the downstairs break room – “With sprinkles!” a pony-tailed ‘princess’ vigorously exclaims.

As I sit here, I’m reminded of Longfellow’s musings; between the dark and daylight, when the night is just beginning to lower…a pause that is the Children’s hour.

So, come now…please share in their joy.

Namaste ❤

“Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day’s occupations,
That is known as the Children’s Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,
Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence:
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret
O’er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me;
They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all!

I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!”

When Fishes Carry Wishes: A Micro-Moment of Love.

I went to my favorite pond yesterday. The one nearest the stone walkway, and that place where the heron nests.

I saw a little girl there with her father. They were standing along the water’s edge, watching the fish cluster below.

“If you whisper a wish, they’ll all come around,” he smiled. “to carry your wishes back to God.”

The little girl scampered quickly to gain a better view. And, with all the might she could muster in this world said, “I wish for more days like today.”

Without missing a beat, the father tapped the metal railing – the sound, drawing the fish even nearer.

“Oh, Daddy look!” she shouted, “The fishies heard my wish!”

To be moved by something so extraordinarily simple, my darlings – this is the blessing of Love.

These micro-moments of wonderment, fill my heart with peace. And, offer a perfect ‘pausing spot’ to breathe.

I mean, just imagine the silliness of fishies carrying wishes? Though, on the other hand – shouldn’t this be the basis of every single one of our beliefs?

To heck with the logic and scientific mumblings. These are the lessons worth sharing – that, no matter what, love will always find its way.

Even if it is on the tail fin of a fishy 🙂

 

The Memories in the Leaves.

There’s no greater testimony to the spirit of this Universe, than the sounds of little ones—enchanted with the delight of bursting through the newly fallen leaves.

And, my goodness, how wonderful—to have witnessed it from my very own window.

“Ready?!” he shouted. Looking off to the side, I could see the youngest child waiting patiently in his wagon. As the older boys – one push, one pulling – caused a ‘red flyer’ explosion of these castings.

“Again, again!!” the little squealed.

Oh, but my dearest darlings – isn’t there always a ‘waiting space’? Time in which our ‘leaf piles’ must be constructed, once more.

Perhaps, to share that the greatest joy is in the anticipation?

“To be a tree and read the memory of the leaves…”

Indeed, for within each glorious pile, we see—our most cherished childhood memories imprinted upon each leaf.

Nurturing the Littlest of Souls.

[blockquote source=”Mohandas Gandhi”]”If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.”[/blockquote]

I watched a little girl playing ‘bubbles’ the other day. She was off to the side, far away from the other little ones – and, completely engaged in getting ‘just the right amount of soap bubbles’ on her dipping wand.

“Oh, your hair looks so pretty,” I smiled, doing my best to draw her nearer to the other children. She seemed so shy, and – as the Mama Bear of the neighborhood – I felt it my place to help her find her way forward.

“Thank you,” she beamed, “I did it all by myself.” For me, there’s no better joy than watching a little one realize they can, in fact, do just about anything.

“Your mother must be very proud,” I offered. And, then she said something that just about broke my heart:

“Oh, my Mommy never says that…”

My goodness, how easily we forget the necessity of nurturing a little one’s soul. To share with them, such magnificent tales – and, demonstrate that nothing is impossible.

How do we expect to extend humanity’s reach in turning away from our own little one’s hand?

I know this might sound silly, but this weekend – I’ll be putting together a ‘faire’ for the little ones. With lots of treats, perhaps some clever face painting, and goodies to take home at the end of the day.

I may not be able to change the dynamics of a family, but…I *can* make a difference in the hearts of these little ones.

We all can.

So tell me, my darlings – what can you do to help someone smile this weekend?

The Magic Inside the Bubble.

[blockquote source=”Alan Wilson Watts, Zen and the Beat Way “]”It is interesting that Hindus, when they speak of the creation of the universe do not call it the work of God, they call it the play of God, the Vishnu lila, lila meaning play. And they look upon the whole manifestation of all the universes as a play, as a sport, as a kind of dance…” [/blockquote]

I saw a little boy playing ‘bubbles’ this morning. His grandfather, you see, had arrived the evening before – and these bubbles were just a small token of the many ‘gifts’ he carried with him.

And, with every dip of that wand – he squealed and hopped and lunged his way into the morning’s delight. Bubbles have such a magic about them, and to a little boy – this magic is irresistible.

“You missed one,” his Grandfather shouted…pointing upwards to a lone bubble struggling against the wind. And, with just the slightest hint of a grin to his face – I knew this Grandfather was up to something.

A Grandfather’s grin, you see, is always his ‘tell’.

And, oh how I knew that grin…the grin of ‘something delightful to come.’

Sure enough, just as the little one took off in chase – I watched as the Grandfather pulled a tiny bell from his front coat pocket, and patiently waited for just the right moment.

“Over there,” he shouted as the bubble settled back again to the earth.

And with one final, gloriously grasping leap… the little boy clasped his hands around it, and…

BRRRNNNGGG

There it was, the sound of a bell.

Oh,  and you should have seen the look in this little one’s eyes – I mean, how could a bubble ever ring?

“Grandpa…did you hear..?” he asked, “it made a jingle!!” And, with hands tightly cupped, he walked ever-so-carefully back to his Grandfather’s side.

Ah, such delight a little cleverness might bring…when something as small as a jingle, perfectly timed, can bring a whole world of magic to a little boy’s hands.

“That means, you get a wish,” his Grandfather smiled, “anything you want.”

And, without ever missing a beat, the little boy answered,

“Grandpa, I want more bubbles…”

My dears, isn’t it amazing how these little ones know – that the most perfect day in the world, is the one spent with Grandpa on the front porch blowing bubbles?

There’s a lesson in here for all of us, I’m sure…

But for now, my dears, I must be off – to secure a bell and a Summer’s worth of bubbles. 😉

Many blessings, my dearest friends…and love, to one and all.