Joy

I have never been to Europe, I have not seen the seven wonders of the world, heck, there are a lot of "must sees" right here in the U.S. that I have never seen and may never see, but  . . . I HAVE been witness to some of the most miraculous and amazing moments on earth.

As a mom, you get to be a part of things that you cannot understand until you experience them.  A baby's first smile, your baby crawling at what seems like lightening speed, your child's first steps, the first time they discover the beauty or wonder of a flower or the fun of splashing in a pool or the joy of swinging.  I know that these things may not seem all that exciting, but when you experience the world through the eyes of your child . . . well, that is when you begin to understand real joy.

As adults we become a little jaded.  A flower, is a flower, is a flower.  The clouds, well we all know they are up there.  A bicycle, it's just another reminder sitting in the garage to make us feel guilty as we wonder when the last time we used it was. . . but in the eyes of child, these things take on a magical quality.  That flower is alive with color and scent and beauty, it becomes the gift a child bestows proudly on his mother.  Sometimes that flower is really just grass, but to a child, this is just as beautiful as any rose as he hands it to you with a sparkle in his eye.  Those clouds . . . well can't you see the dragon eating an ice cream cone while laughing at the dancing tiger.  No . . . better take a child outside with you, they'll be able to point it out!  And that bicycle, that one is freedom and independence and accomplishment and fun all rolled into one!

I have come to the realization, that God gives us the gift of children so that we may experience real joy.  There are so many things that make us "happy", but when is the last time you experienced JOY, I mean real, unabridged, and uninhibited joy?  God knew that adults would get busy, would take things for granted and become numb to the beauties of the world, so he gave us kids!  As your kids grow you are given a second chance to discover the simple joys and the intricate beauty of the everyday through their eyes.  It is one of the things I have enjoyed most about motherhood:  seeing things the way my kids see them, watching them discover all the things I take for granted.

Just this past week, my kids gave me two opportunities to experience this kind of pure joy (actually they probably gave me many more opportunities, but I had my blinders on for the rest, you know the ones . . . we turn them on when we think the task at hand is super important and therefore trumps all other things including joy, but how important is it really?)

The first opportunity: Halloween decorations!  How exciting can Halloween decorations really be?  I mean, you get out the same decorations every year.  You smile as you pull out a favorite that you had forgotten about, then you put it in the same place you put it last year and look around, satisfied with your work and ready to take on the holiday season.  Or maybe, you grudgingly get the decorations out, thinking the whole time how much work it will be and wondering if it's really worth it.  Well, let me tell you that it is.

I got our decorations out last Friday night.  Clint and Jackson were at a high school football game and I had promised the little ones all day that we would put out the decorations that evening.  By the time we got to it, I was tired and was really wishing we could just put if off until the next day . . .but a promise is a promise!  So, I carried the boxes in and started opening them.  Brooklyn, Kynlee, Westin and Gage had most of it unpacked before I could even open the last box!  They were squealing with delight (and I literally mean squealing).  They oooohed and aaaaahed over everything, right down to the spider that goes on our light up spider web!  They threw questions at me from every side.  They asked where to put things.  They giggled, they arranged, they played and smiled!  Then they rearranged and played some more.  I feel pretty certain that those giggles could be the answer to world peace if we could just bottle them.  No one could hear that kind of joy and not instantly feel lighter, softer, happier and peaceful!  In this one simple act of putting out Halloween decorations, my kids reminded me that there is joy in every moment and in everyday!  They rediscovered Halloween decorations this year and they helped me to do the same.  When Jackson got home, he immediately broke into a HUGE grin and exclaimed, "Whoa, it looks like our house was taken over by a pumpkin fairy!"  Even in his "old age" the magic and joy still exist and that makes me so happy!

Gage the witch (or warlock)

My second opportunity: Storytime!  I will be the first to admit, that sometimes (okay a lot of times) bedtime stories and all the other details surrounding bedtime are something I dread.  By the time 8 p.m. rolls around, I just want to be able to wave a magic wand and find all of my kids neatly tucked into bed and fast asleep so I can enjoy a glass of wine, or a book or a show or just so I can sit in complete silence doing absolutely nothing!  I love my kids with my whole heart, but man do they take it out of me!  However, most nights, I go through the motions, read the story, pass out the snuggles and put them back in their beds 10 times before they finally stay and go to sleep.

On Sunday night, my kids gave me an opportunity to seize the joy of the bedtime story.  I had a sudden epiphany to ask Jackson (who is reading quite well these days and needed to read a book for school anyway) to read the story.  In all honesty, I figured this was a win-win . . . I got out of reading the story and Jackson got some school work done.  Turns out it was so much more than that.  He pulled out his book and started to request that everyone get in a line "so everyone can see the pictures."  Getting 4 four year olds to sit in a straight line and stay was a pretty lofty goal my little man, but nice try.  Inevitably the line forming failed, but storytime was a success.  Jackson read the book to a captivated audience of his siblings (they all kind of adore him) and he even turned the book around after every page and moved it back and forth to make sure everyone could see the pictures.  You could see the pride on his face the whole time, not only did he read the book, but he was being asked to help with a task usually reserved for "big people"!  This simple moment revitalized me.  It warmed my heart and helped me recapture the joy of reading.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to read, but I like to read for me, not for others (it's selfish, but it's true).  I read to my kids, but I like to pick my favorite stories, not theirs.  As I watched Jackson's pride and joy at doing something for his brothers and sisters, I felt a joy that I cannot describe.  I have such amazing kids and I cannot even begin to deserve the blessing of being their mother!  When Jackson was finished, they all asked if I would read one more story and I agreed without hesitation.

Jackson's Storytime

Who wants to see the picture?

I can't thank my kids enough for the joy they bring to my life.  Not just the joy of having them, but also the joy of taking me along on the ride as they discover the world.  Next time you need a pick me up, take a child outside and discover things with them!  And if you hear me sounding grumpy or a little jaded, march me home and sit me down with one of my kids, it is sure to lighten my mood . . . if only I can remember to take the blinders off more often!