I sit here at a park bench with my dog, Feito. We listen to the sounds surrounding us. We are under a tree, with a birds nest and listen to the chirping of the mother bird. I imagine she’s venting because her sounds reach a high pitch and then they calm. I listen to the autos as they rapidly pass by on 1-70 going east and going west.
I listen to the sounds of children and their laughter and shrieks of delight as they swing and climb and rock on the park equipment provided for them. They jump, they run, they twirl and move with such speed and natural movement.
I watch my grandson on the climbing wall. I watch him go up and down on a caterpillar slide. He jumps and challenges others to see who can go higher and farther as they land on the sand. He’s so active and fierce on the grounds of the children’s playground at a park.
Now he runs playing one of his favorite games of tag with friends he has made at the children’s playground at the park. My other two grandchildren are at the baseball field of the park and I can see them play from my strategic park bench. One plays first base, the other shortstop. They’ve dramatically improved from last year. They’re good hitters, and I’m so proud of their efforts.
The summer has begun and I have had to place my projects on the “back burner.” My focus is the children. The frustration, the anxiety and the stress are well worth observing them grow and play out the values I try my best to teach them.
The “I love you’s”, the hugs and messy kisses I get are well worth it. The spontaneity of their ways of expressing their love to me are so special and priceless.
What more could I want? It’s a challenge at best to “teach them in the way they should go!” As we drove to the park, I listened to my two baseball stars conversation. One says to the other, “I am going to pray when I get to the field.” The other asks, “ Pray for what?” He responds, “pray that we all have a great time and all goes well.” She replied, “you mean that we win?” “No, not really, we don’t always have to win to have a great time playing the game!” This was his response and my heart swelled with such joy as I thought to myself, “Atta boy, Jeremie, you are getting it!”
I tell them during those opportune times to pray about everything. Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything…” I take that to heart and want my grandchildren to do the same…
ritasalomon 