Kids

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My kids say, "Hi God!!! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and clothes and dirty carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross and worms to play with. I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children!!

(author unknown)

Ain't it the truth...(except maybe the dandelion part... I see good eatin'! :)

-- Laurie in WI (CountryGirl518@Moose-mail.com), September 28, 2000

Answers

Laurie, thanks! Just what I needed this morning! Ahh, the little children.. Gods precious gift! Thanks! God Bless! Wendy

-- Wendy@GraceAcres (wjl7@hotmail.com), September 29, 2000.

Hi Laurie,

My 75 year old neighbor hasn't forgotten his childhood. The kid in him gathered the danylions in his yard. The adult in him turned those weeds into great dandylion wine. Best of both worlds.

(:raig

-- Craig Miller (CMiller@ssd.com), September 29, 2000.

Laurie, thank you! That gave me a big warm smile to face a cloudy, rainy day outside. I think I'll blow along with my arms outstretched, climbing up the hill to school this morning!

-- sheepish (rborgq@gte.net), September 29, 2000.

[several hours later....]

Actually, I smashed and killed a flicker on my windshield while driving, and limped all the way to school from where I parked. (I also smashed my foot against a big trunk last night and did a real number on myself!)

But in SPIRIT, I was doing what I said and having fun (mostly.) I was, however, sad for the bird...

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), September 29, 2000.

Laurie, Some thing you might enjoy reading: Robert Fulgums' "Everything I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten" and "Maybe, Maybe not".I found both books good reading on cold winter evenings .

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 29, 2000.

Laurie, thanks for sharing this, I am going to add it to my scrap book!

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), September 30, 2000.

"When I look at a patch of dandelions!" O.K. I will admit I thought the thread was kid "goats" and they were going to eat her dandelions! :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 01, 2000.