What my seven-month-old has taught me

There’s something about being around a child that helps put some of the wonder and mystery back into life. Children—when they’re young enough—also seem to have their priorities right. Here are just a couple of things we can learn from a child.

Sing when you’re happy.
Sleep when you’re tired.
Enjoy the simple things. Let a warm bath, a simple song, or a hug be reason enough to smile.
Make people most important.
Trust.

Mother's Day

Today marks my second Mother’s Day as a mom. Last year our little bundle of energy was still unborn, but he was starting to show. This year he made my day just by being his smiley babbling self.

There was a time when I resented being called "mom." My siblings used to use it as a derogatory term when I was acting too bossy. We were all too young to recognize the unselfish, serving nature of the role, of course. Perhaps that takes a lifetime as a parent to fully comprehend--and live out.

As of late, the day gives me pause to remember the women in my life who filled in some of the gaps that were left after Mom's death. Grandma would be at the top of the list, followed by some of my Sunday School teachers and others at church. I owe them a gratitude that's not easy to express. Indeed, some of them are no longer around to hear or read my feeble attempts.

Perhaps the best way to express my appreciation is by following their example, by living out my convictions, by building into the lives of others, by loving and serving not only my own children but others who have needs. Who knows where such a legacy will lead?

Volunteer

This week is national volunteer week.

I have found that volunteering brings a richness to life that would be hard to gain any other way. One or two evenings a week for about four years, I taught English to adults who wanted to learn to read. It made for long days, rushing to the class site after a full day at work, but the hours spent teaching such willing learners were some of the most rewarding hours of my week. I saw students making real progress in learning English. It’s always a joy to help motivated learners improve their lives through education, but I also gained some loyal friends.

Currently I am not volunteering because I have not yet figured out how to incorporate it with the demands of taking care of an infant. But where there is a will, there is a way, right?

If you are not volunteering, perhaps it is time to find a cause or a group that you feel strongly about and make yourself useful. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.