On Being Two

³ And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 18:3


What a wonderful week Richard and I had at the beach with our granddaughter!  I was a little worried about how difficult it might be to keep up with a two-year-old for an entire week, but she was a joy each and every minute.  Cecelia is an extremely happy child and brought a wonderful new perspective to our view of the beach... and of life.


Cecelia woke up with a smile every morning, excited for the day's adventures to begin.  She was amazed at the beach... the big waves, the seashells, the endless sand, the birds, the jellyfish and other critters.  She would have been happy to stay on the beach from morning until night every day just exploring and reveling in God's creation. Thank heaven for good sun block!


Our first day on the beach, I took Cecelia for a walk to find seashells.  She would pick up every piece of ocean debris and put it in her bucket.  I told her she should only keep the pretty ones.  Well, she continued to pick up every shell no matter what condition; but now before putting it in her bucket she would exclaim, "Kaymee... this is a pretty one!"  When did I start becoming so selective about what I see as beautiful in God's creation?


As I thought about it, I realized I have let myself become bored, inattentive or even critical of much of God's creation... every thing from shells and wildflowers to even people.  If Cecelia can see the beauty in a fragment of a scarred up clam shell, shouldn't I be able to see the beauty beneath the scars of people who have been beat up by the constant battering of life's waves?  Instead of criticizing flaws, shouldn't I marvel at resilience?  Instead of expecting others to be more like me, shouldn't I rejoice in our uniqueness?  


I wish I could be two again... well, maybe not.  But I do wish I could go back to that innocent attitude and find the beauty in everything and everyone once again.  Maybe that's a part of what Jesus meant when he said we must become like little children...


Father,
Help me to see the beauty in ALL of your creation... especially in other people.  Amen.


Joys:  Precious memories of a wonderful time at the beach; coming home; long, lazy days