poppies // livelovesimple.com

unfettered joy //

DenaMay 22, 2017

poppies // livelovesimple.com

Yesterday, Roman, Marina, and I were out walking one of our usual paths. It was a perfect spring day. The air was sweet with the smell of flowers and freshly cut grass. While we were walking Roman was asking me the sweetest, most thoughtful questions, one after another.

Mama, why are some tulips red and some tulips yellow?

Mama, why are there no players out on the ball field today?

Mama, why can’t it be Halloween for all of the days?

And so on, and so forth. Hundreds of sweet, innocent questions bubbling up in his growing mind.

There is this little hill that we walk down just about every day. There are wildflowers that grow along the side of it. There are trees overhead filled with songbirds and squirrels. And we were walking down that little hill yesterday, about halfway down it, when I just got hit with this overwhelming feeling.

Unfettered joy. Joy at the sweetness of my darling children. Joy at the miracle of life. Joy at the beauty of nature. Joy at the grace of God. Joy at the blessing of health. Joy at the wonder of love. And there, halfway down that little hill — completely overcome by sheer gratitude — I began to cry.

poppies // livelovesimple.com

poppies // livelovesimple.com

A little while later, we were at the park. For days now, Roman has been trying to “catch birds.” I don’t know how he got this idea in his head, but he has. Whenever we are walking or playing in the yard, if a bird gets close to us, he’ll look at me, put his finger over his lips, say shhhh, and quietly creep after the bird, and then full-on run after it for a few moments.

While we were playing at the park, he realized that there were several birds out in a great big open field. He took this as the perfect opportunity to finally catch one. Usually I keep him close to me, but since the field was wide open and there was nothing and no one around, I just sat on the bench and let him run far out into the field. I sat and watched him from afar. He would set his eyes on a bird or small group of birds. Creep up on them quietly and then pounce, like an ungraceful, little tiger. Since the field was so wide open, he would continue to run, with all of his strength even after they took off into the air.

At one point he became so determined that he leapt into the air–arms outstretched like superman. Oh my, it was a valiant effort, which ended up in a full-scale belly-flop down into the grass. After witnessing two of those belly-flops, I couldn’t contain myself anymore. I started to laugh so hard and before I knew it, there were tears streaming down my face and my sides hurt from laughing.

It occurred to me then, that twice, on one simple walk outside with my babies, I was brought to tears of joy. As mothers, we often talk about how much we love our babies, or how grateful we are; but it’s not always easy to explain just why. But this, this day, this love — this is why.

poppies // livelovesimple.com

poppies // livelovesimple.com

poppies // livelovesimple.com

“And the day came
when the risk
to remain tight in a bud
was more painful
than the risk it took
to blossom.” –Anaïs Nin

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