It’s a beautiful, early spring
morning. Father Sun shines brightly
overhead and the sky is a lovely shade of robin’s egg blue. The air is fresh and crisp following on the
heels of a very rainy, stormy day experienced the day before. I am sitting outside in the play yard,
quietly observing three children at play…a 4-1/2 yr. old boy, a 3-1/2 year old
boy, and a 2-1/2 year old girl. They’ve
each chosen a favorite container and are industriously scooping rainwater out
of the sandbox. Conversation ensues
among them as they carry on with their good work. I hear the eldest boy remark, “We need
“access”…we need more “access”, as he uses his strong arms to move
wheelbarrows, shovels and other outdoor toys out of the way, clearing a path in
which to reach other rain puddles to scoop out of the sandbox. He uses this newly discovered word several
more times throughout the rest of outdoor playtime. As I continue to observe, I hear a lone bird
in the distance, singing his morning song. All is calm and peaceful. After scooping most of the water out of the
sandbox, each child picks up a shovel and begins digging in the cool, moist
earth. One of them gleefully calls out
to me, “We’re making mud!” They are
reveling in pouring water onto the earth and creating mud puddles in which to
exuberantly stomp in, happy to be allowed to participate in such an activity
because they are wearing all of their rain gear. Another child makes his way closer to where
I’m sitting, where he spies a small log.
He begins pouring his newly made “mud” over it. I take note that I have not had to interrupt
their play to help settle any disagreements or redirect play, as they are
intent on the “work” at hand. Soon,
other caregivers and children begin to join us.
All promptly get busy with different tasks. One little guy finds a log and drapes
himself over it and with his stomach and legs gently rolls the log back and
forth. As the play yard hums with
purposeful activity and conversations, I think to myself, “Ahhh…just another
typical day at LifeWays.” And then I
think to myself, “We are so very blessed.”
Before heading inside to prepare for lunchtime activities, I
take my little ones on a short hike. As
we descend the big hill, they ask, “Where are we going?” “What are we doing?” “Hmmmm,” I thoughtfully respond, “you shall
see.” I stay quiet on our hike,
observing Mother Earth as she begins to awaken from her deep slumber. I take note that the grasses are once again
turning a bright shade of green and many tiny flowers with purple petals have emerged,
gracing the forest floor and hillside.
These changes do not go unnoticed by my young charges. As they follow me along the nature path, I
can hear one say, “These flowers are making me want to pick one.” He says this again, more in a questioning
manner, and I realize that he is asking permission before going ahead and
picking one. I gently reply that they
are, indeed, lovely to look at, but we must not pick them, as they do not
belong to us but to Mother Earth. He seems to accept this answer as he bends
down to take a closer look at the tiny flowers with the purple petals.
As we continue winding along the path, climbing the hill to
return to the building to prepare for our lunchtime activities, my heart fills
with gratitude, and I breathe a deep sigh, thinking to myself, “Ahhh…after all
of the journeying and learning I’ve experienced since leaving LifeWays the
first time, I’ve come home.”
“I have heard a mother bird,
singing in the
rain.
Telling all her
little ones,
Spring has come
again.
I have seen a wave
of green,
down a lovely
lane.
Making all the hedges
glad,
Spring has come
again.
I have seen a
patch of brown,
golden in the sun.
Crocuses are
calling out,
Spring has just
begun!”
~anonymous
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