Why a Dead Flower Pod Might be Better For Our Kids than an iPad….
So his little four year old legs are pedaling fast, and his yellow helmet leads the way. I’m almost running with the stroller, trying to keep up. When suddenly, my grandson stops pedaling and jumps down from his bike. He’s seen something that interests him, something so ordinary that most would pass by without a second glance. But not him.
He’s mesmerized by a dying flower garden.
Look at this Grandma! He shouts in excitement.
He’s holding a brown stem, with a fat pod at the top. It’s just a dead flower head. Most would think that all its beauty has long since faded. But he knows something different. He knows that inside that pod, a secret is hidden. Something is waiting in there. And no one knows how many seeds it contains. No one knows what color they are.
We stop. Because this is the beauty of being a grandma: we have time.
He collects. Lots.
Back at home, we spill the pods onto the table, where he proceeds to prise open each one, slowly and carefully. He will not miss a single seed. They all go into his bag.
His favorite ones are those that are perfectly black and round, like teeny tiny bouncy balls. And when one accidentally rolls on to the floor, he’s on his little hands and knees, searching for it like it’s missing treasure. He doesn’t stop until he finds it.
And while the world bombards our children with screens, and sounds; with toys that light up, and buzz and flash in their efforts to entertain, I get to share my days with one who is delighted by simple seeds, and mushrooms, by the sound of cicadas in the trees, and all that is good in God’s wonderful world.
And I’m reminded of a dark summer’s night, long ago, when the evening sky was pierced with a zillion twinkling lights, and how that same little boy took my hand in his and said, in his wonderful three year-old way:
Grandma, look at the stars. Aren’t they marvelous?
And these days, these moments, these precious times, they are marvelous to me.
Glenys
How are you fostering a sense of wonder in your children, your grandchildren, or your children’s ministry?
Oh, my! I just loved reading this. How very innocent and precious! We need to be more like children. We need to be amazed by what seems to be simple but yet is marvelous! I know I need to slow down and take some time to appreciate God’s creations. To see the beauty in all things! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Lee Ann! I don’t know what happens to us as we grow up to take away our sense of wonder in the ordinary, but that little boy has helped me to see the beauty that is all around
Yes, oh yes! That’s what I love about being a grandmom, too. When my grandkids were little, they loved prepping and planting my backyard garden with me. One year, before my grandson started Kindergarten, we were out in the backyard and raking and turning over the dirt and Lucas got tired and wanted to sit. He brushed his hand over the bench to move all the Maple seeds and said, “Grandmom, what are these things?”
I was still digging, so I just said, “Helicopters.”
His eyes got wide. “Why are they called helicopters?”
*Opportunity!!*
I stopped digging. “Watch.” And I scooped up a bunch and flung them up. They all came twirling down and Lucas shouted, “AWESOME!!” And he scooped and flung for a LONG time. 🙂
I smiled, said to myself, “I rock” and went back to digging in the garden.
What a lovely story Pam…and you’ve never forgotten it 🙂
Glenys, this is such a wonderful post. It shows how thrilled children still are by the world around them, if only we’ll take time to show them. Or in many cases, they can show us! Thanks for this great reminder. Being a grandma is the best. When my grands are over, we always tour the back yard. We look at the rose garden and see if there are any getting ready to bloom. We check the lemon and orange trees and pick whatever is ripe. They even love picking up dog poop from the yard! Everything is an adventure. I love it!
Thank you Linda! How blessed we are to have those little ones in our lives!
What a special moment with your precious grandchild. I love the curiosity of children. May God help us find more ways to encourage and stimulate that while they are young.