Meet my grandson, Ezekiel (Zeke). Don’t ya love the Mr. T look and the baby guns he’s sporting. Yes, I’m shamelessly showing him off. He’s actually two and a half now, and this is from about five months old, but it’s a favorite among my photos of him, so I couldn’t resist sharing it. I have two other grandchildren as well, and I’m sure you’ll see them very soon, but today, I’m thinking about the lessons I’ve learned watching this little guy whom I see more often.
My daughter Tylesha, Zeke’s mom, wrote a college paper once on all that he had taught her. He was only a year old at the time, and already he had become a little professor of life. This precious little man has taught this grandma a thing or two as well.
You’d think I would have learned these simple life lessons when I had my own little ones, but it took my daughter’s little man to show me what absolute wonder looks like. I guess I was too busy, or too stressed to learn those lessons back in the day.
Courtesy of country living, we watched a crop duster this morning; although, I think he was playing more than dusting to be honest. He swooped so low and looped so fast, that I first thought a neighbor had bought a new remote control aircraft. Zeke squealed with excitement at each pass of the yellow plane across our country road and over the massive fields of soy beans, wheat, and corn.
We had places to be, so after driving slowly–hazard lights flashing, of course–to catch as much of the show as possible, I did have to pick up speed and leave our new friend in the rear view mirror. Zeke talked about the yellow airplane for the rest of our trip to his daycare, and the first thing he wanted to see when we headed home… that yellow airplane.
In an age when a few hours in a movie theater can transport us to planets unknown, orphaned tycoons can build iron suits to save the world, gods descend to Earth to help us out of the mess we’ve made, and green screens put us anywhere a movie producer can imagine, we find it difficult to marvel over much in the world around us. What a blessing to walk with a little one who still finds wonder in a blade of grass and teaches me to stop and marvel at this wonderful world we call home.
…and that’s the view from My Front Porch.
Photo courtesy of Karner Blue Photography.
I’m reminded of your last trip here. Zeke heard the planes, trains, birds, squirrels…all the everyday sounds we often miss by walking too fast. Last weekend I was with a three year old who was calling every sight and sound to my attention. He made me think k of Zeke, but even more…reminded me to slow down. Well…losing the ability to talk can do that to you, too!
Love you!
That is so true to see the world through the eyes of a two or three year old. It’s a Beautiful thing.
Amen, Heidi! So pure and innocent.