The lessons we teach our children are loud and purposeful; the lessons children teach us are quiet and powerful.
Little hearts, beating with simple joy. Little eyes, twinkling at the magical mundane. The smallest among us, imparting the biggest wisdom. Without any effort or expectation. Time and time again.
They live and grow; we watch and grow. It’s a beautiful exchange.
Our baby girl — she recently spent two nights in the local children’s hospital. Reactive airway disease (baby asthma) coupled with viral pneumonia generated the perfect storm inside her tiny body. It took all she had to gather precious oxygen.
Wires entangled her. Machines beeped. Medical staff hustled.
And bravery took the shape of a fifteen-month-old child.
Over the next 48 hours, I would inherently love her as a momma does — but I would also very intentionally learn from her. She had so much to teach me, and I needed to absorb every valuable lesson.
She taught me… vulnerability is safe when we’re in the presence of caring hearts.
She taught me… the comfort of home is not found in things. We don’t need much, really. Just someone willing to hold us close in a hospital chair.
She taught me… courage is not an absence of fear. It is strength and childlike faith in the midst of it.
She taught me… beauty is a little girl with tubes in her crooked nostrils, messy hair, snot-stained skin, tired eyes… and a smile on her face.
She taught me… resilience and patience and humility and uninhibited trust and deep, deep, unconditional love.
And on and on her teaching went, and on and on her teaching will go.
It’s just up to me (and you) to pay attention, take notes, and apply this pure and perfect brilliance to each day.
“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” [Angela Schwindt]