Become Fascinated With the Ordinary

Life lessons from Erin.

Last week,

Erin was ecstatic!

*

Celebrate!

*

The dandelions are here!

*

She was so excited that she grabbed

two mismatched

flip-flops for her feet.

What a lesson

in

joy

and

abundance

and

simple

delight

and

happiness.

Jesus said,

"Let the little children come to Me,

and do not forbid them;

for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

{Matthew 19:14}

He keeps teaching me simplicity and joy

through the heart and mind and hands

of a little girl

with a fist full of dandelions.

The Lord keeps teaching me

that He came

that they may have life,

and that they may have it more abundantly

{John 10:10}

through simple little things like this.

A fist full of dandelions

is

a

little

glimpse

of

abundant

life.

Have a Happy Easter.

Enjoy a time of remembrance today:  Good Friday.

And celebrate His resurrection

and the

beautiful newness

He has given

and will continue

to give and create

in

your

heart

and

life

forever.

Last year's Easter Post here with my mudpie making girl:  Gotta Love Her

Communion with Erin was a challenge in 2011.

This year, she is excited.

She said,

"Yay!  Communion!"

My adult mind thinks, "Yay? Excitement? Should I teach her reverence?"

And I say,

"What do we remember when we have communion?"

She says, "Jesus."

Yes. Jesus.

She is five. She is excited.

Should I let her express her genuine 5-year-old feelings?

Or teach her false reverence that she doesn't understand?

She will learn the true reverence

on her

own,

I believe

as she gets bruised and banged up by this world.

So, today,

I am glad she is excited for communion.

Does she understand it all?

Hmmmm . . . .

Excitement for dandelions?

Let the little children come to me

for such is the kingdom of heaven . . .

I think in some ways

her childlike faith

understands much more of the kingdom of heaven

than my adult mind that

has been wounded and wearied by this world

and has to be

taught

again

the

truth

of His kingdom.

I teach her about Jesus.

And she teaches me about Him too.

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*

*

I found this little hymn in my great-grandma's hymnal:

Little Sunbeams

I think God gives the children, as through the land they go,

The most delightful mission, That anyone can know;

He wants us to be sunbeams of love and hope and cheer,

To brighten up the shadows that often gather here.

O we are little sunbeams, sent down from God to man;

In all life's shady places we shine as best we can.

The clouds may hide the sunshine of heaven from our sight,

And life have much of sorrow to mar the heart's delight

But if like faithful sunbeams we children do our part,

we'll bring a ray of brightness to ev'ry shadowed heart.

O we are little sunbeams, sent down from God to man;

In all life's shady places we shine as best we can.

Then let us live our mission of sunbeams day by day,

And scatter joy and brightness about us all the way;

Let's chase away life's shadows with loving thought and deed,

And be the sunshine makers of which the world has need.

O we are little sunbeams, sent down from God to man;

In all life's shady places we shine as best we can.

copyright 1902 by E.O. Excell.

Photos and art copyright 2012 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.