Out of the Mouths of Babes!
The other day, I was standing in line at the grocery store to check out. Ahead of me, an adorable 5-year-old boy was with his Mom. As the Mom gathered her cart and started to leave, the little boy turned and shouted to everyone in earshot, I love you. All the adults were instantly charmed. There were smiles everywhere. And then, in unison, we all said back, we love you. It was an amazing and momentary bond among strangers. This made me wonder. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if instead of saying goodbye we just offered an enthusiastic, I love you? What could be the harm?
Shalom
The idea isn’t so far-fetched. Shalom is used as a substitute for hello and goodbye by Israelis. It means peace and wellness. Then, there’s aloha in Hawaiian which translates to love and respect. So, there’s really no reason why I love you might not work instead of hello and goodbye.
But I Don’t Love Everybody!
Well, of course not. And there’s the rational adult mind denying the charm and wonder of telling other people, even strangers, that we care about them. Now, what could be the downside? Do we think people will follow us home? Okay. I guess some nut job might. But as spiritual beings, wouldn’t it just feel great to let our guard down and express love for the human race?
Maybe, 5-Year Olds Know the Secret
They say that out of the mouths of babes springs truth. Well, maybe that little boy knows something we could all benefit from. Now, I’m not in the habit of listening closely to children. But Art Linkletter (does anyone remember him?) made a career out of it. He had this show, Kids Say the Darndest Things. He’d pepper the kids with worldly questions just to hear their answers. Too cute. Tiffany Haddish has an updated version. Here’s a clip of her interviewing Ellington. It’s guaranteed to make you smile.
Children Have Never Been My Thing
Truth is, I’ve never been keen on kids. Is that a terrible thing to admit? But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize the beauty a child can add to your life. As long as you’re not responsible for getting them to bed, helping with homework, and keeping them clean and fed, I can see that children are a sweet value add. Oh, you lucky parents and grandparents. But as an Uncle, I love the little ones in my life. Joy without responsibility. That’s a pretty terrific winning combination.
Please Share Your Stories
If you get a chance, I’d love to hear the wisdom your precious ones have offered through the years. Don’t hold back. Let me know. I’m all ears and eager to learn. Out of the mouths of babes!
And Now For Something A Little Extra!
This month, we’ll be participating in an AuthorsXP ebook giveaway. You can win a free subscription to Audible and a copy of my second novel After the Fall. Entering is easy. Click here to check it out. And have a wonderful rest of February. Happy reading!
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On the ‘kid’ theme, you might enjoy the movie I watched on a flight from Boston to Sarasota yesterday: The Storied Life of AJ Fikley. Poignant and charming, somewhat like some of your writing. I’m not sure how this Indie flick got onto Jet Blue, considering that most of their other movie offerings were violent or quite old or insipidly idiotic. This was a gem.
Thank you for that suggestion. I will look out for the film. I see it also in paperback with over 17,000 reviews. Impressive. Can’t wait to read it.
I have always loved the comments made by children, I enjoy what they have to say over the words of many adults. As a mother, former teacher and counselor, aunt, and now a Grammy I have had the fortune of experiencing so many Art Linkletter type comments.
My oldest granddaughter is 5, going on 27, and I relish her words. A few years ago we were doing a facetime and she just burst into tears and ran out of the room. When her dad, my son, and I tried to determine what was causing her to cry she responded “I just want to cry”
This year, at holiday time, I noticed there was a Moscow Mule Christmas ornament hanging from their tree. I laughed and informed Eloise the reason for this ornament was because that was the signature drink at her parents’ wedding. I told her I had some mugs at my house and maybe I could bring them over and make some drinks in it for her. She shook her head no. “No? I said” She said she wanted to come to my house and drink Moscow Mules with me.
I love that story. Your granddaughter must be absolutely adorable. Enjoy every minute. And isn’t Eloise the best name? You’re so blessed to have such a wonderful family. Lucky you!