Joy From Little Ones

Chatting to family members after a service I watched the joy pass across a Grandad’s face as he started talking about their granddaughters and times they spent together. His face lit up.

Tim and I were privileged to spend time with our great-nieces recently and felt the joy of being with little ones. My niece was able to break a long car journey at ours, on her way back home to Devon. Her youngest is two years old and not a fan of car travel, so we all had a meal together, then the two girls had time to play, have a bath and storytime before we tucked them up in their car seats in their pyjamas and snuggly blankets. My niece had a peaceful journey back home as they slept.

There are so many magical moments from those few hours. Tim sitting on the floor doing a puzzle with the little one and showing her how to match colours, while her sister knelt beside them drawing us a picture which now proudly adorns our fridge.

We have tester paint colours on our front room walls and the little one loved chatting about them as we walked around talking about the pictures that were on the walls and how they blended. One colour was rather pink and Tim was not a fan and the little one pointed out where she had the same colour on her top. She helped us choose a completely different colour, and yesterday we painted the tester on the walls, and she was spot on.

The girls discovered my collection of sea glass and knew what it was and had been to the place I discovered it in another life chapter only the day before.

Bathtime and storytime were a delight and the girls brought joy into our home.

I helped a friend say her loving farewells to her special Dad this week and we all gathered afterwards to share memories and continue his celebration of life. I found myself at the little ones’ table, where my friend’s grandchildren sat. They are used to being together and it was a joy to see them chatting and eating. I held a five-month-old bonny babe on my lap, as he happily chewed on his teething ring and bead string. He smiled as his cousins chatted to him and he eyed up the food on their plates. He has not started weaning yet, but was keen to try eating with the others, as we all kept the plates out of his reach. His four-year-old brother sat beside us and we played a great game counting his fingers. He was happy to try all sorts of variations on finger patterns and then his cousin showed him how to add his fingers together. His face lit up when he realised he could count higher than five. His giggle stays in my heart.

There is something so precious in dropping a little kiss on the top of a downy head.

I looked up and a colleague caught my eye. The smiles we shared were full of understanding.

We are getting the odd warm spell in the weather now as Spring starts in the Northern Hemisphere and our neighbours’ little ones are outside playing. We love how little ones can ride their bikes and play football outside in this neighbourhood and it is a joy to hear their happy voices as they play.

Little ones bring an uncontained joy and we are grateful. 🩷

An excerpt from this week’s Thoughtful Tuesday, Connection Breakdown & Kindness, to you.

My love to you all for reading and listening this week. 🩷