Listen….
to your life. All moments are key moments…. The chatter of small voices filled my senses today as we braved the local toy store. Ooooohhhh…. I want this could be heard on almost every aisle, along with laughter of joy and cries of tired children. And my grandsons gave detailed descriptions of the fun features of the toys they wanted as if practicing for their trip to see Santa. The youngest was also able to act as a consultant to a mother new to the world of Sky Landers. It’s amazing to hear an eight year old talk about forward and backward compatibility between game systems.
And many may think that the children are selfish for wanting more toys for themselves when they already have many at home to play with. And it is then, that I think about how these very same children shopped just a week prior for our big Toys for Tots party and brought ten toys to donate for other children less fortunate than them. Children learn what they hear, what they see and what they live…
Do you hear what I hear? And as they prepared to leave the house that last evening, Elijah (eight years old) paused at the top of the stairs, tears in his eyes and said, ‘I miss Tutu Chef.’ And I said, ‘me too Elijah, me too…’ And then he told me that Kaleo (two years old) couldn’t miss him as much as he. It was as if he felt sorry for his cousin not having the opportunity to create as many memories with Tutu as he, and our other two grandsons (eight and ten) did. We will all keep myDarlin’s memory alive with stories, photos and videos so that our children and grandchildren will always know his Aloha spirit and carry the legacy on.
Christmas music plays as they wrap presents and decorate the tree with ornaments of years gone by. And I listen to their excited chatter and laughter as they make plans for the holidays. And I think back to last year when myDarlin’ and I sat in the same living room, watching the same activities and excitement. And he stops for a moment, tears in his eyes as he picks up an ornament…. I close my eyes, say a prayer and feel myDarlin’s Robert Kenui Pope love surround me – and when they ask him what he’s upset about, he says I forget. (I think his Tutu gave him a hug)
….And the best gift around the Christmas tree is the presence of family wrapped in love…..
Today I am filled with gratitude as we enter the month of preparing for the celebration of Jesus’s birthday. Grateful for children’s love and innocence that bring us such joy. And in every moment, every breath, every song, may we remember the reason for the season.
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