Sunday, March 15, 2009

Grace in Small Things #1

The inimitable Schmutzie started the Grace in Small Things project way back in November.  It's basically an Attitude of Gratitude challenge: is it possible to find five thing to be grateful for in life every day?   That doesn't sound too hard.  Except I'm a little lazy.  If it hadn't been for a direct invitation from Savia, I would have let it all slide by the wayside.  However, Savia is too sassy and fabulous to ignore, so... I'm in.

Therefore I welcome you to my first edition of Grace in Small Things.  Speaking of Small Things I was on duty in Babyland this morning (my church's nursery), so there were a lot of very small people, small chairs, small cars, small everything.

1)  Benjamin, a one-year-old, didn't cry when I wiped his continuously runny nose, and by the end of the morning he was coming to me with his arms up, asking to be held.

2)  Braeden pretended to be invisible by hiding his face behind his hands.  All I had to do was wonder aloud where he could be, and his face lit up with a huge smile.  I could see it peeking out from behind his invisibility shield.

3)  Micah, who doesn't talk yet, told me a joke.  He pretended to be eating from a picture book with photographs of food.  Then he gave me a big grin like, Aren't I a riot?  If the little scamp wasn't too young to know how, he would have winked at me.

4)  There was a tiny little baby girl called Krystal who didn't want anyone near her except her Daddy.  She was just so wee and perfect in her pink-flowered dress and striped tights.  By the end of the morning our relationship had progressed to the point where she didn't put on a worried scowly-face when I looked at her.

5)  No one cried, and no one barfed.  Two weeks ago a kid puked in Babyland and then two of the volunteers caught a horrible stomach flu.  Thankfully, that won't be my fate - this time.

10 comments:

Karen said...

Sounds like Babyland is getting easier. Lucky for you.

Jenski said...

Thank goodness for no crying and puking! And all the other cute things little kids do.

savia said...

Awww...I feel so special. And influential. I wonder what else I can get people to do? Hmmmmm...

Jameil said...

No one cried, and no one barfed????? THAT IS A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE IN MARCH!! WOW!! Loved every single one of these. They made me want to hold a baby!!

Warped Mind of Ron said...

A wonderful list and how very sweet.

LL Cool Joe said...

I really like this. I saw it on someone elses blog a while back. I just can't see me being able to come up with 5 things every single day!

I may try it though.
Sounds like you had a good time at Babyland. :) Just that word makes me shudder!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

Your relationship with Krystal sounds like my relationship with my niece. I've always had a great rapport with kids. But, she can't stand me. Gives me the wonk eye all the time. This weekend, though, she actually smiled at me a couple times and waved goodbye. Probably because I've finally learned not to bother trying to pick her up. ha!

Unknown said...

No puke is a blessing.

Sparkling Red said...

Karen: Babyland is always random, like dropping down the rabbit hole into a bizarre Wonderland.

Jenski: Yes, it's amazing how much a kid can cheer me up simply by allowing me to wipe his nose.

Savia: See, in this case it's true that flattery will get you everywhere. You've buttered me up so much that now I'm putty in your hands.
(If you'll excuse the mixed metaphor.)

Jameil: There are plenty of babies to go around. You can hold one on each hip if you like!

Ron: Those kids are sweeter than candy, when they're not screaming directly into your ear. And even then, still pretty sweet!

LL Cool Joe: There's nothing to be lost by trying... And if you start, that'll be one more thing that I can be grateful for. :-)

Nilsa: Exactly. You have to play hard to get.

Christopher: True dat.

Kate said...

The best thing I ever learned was to let kids warm up to me and not overwhelm them by my desire to pick them up and cradle them and coo at them. It's hard. Believe me. But it works every time.