Finding Joy in Every Day

“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.”

Mary Jean Irion

We ask our grandkids about their day anytime we have the chance. I ask Norah about preschool and she says, “It makes me nervous.” I inquire further and she talks about the train table and outdoor time on the playground and the fun blocks in her class. She loves her teacher and her friends.

Christian tells me who can beat him in a foot race, which is upsetting and has spurred him to create a 4 point plan (1. Sleep well to get strong, 2. Eat a good breakfast to stay strong, 3. Wear his best running shoes and 4. Hope that kid leaves the school.). Maybe he will tell me what Tristen brought for “show and share”. He even told me once that he loved Bruno Mars “Uptown [Funk It Up]” - his understanding of the song’s title. (When did we move off of “Wheels on the Bus”?)

If I wait long enough, both of them move beyond their nerves and disappointments onto a further description of their day. I hope they, and we, never get stuck on the easy part - the part of our day where it is all too easy to notice what’s missing.

May you find the best part of your day today. And if you break out in a dance party? I hear Bruno Mars will get you moving and grooving. Me? I gotta go with Pharrell’s “Happy” song!