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Dandelions or Mud Puddles
by unknown
[prose]
When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of
weeds that are going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom
and blowing white fluff you can wish on.
When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty
person who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone
smiling at them and they smile back.
When I hear music I love, I know I cannot carry a tune and do not have
much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat
and move to it. They sing out the words. If they do not know them, they
make up their own.
When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing
up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes,
spread their arms, and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.
When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My
kids say, “Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep
the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I do not want to go to Heaven yet.
I would miss my Mommy and Daddy.”
When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty
carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross
and worms to play with.
I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from. No wonder
God loves the little children!
“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back
and realize they were the big things.”
(final quote commonly attributed to Antonio Smith)