Lessons

There is a song from the Signing Time series with words that truly capture how I feel about each of my children. "You've taught me in your lifetime, more than I've learned in mine." I'm often amazed at the things I am learning from my children. I'm amazed that in order to do this amount of extensive learning you have to be past "school age" and your teachers are younger than you. Possibly because they don't pretend to know more than you. ...well most of the time anyway.

Sunday as Brandon and I were relaxing on the couch chatting about our weekend, Kellan came to us with (in his mind) an emergency.
"I found da arrow. Now I need da other arrow." Holding a pretend arrow in one hand and pointing at Makade's bow that we keep on top of the entertainment system with the other.
"Why do you need it buddy?" We asked as if we didn't know the answer.
" 'cause I NEED it!" Was the reply.
"Well it needs to stay up there because we can't play with it in the house and it's too cold to go outside."
To which Kellan responded, "Oh. Okay. I get it myself."
Standing on the couch (which is a good 6 feet away from the t.v), he reaches as high as his 3 year old body will stretch and jumps over and over again. "Almost!" "I get it this time." "Reeeeeach!" were just some of the words spoken with each attempt. Brandon and I watched with amusement as the little guy tried and tried. And just when his body language was showing he may be ready to quit by shoulders slumping and head hung down, he stopped determindly; stood tall once again and announced, "I can never give up."

Both Brandon and I looked at each other and shared a moment of awe that our 3 year old son could remind us that even though things may seem hard or even impossible, if it's something we truly desire or believe we need then we should never give up. We should continue on; steadfast, strong, and determined.

...I'd like to say that Kellan reached his goal of retreiving the bow. That we offered to aid him on his quest. Truth be told, as soon as another of his siblings called his name and used the words, "Come play," Kellan lost sight of his goal and jumped off the couch to find something better. But that's okay because our lesson was learned. Now just to apply where it's needed.