Venturing Out and Staying Near

It amazes me what a child will play with to amuse themselves.
I saw it with my own children.
A refrigerator box would give them days of pleasure.
It became a rocket ship, a house, or a castle.

They would decorate it with markers.
I could always tell the boy’s side from the girl’s side.
The girl’s side would have curtains on the windows.
The boy’s side would have a basketball hoop strategically drawn.

I remember thinking that buying toys was overrated.
Making toys out of everyday things was much more fun for them.
I can still see things my children did in my mind’s eye.
I can still remember the things they did to occupy themselves if they were waiting.

When I shopped at the grocery store, they were with me.
When I ran errands, all five of them went with me.
Certain stores did not hold my boys’ attention as much as others.
Shopping for clothes was not high on their preference list.

My boys tended to make the best of it.
I remember a store in the mall where my older girls liked to shop.
My boys were young when their sisters were in the, being aware of fashion, stage.
This particular store was of no interest to them.

I always made sure that we stopped at the baseball hat shop or the sporting goods store.
Then, they were able to look around with enthusiasm while my girls were the ones waiting.
The store that my girls liked had a display window that you could walk into.
Often we would see salespeople dressing the mannequins in the newest outfits.

One shopping trip, I turned around and did not see my boys.
I saw people looking at something in the front of the store.
I walked to the front and saw that people in the mall were looking at the display window.
My boys were in the display window, posing as mannequins.

They were frozen in place.
It was almost like watching the guards at Buckingham Palace.
I remember being there and trying to make the guards laugh or talk to me.
A salesperson walked by and spoke to me.

Let them stay there; it is good for business, she said with a giggle.
They stood perfectly still.
People were outside the window trying to make them smile.
They were amazingly still; I was actually quite impressed.

That same scenario happened once more in another store.
There was no display window this time.
This store had mannequins on low platforms.
My boys would stand there perfectly still.

I remember a little boy going by with his mother.
Mommy, that one is real, he said pointing to one of my sons.
Mannequins are not real, she answered without even looking.
If she only knew.

My boys were not hurting anything or anyone.
They were using their imagination.
This mannequin stage was short lived.
However, I remember it fondly and with a smile on my face.

I saw a mother as we both were waiting in the customer service line.
I watched her little boy and thought of my own boys when they were that age.
He was pretending to direct traffic.
He would put his hand up as if to say, Stop.

Some people played along and would stop.
He would laugh.
He had such power in his little hand using his pretend stop sign.
His mother allowed him to continue his play.

It was endearing.
It was not bothering anyone.
It made many people smile.
It occupied the little boy.

When she was finished, she called his name.
Time to go, she said sweetly.
Directing traffic is an important job and leaving at that moment seemed out of the question.
She told him again that it was time to go; his little hand stayed in the air.

Mommy has to go so I guess you will have to stay here then, she said.
I smiled and heard myself in her voice and her words.
His little hand stayed up but not quite as high as it was a minute before.
She began to walk away, taking slow steps.

I watched him.
His hand came down.
He still stayed in the same place.
I could see him thinking and weighing his options.

Mommy will see you later, she said only a few feet away but with her back to him.
He knew she meant it.
Mommy, he said in a tone that would melt your heart.
He ran to her side and grabbed her hand.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

I thought of the little boy when I was on my walk.
Across the road at the end of my street there is a farm that raises cows.
Actually, I cannot see the barn or any of the out buildings.
The cows come into this field to graze.

This is the time of year the baby calves are born.
I have yet to see a mother cow give birth.
I just see the baby calves after they are born.
I watch them stay close to their mother.

There is always one baby calf who chooses to be off by himself.
I watched how the mother cow handled the situation.
I thought of my sons.
I thought of the little traffic director with his imaginary stop sign.

There is nothing new under the sun.
The young will try to forge their own path.
They will try to step out on their own.
However, they still need their mother nearby, just in case.

We act the same way with God.
We try to venture out, move away from Him, and stretch the limits a bit.
God is always there.
We come to know that the only safe place is by His side.

Lesson learned.

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2 responses to “Venturing Out and Staying Near”

1. My granddaughter-in-law posted today about her youngest daughter being registered for kindergarten and how she was “teary”–I think all we mothers go through that; our little ones do grow up and become more independent. We are so blessed to be their Moms!

   Reply

   • Sue,
     It is a bit wistful for a young mom to watch her children venture out. However, that is what is supposed to happen a little more each year. It is a blessing to give them wings to fly.
     Gina

     Reply