Hippity hoppity Easter is on its way, and for me, it’s a very holy season of descent, reconciliation, and ascent beyond the chocolate eating and bunnies. (Memories of our guys hunting for eggs and their baskets…the best!) I’m not thinking about any one occasion as much as new growth, childhood, and sweet kid gifts appearing this week on my radar.
We don’t have grandchildren, but our son is dating someone with an adorable toddler. What joy. What blessing and innocence his presence and light shines into our lives.
Maybe a quote or one of the shopping sources here will resonate; more than that, I hope your heart will open to the wonders of childhood and maturity in the midst of growing cynicism and darkness.
Lovely KID GIFTS for All Occasions
Girly Gifts
There’s just something about little strawberry prints, cherry patterns, or teeny rosebuds that send me right back to girlhood. So many awesome memories.
The tote from Land’s End captures a moment of pure nostalgia. So does the little terrycloth set which is straight from my closet in 1976. 🙂 Will this next chapter in America resemble the ’70s?
I have been living with this poetry excerpt (above) for weeks, letting it have its way. Personally, I feel myself going crazy AND turning holy. On my soul’s journey, both are allowed. I’m drawn into deeper holiness and led into higher heavens.
The beauty of childlike creativity springs to mind; crazy and holy need not be mutually exclusive. Let’s face it, crazy in this culture is truly relative.
This parenting expert has so many helpful strategies for liberating children and parents. I find the wisdom helpful as a grown up…for example, how often do I insist on being understood as if somehow I am entitled!
Letting go of the need to be understood and letting others off the hook is a part of my own liberation work.
Sweet Ideas for Boy Gifts
Isn’t this idea (above) also helpful applied to our soul’s journey? Were it easy, the way toward holiness may not be so narrow.
We have such strong desires for ease and safety. Often this overrides our higher intelligence and greater good. It may be possible for some folks to coast through certain seasons, but when a desire to grow deepens? There will surely be discomfort. It belongs.
Older Kid Gift Ideas
By older kids, I guess I also mean kids in their 60s like moi. (I shall not apologize or wait until I am 61 to say “in my sixties.” I look more well-preserved with that preposition. Hahahaha.)
This next thought is lofty. Stick with it to see what your heart does with it.
By the way, want to know what my prayer life sounds like lately during Lent as a girlwoman blessed with many decades to learn and flourish?
The prayers are typically: I DON’T KNOW. GOOD GOD, I DON’T KNOW. And also: I’M CLUELESS, AND I SURRENDER…GET TO ME ANY WAY YOU CAN.
My prayers are sometimes days of deep breaths because it’s humbling to admit how many things feel tricky. Not because I’m not doing life right or aspire to be perfect, but because I live with far less illusion and repression than my younger self. I won’t betray my soul in ways I once did.
Is there anything so powerful as having someone (even a single person) in your life validate the realness of your experience? What a blessing when parents can do this for their child! There are other sources. The true humanity of Jesus comes to mind. He did not want the realness of the crucifixion and death and cried out for a different destiny. His acceptance changed history.
I pray you find validation if it was missing from your early life. I pray you will become such validation for others.
Ahhhhhhh. What keeps us from such generosity of spirit? Is it a lack of imagination once richly abundant in childhood? How do hopelessness, despair, cynicism and lack of faith impede us to see the most beautiful interpretations infused with grace? Won’t we know we have matured and transformed when generous interpretations are common and reactive judgmental moments rare?
I only know I am pondering this in my heart and soul with childlike faith. I see the template of my soul’s exploration–holy order, disorder, and reconciliation. Never one and done. I seem to need to sink to the depths of hidden wholeness before growing empowered to channel more grace.
Thank you for reading this stream of consciousness with tenderness.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Thanks for sharing those beautiful thoughts and your faith. Happy Easter, He will soon be risen!
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Happy Easter!