Several weeks ago, the boys and I were taking a walk in our neighborhood. We came across a cat pouncing on a butterfly. The boys rushed to the rescue, but the damage was done. Its wings were torn and it could only fly short distances. I was tempted to usher them along the sidewalk and let nature take its course, but the boys really wanted to bring it home to our garden. They knew enough about butterflies to be realistic about the outcome but they calmly carried it home and propped it on various flowers. It even rode on Jack's shirt for a long time. It died the next day, but the boys enjoyed observing the butterfly up close. Now it's sitting with their collection of nature treasures.
The whole experience reminded me of this poem:
Make the Ordinary Come Alive
Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is a way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples, and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.
by William Martin
No comments:
Post a Comment