Something More

We spent the morning strawberry picking. The weather was pleasant. We were joined by good friends. The reward for our hard work was juicy and sweet. (And the homemade ice cream I made this afternoon? YUMMY!)This is the third year we have gone to this particular farm in May. I couldn't help but marvel at how much more proficient the children were at their task than in years past.

I positioned myself at the end of their line as the 'clean up crew' and found dozens of beauties that they missed. Despite their very full buckets the children had only scratched the surface in many areas. They skimmed the top of each plant and settled for what that yielded. As I walked behind them I found twice as many that they had missed. Merely lifting up the vine revealed a treasure trove of ripe, red strawberry goodness.

"Slow down a little guys! You are missing some of the best ones. Don't just settle for what you can see. There is more!"

I couldn't help but think about how true this is in my own life. I get so caught up in what I can get from the surface of life--the things that are apparent--that I fill my own metaphorical bucket quickly and move on. How much lucious, rewarding fruit do I miss each day because I am anxious to move down the line towards one goal or another?

It almost happened again as we were preparing to leave. The children were playing as I paid for the berries and chatted with a friend. Then I happened to glance across the grass to see P & K in their own little world--dancing on a low cut stump. 

There was no adult prompting or involvement. Giggles were their only musical accompaniment.

Oh, how they love each other...and how my heart bursts with love for them.

I LOVE this picture, courtesy of  a good zoom lens.

How thankful I am for the slow and easy days of Summer that leave room for moments to unfold! 

Sometimes we have to lift the vines to find them...other times we merely have to slow down, lift our eyes and pay attention as they are right in front of us.