Everyone's life is blessed by the presence of a child.
I have the blessing of being an aunt to three nephews and two nieces, and they are sweet little angels that touch my life in various ways. Granted, sometimes they can lose their angelic radiance at times (as we all do), but for the most part, for me they are heavenly reminders of what I need to do and be to be happy.
Have you ever noticed how you feel before and after you have been around a child? I am privileged to live close to my oldest brother, his wife and their three kids and because of that I am able to be frequently blessed with their presence. Sometimes I enter their home a bit down and distraught and after visiting with them I always leave feeling lifted and more complete. In my mind when I think about why this happens to me, I think about the scripture in Mosiah 3: 19 which reads: "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."
Children definitely have very strong Christ-like attributes (not allllllllll the time but they do more than I do now - I think it is natural to them). I am happy to have their example as a constant reminder to me for what I need to work on to be more like Christ. After being around a child sometimes I feel his love through them. It is a very touching experience and I cherish those experiences.
In the stresses and business of every day life it is hard to remember to be like a child; to have fun, remember to laugh, find joy in the littlest things and never stop searching for knowledge. We aren't only examples to children but they are examples to us. Lately I have found myself missing being a kid; longing for my past. Life seemed so easy and simple. I used to have fun every day. I used to imagine things and play. Over time I lost those characteristics. Wrapped up in all these thoughts I have finally realized, "Why does life have to stop being that way?" Yes, I have loads more responsibilities now then back then, but why can't I still have fun with all that added stuff? Everything in life is a choice and I can still choose every day to make my day count and to have fun, laugh, and become like a child in the sense of what I get from their example and from the scripture I stated above.
Life is too short to be lived serious all the time. Life was meant to be enjoyed and fun (within reason of course!) and I am reminded that whenever I make a visit to my brother's home. In fact, my niece Jocelyn inspired this blog post. Let me tell you something about this little girl - she is special. She has touched my life in ways that only feelings can describe and those feelings I cannot verbalize, but I can verbalize that I love her very much. She is a sassy, girly, bundle of energy and love who will play and talk to you always. :) She is my buddy. Awhile ago I was at their home for dinner and afterwards we made some cookies. After a little while I was checking something on their computer and Jocelyn slowly walks over holding a plate with a cookie and note placed on it:
The note said something (in Jocie language) about how she loves me a lot and that I am pretty. :) Such cute and sweet acts from children really touch my heart. I have drawings she drew for me hanging up in my own home. I love her and I love children.
Children are special. Nothing is as sweet as the small squeeze felt from two little arms around your neck. Nothing can replace the way a child can make you feel and the way they remind us about how to keep loving and living our lives.
