Singing Singing all the Day

"I'm small I know, but wherever I go, the grass grows greener still . . ."

It's a bit of a challenge to keep the household running smoothly while in my third trimester, Daddy away, and two little ones at home.  We've kept busy with what we can.  Here's some small things we've been doing:

• decorating Benjamin and the girls' rooms (photos to be posted of both in a later entry)
• playing with visiting family
• sewing a baby quilt for Benjamin (again, photos to be posted when it's finished)
• potty training Merrylee
• finishing up preschool activities and teeball
• making a coconut cake for Easter
• enjoying an Easter meal and egg hunt with friends
• visiting the beach (and bringing home much of the sand)

It's a short list of seemingly inconsequential things, easily glazed over.  However those small things keep my small family happy while Daddy's on another "big trip". 

I like to imagine the metaphor of a family on a hike.  The husband and wife share the load of supplies while the children skip along the sandy pathway of scattered flowers, pausing to pick a few, and place them sweetly in their shining hair.  For the parents the path turns uphill, muddy, and lonely as they hit the fork in the road that temporarily separates Daddy from the family.  As he disappears around the corner the mother is tempted to slow down, drag her feet, or even sit down on the side of the path and cry.  By resisting that urge and giving away of herself, for the children the path continues to be the same light, easy, and flowered walk it's always been, and the mother is rewarded with happy sounds of them singing, singing, all the way.  Listening to those sweet and pleasant voices makes it easier for her to keep moving, and even notice an occasional blossom or two of her own.  Their steps are small, limited to the short strides of the little ones; their progress slow and unrushed by lots of potty breaks, pauses to look at caterpillars, smell flowers, and gaze at every pretty bird or butterfly along the way.  The seasoned and strong hikers who pass them by may wonder why they are making the trip at all, as it seems they wont ever get very far.  However the maker of the path smiles upon the scene, and sees that wherever they go, the grass grows greener still.       

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I'm grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life of giving and service.  He gave us his life, and like him we will live again after death.  He atoned for our sins, giving us the ability to repent, and find happiness despite our imperfections and mistakes.  This Easter we celebrate our love for him, and renew our efforts to follow his example.  He will guide us through every step we take on his path, make our burdens light, and open our eyes to the beauty that surrounds us on our way.    

“Give,” Said the Little Stream, Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 236


Cheerfully

1. “Give,” said the little stream,
“Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.”
“Give,” said the little stream,
As it hurried down the hill;
“I’m small, I know, but wherever I go
The grass grows greener still.”

Chorus
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give away, oh! give away.”
Singing, singing all the day,
“Give, oh! give away.”

2. “Give,” said the little rain,
“Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.”
“Give,” said the little rain,
As it fell upon the flow’rs;
“I’ll raise their drooping heads again,”
As it fell upon the flow’rs.

3. Give, then, as Jesus gives,
Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.
Give, then, as Jesus gives;
There is something all can give.
Do as the streams and blossoms do:
For God and others live.

Words: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820–1915
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816–1868. Arr. © 1989 IRI

You may see the music and listen to the traditional version of this song here

Deuteronomy  16:17
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.