I found the magic place…

…who would have thought it would be the trampoline?

While visiting my family in Atlanta, my nine-year-old granddaughter, Morgan, asked me to watch her jump on the trampoline. When one of my grandchildren asks me to enter into their world, I seize the moment.

When my children were growing up, I didn’t always do that. Often, I was either too busy to stop and watch, too rushed to slow down and listen, or too preoccupied with my own agenda to take the time. Life lessons often come from being older, making mistakes along the way, and hopefully becoming wiser through it all.

“I’m coming, Morgan!” I said. I put my computer down, and the thoughts that went with it, left my glass of iced tea, walked down the steps from my spot on the deck, and walked over to the trampoline in the side yard. I stood there and watched her jump and bounce and laugh and giggle. Then she plopped down and laid on her back – arms and legs stretched out.

Without giving it a second thought (and much to Morgan’s surprise), I climbed up on the trampoline and bounced a little (not jumped). She quickly stood up, we held hands, and continued to bounce together for a few minutes. Then we plopped down, laid on our backs, and looked up at the sky. The sun glistened through the trees. One passing cloud was the only movement from above. The only sounds around us were the birds that seemed to be singing in perfect harmony. Then we started to talk and talk and laugh and giggle—together.

The work on my computer was still there when I came back to my spot on the deck. The ice in my tea had melted. Yet, none of that really mattered. What I will remember is that I found the magic place that day, and climbed into my granddaughter’s world. Thank you Lord, thank you Lord….

Susan Miller

A Big Fat Heart

In describing our love for our grandchildren, I would draw a big fat heart on paper and tell them that papa’s love filled one side, my love filled the other side, and that our heart was overflowing with love for all six of them perched in the middle. Somehow, that visual would always bring a smile to their little faces. They seemed to get the correlation between heart and love.

With February being the designated month for Valentine’s Day, love is expressed through hearts, cards, chocolates, flowers, and other visual ways of saying, “I love you.” You and I get it. The commercialism of love is all around us – for a month. Then all the red hearts and terms of endearment displayed in stores disappear and make way for the yellows and greens of spring.

What if you and I treated every month, or day, like a Valentine’s Day? What if you and I drew a big fat heart and filled it with people we love, and then were intentional about expressing that love, all year long, through random acts of kindness? I’ll just bet that you can come up with some different ways to express “I love you,”  “you mean so much to me,” or “I’m so thankful you’re in my life,” to a spouse, a family member, or a friend. And…I’ll just bet there’s enough love in your heart for all of them!

If you are like me, sometimes you need a little creative prompting. If you have some ideas, send them to me, and I’ll post them. In the meantime, here are a few of my practical suggestions: 

Take time to be with one another. The busyness of life can be one of your greatest distractions in marriage and friendship. Don’t overlook the obvious–time is a gift.

See a need? Fill it! Whether your spouse, family, or friend needs a helping hand, be there for them.

Send a card with a personal note. Share what they mean to you, or why you love them. (Even an e-mail or text will convey that you took a moment to think of them.)

Do the unexpected. Anyone can do the obvious, but what about the fun of a surprise!

Give a gift without ribbons. We all love to get a store-bought gift, wrapped with pretty ribbons. You can also give a gift of something you do, or make yourself, like flowers from your yard, or homemade cookies. (I call this a “gift without ribbons.”)

Speak words of encouragement, affirmation, or praise. So simple to do, but so often left undone. The power of words can build up, or tear down. Be a “builder” for those you love.

Be their cheerleader! Everyone needs someone to cheer them on in life—to be all they can be, or do what might seem impossible. Be that someone.

Life is too short to miss the moment to express our love for one another. Let’s not only say “I love you” this month, but the month after, and the month after that….

From My Heart to yours!