Little Steps

Yesterday, as I walked with my 14-month-old grandson, I realized that my steps were not much bigger than his. And, as he reached up to hold my hand, being as short as I am, the reach was not overwhelming. That meant that we could walk long distances without discomfort. Many times I would pick him up and carry him. He's around twenty pounds, I guess, and that's pretty light for grandma.

He had many times been pushed around in his carriage, and "carriage rides" are still on the list one of his favorite things, as he is able to explore new things visually, while still being contained, that is usually the preferred vehicle.

Yesterday, the freedom of having no carriage, enabled him to run up and down ramps. This brought back many memories of my two sons, who did the same at that age, as well as my other older grandson and nephew. They all love to hear the sound of their footsteps against the wood and the graded upcline gives them a chance to practice walking, other than flat surfaces. Not only different sounds are "fun" but textures like grass, stones and natural dirt paths, are awesome to explore.

Seeing his shadow was also grand and I don't have to say, that one the highlights of our morning walk, was shuffling through the fallen, dried leaves, which I still love to do.

It didn't surprise me one bit that he ventured to climb the little ladder that led to the horse-drawn cart, which other children were enjoying in the playground area. Of course, we sat on the bench, just giggling, from time to time, as he indicated by pointing to my purse, that he wanted the usual snack. He is such a happy little guy and is delightful to be with always.

We never have a conversation, as he has not yet learned to speak, but the love and joy in his eyes are "ever present". It reminded me of when I was a little girl going for walks with my dad, who's only words were, "can you walk a little faster? Take bigger steps." Our evenings walks were one of my greatest treats. He would predict the weather by noticing a starlit or starless sky. My dad was a very handsome man and the love of my life, then.

I don't mind "small steps" as it gets you where you want to go. We didn't miss a thing. Maybe people should learn to slow down a bit, in haste they miss so much. In life afterall, it is the little
things that count, all the little endless steps and gestures, especially with someone you love.

In those little steps are found the joys in life, that if missed, you may never have a second opportunity to retrieve. I've decided that in all "little steps and little actions" that you actually capture all "the precious things" that in preoccupation and haste, do not allow you to see. It's something like reading to fast and not really comprehending the meaning. Or, taking the fast route somewhere and missing all the beauty that you would see otherwise.

I call all these moments, "the Kodak moments of my life" which are all captured and stored in the valt of my heart, for all time. I know we all have those moments which are both precious and eternal. Life was not meant to be lived in the "fast lane," hold firmly to those little, valuable and seemily time -wasting steps, as they are the foundations to where you want to go in life.