My sister gave me this book as a gift. I read it and was frustrated with a few parts, only because the things that the author was able to do, were not even a remote possibility for me. But the message of the book became planted deep inside me and every once in a while, I see how it is taking root in my life.
Love Does. You love by doing.
My favorite memory of last week's camping trip was the family game of kickball. Almost everyone played. I laughed so hard that I almost peed in my pants. Had to cross my legs so I wouldn't . It was just so much fun. My sister-in-law and I exchanged glances, a smile, and a laugh as we watched her husband running the bases like a lunatic. I thought to myself, "I don't think I've ever seen him run." And he was running so fast. I didn't know he had a competitive side. I bet there's a lot of things I don't know about him, and the rest of my family. Oh, it was so much fun! The kids could have played all by themselves, but what fun is that?
Today when we were at the pool, instead of sitting on the edge of the baby pool, talking with the moms the entire time, I hopped in and caught Libby what felt like a million times down the slide. I listened to her squeal with laughter. I had bought an inner tube for her for the first time. She was thrilled as she learned she could jump in all by herself without me catching her. Four of the children did cannonballs off the edge of the pool. They giggled and laughed.
Then Brooke took Libby to the park, and I watched Will as he learned to go off the dives for the first time by himself. He had just learned to swim. I could see that sense of freedom and that thrill of learning something new. It's been so long myself, that I forgot what that felt like. I could see it on Will's face. I loved every moment of it. It brought me back. And because Love Does, I got up on the big dive and raced Will into the pool. I forgot what it felt like to jump high into the air and feel that flop in my stomach as I wondered when I would touch the water. I attempted the old back flip that I used to do every day as a child at the pool. Oh my gosh, it took me back, to what it felt like to be kid. Amazing! Love Does. Thank you for that sweet message, God. When I get up and do something with my kids, it's so much better than just watching.
When we got home, Will said to me, "Mom, today at the pool, that was AWESOME when you went off the dives." He said it just like that, with capital letters.
Today I thought, "How blessed am I that I am even able to do these things with my children...and so I'm going to keep working on "Love Does".
