I don’t always like to admit that I watch Oprah, but I do while I’m making dinner as long as it won’t scar my children for life with man-bashing or descriptions of heinous crimes. Anyway, yesterday she had a young stay at home mom who writes songs named Lori McKenna. Her song Fireflies was recently recorded by Faith Hill. I was just so struck by the song, by the story of this young mom who just quietly did her thing and chased her dreams, the magic time of youth of dreams and idealism and limitless possibility. It made me think of this poem I wrote in high school:
There were times when the sun fell upon my world just right and it transformed into a warm and golden fairyland: I called it Nova Scotia because it sounded neat.
There used to be time to catch butterflies, play on the swing set, and ride my bike all day long without anything weighing on my mind.
There were times that one could tell what I was thinking by looking at my face.
There was a time that I thought heaven was a big green, freshly mowed field that was so thinck and soft that it felt like feathers beceath my bare feet as I ran through it without mosquitoes to bite me or bees to step on.
There were times that I could understand the songs of the birds. They were glad that they never had to wear glasses.
There was a time that I knew how the smell of dandelions tasted.
There were times that the sound of crickets in the night did not allow loneliness, even among the numberless stars.
There were times when brand new tennis shoes made me run faster.
I remember running and running and running so fast; if I caught up with the wind I would fly.
There were times that I was the most famous ballerina in the world. Then I was an archeologist, a Jedi Knight-Princess, the Easter Bunny, an artist, an opera singer…
There wer times that the smile was the most beautiful word in the Human language.
There were times that my dad was stronger than He-Man and smarter than the guy that invented cars or airplanes, or even legos.
There was a time that my mother was the most beautiful person in the entire universe.
There was a time that I created masterpieces daily, with crayons.
There were times that I was careful who I touched on Monday-Marriage-Day and never wore dresses on Friday-Flip-Up-Day.
There were times when boys were just the ones with short hair that could make really good gun noises.
There were times that my bedroom was so big that I could crawl into a drawer and hide from my brother.
There were times I thought my brother was magic because he could do flips on the ground, walk with his hands, and ride a unicycle.
There was a time that Elmer’s glue smelled good so I told the boy sitting next to me to taste it, and he did.
There were times that if you could spell write right you were the smarted kid in class.
There was a time I thought I would die from the hiccups.
There was a time that I was certain man had found life on Mars because I saw a UFO on the Fourth of July.
There were times when I was lonely that I confided in my dolls and they listened. They never thought I was odd.
There was a time that I didn’t know any bad words.
And as I watch my own children it makes me realize why we are to “become as little children.”
And I also have this quote running through my mind: “How well am I doing in helping others reach their potential?” ( from Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Virtue of Kindness,” Ensign, May 2005, 26)
Lovely thoughts! They inspire me to think a little bit more like a kid-life was so innocent all those years ago!
Very inspirational!
That is so awesome! To see the world thru a child’s eyes. I’ve had time to think of that here lately – thanks for putting it into words!