Just Shut Up!

Oh how that phrase sends chills through me and I hear it more and more as parents are out with their children. I find children to be the most interesting little people. Their honesty and creativity is incredible. They are gifts from God, on loan from the Heavenly Father to us. I wish more parents would just take a moment and simply listen. True engagement with a child can bring so much joy in both directions. Your attention makes them feel important and many times they offer great information and advice. This past weekend, a little girl, about 4 years old sitting in a shopping cart, kept trying to tell her Mom something. Over and over again she said, "Mom ... Mom your...Mom please I am trying to tell you something." The Mom just kept ignoring the little girl. She was seriously reading the ingredients on various product boxes, and checking items off of her shopping list and then she yelled, "Just Shut Up!" I said, "Excuse me but I believe your little girl was trying to tell you that you dropped your gloves in the previous aisle." The lady turned so red. Her serious demeanor changed. She took a deep breath, smiled and said "Oh thank you so much. I better run and get them!" But there was no need as I had already picked them up and I handed them to her. She shook my hand and said how wonderful it was that I was so honest and that I took the time and that these are her favorite gloves and on and on. But I reminded her that it was because of her little girl that her gloves were recovered. I heard the little girl trying desperately to get her Mom's attention and when I looked at her, she kept pointing downward but the Mom totally ignored her cry. Her little one deserved the smile and the kind words more than I. Children have a lot to say. Some of it is funny, some of it may make no sense to you but it is all worth hearing. They grow up so fast, slow down and enjoy every word and if you are really that busy that you can't take a moment to engage in conversation...maybe you are too busy and need to make a few changes in your life. But at least, take the time to calmly and politely explain to them that you need them to "be quiet for just a moment please". My Mom always taught me that we are "once a man and twice a child". So if you live long enough to enter into your second childhood, guess who most likely will be there to listen to you...Your Child. And who do you think would be more apt to show you loving, considerate care - the child that you were patient with and engaged in conversation with or the child that you told to "Just Shut Up"? If you are too busy for them now, it's possible they may be too busy for you later. (Remember the words to Harry Chapin's, Cat's In The Cradle? - 'When ya comin home Dad?' 'I don't know when, but we'll get together then...' But the time never came and the Dad heard his son repeating the same words to him once he became a grownup.) Every moment of your life is a gift from God. That's why it's called The Present. (smile) Living in the moment lowers your blood pressure as you are not thinking about the disappointments of the past or dealing with the what ifs that might come in the future. (By the way, most of what we worry about never even takes place so toss out the what ifs and just pray for God's protection and guidance). Enjoy your children...Enjoy your life.