| | | | Out of the Mouths of Babes |
By Susan M. Keenan
Children often say the most amazing things in their unbridled innocence. Their thoughts, expressed verbally, tug at our emotions and cause us to smile. Sometimes the thoughts are sad and yet we smile at the wisdom of the child who has realized the poignancy of life. Other times, we become reflective and wonder why we never looked at the world in such a simplistic manner, forgetting that once upon a time we were young as well, and truly did see the world in a similar light.
Whether we become vaguely amused or uncommonly appreciative, the words of a child can bring us back to the true importance of life. Children often have the ability to see part of the picture that we ignore, overlook, or misinterpret. One would be inclined to say that adults could indeed learn to appreciate life from the simple words of children.
Although many of us may already be aware that people can still have an influence on us from beyond the grave, it may take a child to remind us of this fact from time to time. When one of my children had a young friend over to play, I happened to overhear a small part of their conversation from the next room.
"You can't have a granddad, because I have never seen him," comments the friend. My child replies, "I do too have a grand pop. He just lives in the ground." Yes, it is so very true that once our loved ones pass on, they are no longer an active part of our lives. However, they remain in our thoughts and in our hearts.
Personally, I really enjoyed this comment, "Just wait until Aunt Luanne joins this party. She'll know that you aren't really listening to what she is saying. She can still hear!” To put it into context, I’ll relay the information that a group of elderly aunts, all sisters, were talking to each other. In bemused silence, my young teenager watched the back and forth banter among the aunts until she finally erupted with that comment.
Over the years, I have been privy to the comments of many children. Many of them appear to be wise beyond their years. I have come to wonder if perhaps children are not yet saddled with all of the other factors that adults allow to bog them down that allows them to be so perceptive. Perhaps, the fact that they have not yet turned cynical allows them a fresh perspective. At any rate, children are gloriously astute. Another perfect example of this is the following comment from a seven-year old boy, “ Just ask an old woman. They know everything.”
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