the goodness of life

after dinner and homework, jude and i took bolt the dog for a walk.  it was a beautiful time of the evening and we were together and time alone with a kid is a good thing.  we talked about the dog and he showed me where he likes to go on campus, and we balanced on some walls, and sprinted on the track.  there were no earth shattering conversations, no massive insights into the mind of my 7 year old- just time. together. at the end of the walk as we were heading up the dirt road to our house, i caught the scent of that overly sweet, sickly sweet, migraine producing, flowering bush, and i groaned. i asked jude if he  knew where it was coming from, and he replied,  "all i can smell is the goodness of life".

it was the best thing i'd heard all day.

it was the best thing i'd heard all week.

lately i'll admit, i haven't been smelling the goodness of life.  lately i'll admit, i've been easily frustrated, too quickly discouraged, and too quick to pick up on and complain about the one sickly sweet bush in the midst of a lush garden.

so hearing these sweet words from my son as we walked hand in hand down the path, were divine,  out of the mouths of babes. judes words were the padding, the arms, the still small voice. a reminder that yes, when i slow down, when i allow the quiet, when i am in my moments,  i too can smell the goodness of life.