Love is in the Details
I was in the middle of teaching music to preschoolers when Ben raised his hand and said: “Why aren’t you wearing the flower in your hair, Cheryl Melody?” There was something about his words that stopped my breath and held me from continuing the lesson. I felt my heart open, become the human being inside the teacher, and was moved to speechlessness. I quietly mumbled that I had left the plastic red flower in the car, and assured him that it would be in my hair next week. He seemed satisfied and I continued teaching, and yet Ben’s innocent sweet essence and request has echoed within me for days beyond that moment.
Here is what I received from Ben so far:
Love is in the details. Everything we do counts. Even a small plastic colorful little flower in my hair mattered to a young child.
There is no such thing as a perfect season to wear a flower-break your inner rules! Decide that there aren’t any rules for delight, and what you do may uplift just the right little or big person.
The joy of life is in the unknown, the parts you don’t have written down on your life plan or lesson plan.
Your ideas don’t have to be huge. Little ideas can make the biggest difference. Don’t work so hard! Now there’s a concept!
Ironically this particular child has vision issues, but he is one of the most observant children and notices deeply what he CAN see. Let’s all notice our surroundings in detail and in a deeper manner of delight.
You are unique. Believe in yourself, your ideas and thoughts. Know that you make a difference. You. Who you are. All parts of you matter to someone.
Leave a space for receiving other people’s ideas. The more seasoned I become as a teacher and human being, the more I realize that silence on my part is also a wonderful idea. It leaves room for someone else’s fabulous creative spirit, and we all learn from each other.
I’ll keep mulling this over. I know there is more that I can still receive from “Why aren’t you wearing the flower in your hair, Cheryl Melody?” To be continued….
