Simple Joys

Mother's Day could not have been better this year. My youngest daughter and her family came over to spend the day. Son-in-law, Matt, worked with Phil on Kira's tree house and it is now almost complete. Daughter Tina, hauled dirt, compost, and potting soil to the raised beds, filled them, and transplanted the strawberries. Later in the day we got the tomatoes and worms in so all we have left to do is fill the two remaining raised beds and we're set for the summer growing season. The organic beef we barbecued came from our local CSA and was absolutely wonderful. I suppose some would think Mother's Day requires a fancy brunch or dinner in a nice restaurant with some shopping thrown in. My simple day with family might have left them feeling let down. However, for me the simple things are what bring the most joy. What do you think Mother's Day should be?

Earlier in the day I baked a sour cream coffee cake for snacks and on Saturday I prepared Potato Vinaigrette Salad, a warm weather favorite of mine as it does not contain mayonnaise. We took frequent short breaks, yet by the time Phil fired up the barbecue we were all getting rather hungry. Needless to say, we had a wonderful, relaxing meal and finished it off with ripe watermelon and strawberries. Days like that one and simple yet delicious meals with loved ones are joys that create lasting memories.

With all the hooplah in the media these days, the arguments about politics, right wing, left wing, and wars around the world, a bit of simple joy is just what I need to put things in perspective. I cannot change how others behave or what they believe. I can speak when an opportunity arrives and that is a responsibility we all have. However, when we think we can change what someone else believes, it is important to recognize that the closed door to a person's mind opens only from the inside. Speaking out is a bit like scattering seeds along side the roadway. Some will find fallow ground and sprout. Many will be eaten by birds and small rodents. Still others will land on rocky soil where there is no place to put down roots. It would be silly to expect all the scattered seeds to grow and even sillier to try forcing them to sprout. No, scattering, whether it be seeds or wisdom is all we can do. While we wait to learn which grows and which dies, we have time to sit back, relax, and find joy in the simple things of life.