Take Life For a Spin

My son is really getting into the Game of Life...literally, on my computer, he scrolls through the Hasbro game collection until he finds it.  For hours on end, he is consumed with spinning the wheel, collecting houses, wives, children, deeds, mortgages, raises, money, and finally, a debt free retirement. 

The first question would pop up on the screen - "Career or College?"  On the first few games, he always went for the Career... wanting to forge ahead and get on with it in his typical not-a-care-in-the-world flair.  But, then he realized that not going to college didn't get him very good jobs and enough money to win. 

In his first game of life, he was a Mechanic with twin boys and a wife living in a an RV.  Then he became a hairstylist, and accrued 5 children, 3 grandkids, and a small cottage.  Finally, he wizened up and picked college and became a surgeon and veterinarian. 

Another question popped up on the screen - "Play it Safe or Take a Risk?"  Of course, he always picked the latter.  Never the path of least resistance.  After game number 10, he had figured out how to become wealthy, not over extended, and finish ahead.  "Mom, I am awesome at Life!"  I had to laugh.  Yes, if only it were just a spin of the wheel. 

In the real game of life, he was spinning another wheel trying to learn how to ride his newer and much bigger bike.  It's a red flashy Monsoon made for doing tricks.

As we give our two cents on the best way to start pedaling, braking, and stopping, I can't help but laugh at our instructions.  They are universal.  Just like in the Game of Life, a few pointers go a long way. 

Feet in the right place.  Head up.  Don't start on a hill.  And you are going to fall. 

First, my son straddles the bike and starts attempting to take off uphill.  "Tyler, don't go uphill when you're starting out" we coach.  "You're not going to get enough speed to stay on the bike."  "I can do it guys" he retorts.  He calls us "guys" like we are his buddies.  It's a generic term, but we've come to appreciate the humor every time he addresses us like his friends on the playground.  "Hey guys, do you want to go swing on the monkey bars?" 

Next, I tell him that if he going to fall, head for the grass, so it breaks the fall.  He looks me square in the eye and emphatically states, "Mom, I am not going to fall."   "Okay, bud, but if you do, head for softer ground." 

Finally my husband tells him where to place his feet on the pedals so that he gets the best rotation to take off smoothly.    

I notice he follows our advice.  Feet in the right place, start on level ground, and keep your head up.  And, darn it, if he doesn't fall, as he breezes past me going way too fast for a beginner and grinning ear to ear.  "Look mom, I'm doing it!" he yells proudly. 

I guess the saying, "It's like riding a bike," is true.  So much of life is about the basics.  But, when we confuse ourselves with our second guessing and doubts and worry, we end up in the wrong place.  My son had no second guessing.  He mounted that Monsoon and took off flying, happy as a lark. 

If you have a good foundation with your feet in the right place and your head up, your gut will tell you what to do next.  It's those moments where we know we are doing what we are meant to do that we need to hold onto.  We have to live like we're not going to fall and be prepared for when we do.  In life, the falls are inevitable.  It's what we do after them and how we learn from them that creates a legacy.  It turns out life is not a game.  It's not just a spin of a wheel and pure luck.  It is a legacy that we get to create and impart to our family and friends. 

A Life Worth Living

School starts soon.  I am elated.  He is ecstatic.  Together, we can't wait to start this new chapter of my young son's life - first grade.  While I'm sure our motives are different, we are both equally enthusiatic about finding the perfect bookbag for Mrs. Custard's class.   While on our quest, we stroll through Kohls, looking through the toy section and clothes aisle.  My son spots the bags first.  "Mom over here!"  He runs to a row of bookbags and is overcome with emotion at the large selection of every cartoon character on the Nickelodeon channel.  He cannot decide between Phineas and Ferb and Super Mario.  We settle on Super Mario.... and he trots off excited about his new find.  "Mom, this is the best bookbag ever!"

Lately my son is commenting on everything.  Every emotion, thought, and wonder is expressed out loud and waits a response.  We look through picture frames, and he is pointing out all the words he can read.  I wander off to another row, and he comes over to me with a picture frame.  "Mom.  Look.  This would be good for dad.  "The picture frame has a caption on the bottom: "Dad's little hero."  "Yes, it would son."  Encouraged, he hops over to another aisle.  "Mom, look.  This is a nice one.  You should get this."  The frame reads, "Little Angel."  "Hmmm" is my only response.  I am not paying too much attention looking over my own selections.  He disappears and reappears for a third time.  "Mom."  I'm calulating discounts and don't look up.  Tyler is unfazed.  "Mom, look at this one."  "This is what life is all about," he says dramatically.  I look up.  He is standing there grinning ear to ear in that knowing look.  The frame says simply, "Love."  I'm speechlesss again.  This little boy makes me speechless more times than I can count.  "Yes, Tyler, you're right.  That is what life is all about.  How did you know that?"  "Because, love makes people happy."  He is unbelievable.  I've always contended the kid is a walking commercial.  But, he may be a walking prophet as well. 

The night before at dinner, we taught Tyler different words for love, like the difference between romance and affection.  We said romance is something that happens between two people who love each other but are not your sister or mother.  Affection is what you have for the people you are related to.  These basics had to covered, as he was getting them mixed up.  We asked him if he understood the difference.  He nodded assuredly and used his new vocabulary in a sentence to confirm his comprehension.  "Mom and I have are having moments of infection!"  Close enough. 

I realize that my son has more basics covered about life than a lot of adults.  He knows that life is all about love and everything worth living for in life revolves around love.  This is why he lives life to the fullest - because he loves to the fullest. 

Maybe this is why God said to us adults to come to him like children.  Because children know how to love.  They know how to express themselves and live life to the fullest.  They know how to live in love.  They know what life is all about.  While he may need a lesson on the different definitions and variations of love, in his world, there is only one kind of love - the love that makes life worth living.