THE MORAL OF THE STORY:Children teach us simple pleasures

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”

— Thornton Wilder

“Cici, it looks like we’re never going to make it to the market today,” Mary, my 3-year-old granddaughter, said to me very seriously. I chuckled because I’d thought that repeatedly over the first half an hour of our outing. Jon and I watched our granddaughters one weekend, and I took them on a walk while Jon was gone. I told Mary I’d buy them a treat at the market. Eighteenmonth-old Aubrey loves being outdoors, so I was sure the errand would be fun.

Mary wanted to push her doll Ashley in the doll stroller. I knew Mary would eventually tire of walking, so I loaded up the double stroller with Aubrey, sweaters, hats, water, diapers, toys, snacks and my cellphone.

Within minutes, Mary decided she wanted a blanket for Ashley. I didn’t try to turn the mammoth stroller around; I simply backed up. Mary tried to imitate me, but managed to dump Ashley out of the stroller during the maneuvering. While Mary got Ashley squared away, I ran in the house and returned with a blanket. Mary decided Ashley needed a bottle, too, so I retrieved one as well. We started off again.

The market isn’t far away — or so I’d thought. I’ve pushed the girls there in the stroller before and it was delightful.

It was a different experience with Mary moving under her own power at her own speed while pushing her own stroller. It was still delightful, but it was phenomenally slow. It didn’t matter, though, because we had no time pressure. I enjoyed looking at each leaf, rock and twig that Mary found fascinating.

While walking, I told Mary that God was incredibly creative to have made so many different rocks and trees, but I was really glad that he made so many wonderful people and that I was especially thankful that he’d made her and her sister.

Mary sweetly smiled at me and said, “Thank you for babysitting me, Cici.” I kissed her and told her how much I loved her, and we walked a few more steps.

That’s when she said, “Cici, it looks like we’re never going to make it to the market today.”

I then asked, “Mary, why don’t you think we’ll make it there today?”

Without hesitation, she answered, “It’s because I’m walking sooo slow.”

Then I asked, “Why are you walking so slowly, Mary?”

She simply said, “Because it’s my job.”

Soon Mary was ready to sit holding Ashley in the big stroller, and I hung the doll stroller on the back. The errand to the market and back home went quickly, but we still enjoyed talking and looking closely at things we passed. I told Mary that she’d done well with her job that day, because she helped me slow down and enjoy what I was doing. Sometimes little people are the biggest and best reminders of what, or actually who, are the true treasures in life.

And you can quote me on that.