the beauty of the could-be.

If you ever weary of your own grown-up life...

...if you ever feel that you know all there is to know...

...if you ever feel like you've seen all there is to be seen...

...if you ever feel like there's not a single new thought under the sun...

then just sit ye down beside a five-year-old for a moment or two and you'll be proven wrong. I jest not. Kids' minds are places full of ingenuity and imagination and sparkles and glitter and beacoup d'elegance. Children haven't "learned" yet that certain things are impossible. They aren't limited by stuffy scientific facts or theories, or too much Reality. Their imaginations are free and beautiful and winged.

Gracie reminded me of this beautiful gift only this afternoon. I had just finished reading Mama a letter from my friend in New Zealand, and Gracie left her post at the piano bench with a very thoughtful expression on her face.

"Rachel...does F'licity have a car?"

"...yes..."

"No, Rachel. I mean, does F'licity live in the old-fashioned days?"

And then I remembered. Grace spoke of her most recent theory. In short, she believes that if we could just walk far enough around the world, we would reach The Old Days. Isn't that the most brilliant, beautiful, gorgeous thought ever? An adult would never have come up with it. I still think there's a certain allure in the idea that the world is flat. Sure I know it's not true, but it's such a beautiful idea that I can't help feeling a bit sad that the world is round after all.

The mind of a child is something to be treasured and taught and cultivated. I have a special fondness for  bright-minded children such as Gracie who are always coming up with something wise beyond their years. Not everything they say is correct--not by any means. 

But they do have a valuable lesson for us: 

we are never too old to dream.

Let's take some time today to visit with some of these small wisdom-carriers--you won't regret it.