Saying Yes

One little word. Three letters. Something seemingly so insignificant and yet it makes such a huge impact on our lives.

Yes.

This past weekend my sister-in-love (we use the word love instead if law) and my nephew stayed with us… and enjoying the sun, the rain, the crazy sounds of more people and more kids filling our home, zoo trips and beach visits, the food, the laughs, the craziness and tired bodies falling into bed at the end of a long and full day reminded me of that little word and what it means to use it more often.
I want to remember to say yes. My mind and philosophy tend to pendulum their way with each ticking swing between striving to say no more often, to cut back, to slow down…. And then back again to yes, to more, to full. But I’m realizing that there doesn’t have to be such a defined line and huge difference between our yes and our no… in this case yes doesn’t necessarily mean doing too much or wearing yourself out for the sake of saying yes. It’s like going back to child development and the encouragement to deflect or divert attention from the “no’s” to something positive we can happily say yes to. What about saying yes to simplicity, to bare feet more often and putting electronics down for more cuddles or telling stories. Why can’t we say yes to later bed times in the summer because we want to take our time during the day and slow down enough to enjoy the little moments along the way. I’m realizing that yes doesn’t mean faster, stronger, harder… It can also mean slower, softer, with gentleness and grace. With three young kids now, one of which happens to be a newborn, I don’t do anything fast right now, nothing is quick and in fact getting out the door with everyone clean and dressed sometimes feels like an entire day in itself, and in embracing this new stage of life and tempo this family life is setting for me, I’m learning to take my own time as well. Just as my children aren’t in a hurry to rush out the door like I sometimes feel the urge to do, I’m taking their lead. Why hurry? Why rush? My destination will still be there, but my attitude along the way determines and sets the tone for our family, for their attitudes and outlook. That’s a huge responsibility. So, I say yes to grace this summer. I say yes to enjoying the pace of a family of five. I say yes to the small moments along the way… They will happen anyway, it’s up to me to enjoy them.

How are you enjoying your summer?