"Love, love, love," Lulie chants as I smear jelly on bread. My children call the jelly love.
"Careful, don't fall."
Lips puckered, she points to dark berry jam, "Dat love. Momma, dat love."
The kitchen orbits around a wooden cutting board. The children balance on stools and lean in, crowd my elbows. I smooth down bumpy mounds of peanut butter.
"Jack," Janie pauses, "you can have anything you want that I can give you." She's on the brown spool stool, the tall one, the one she took but then Jack gave it to her.
It's a contest. I wonder who can win at doing nice things for each other, I'd said. And suddenly, there we are caught in the chase. It's a game, irresistible gravity pulls them in.
We serve each other sandwiches and join the children's bouquets at the table. Jelly squishes out the sides. Love. We lick it off, cheeks and fingers stained sweet.
Hey yes God has used blogging, and facebook for that matter. I do have to say though that when I first came to your blog I had to stop for a few moments and soak in the picture at the top. The child's feet, on their knees touched my heart. I have followed, hope you do the same.
ReplyDeleteTamara
http://hisperfectpromises.blogspot.com/
I love the way you explain the simple things in your day. Makes me want to sit and gaze awhile. I believe you have a gentle and quiet spirit... the kind God loves. Am I right? I'm reaching for it daily. You are an inspiration, Bethany.
ReplyDeleteStained sweet--so many references for that one....
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect name for jelly. Peanut butter and love. Toast and love. Fresh, hot bread with butter and love. Makes me want some!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I love blogs, for posts like this. You make me stop and just "BE" which is ironic because most of the time, the computer makes me escape.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to live life and eat some love. :)
Bethany,
ReplyDeleteThis is your Dad. I just caught up on the last month. People need to live...they need to read your blog.
Love,
Dad
PS. You're an excellent writer.
I love all the images in this post.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is a lingering kind of blog. It brings a smile :)
How sweet...reading about your children makes me want to start a family too! You must feel so blessed!!!!
ReplyDeletethis makes me weep. for the way children say what i long to know. that jelly is love. that simple things are so, so, so, good. so God. thank you.
ReplyDelete