Simple truths

a short list

Jesus loves me, this I know. 

These words cross my lips every night as I sing my kids to sleep, and last night as I was rocking my youngest, I let the simple truth of them fall over me like rain. 

Why do I make things more complicated than they are? We live in a complex world, no doubt about it. There is so much that has gone awry, and that is broken. No part of me wants to oversimplify that or glaze over pain. 

In my little sphere, however, I find myself needing to be reminded of simple truths. In doing so, I can feel centered and grounded, remembering what is true and good and beautiful. 

Below is a small and not-exhaustive list of springtime things I’ve recently cataloged (some profound, some very mundane) that are simple and true.

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Tulips pop out of the ground every year, without fail, where I planted bulbs 10 years ago with my mom. This comforts me deeply. I do nothing profound to make them grow, yet here they are, gracing our front walkway with reds and yellows and pure joy. Kind of like grace, and mercy. Reappearing time after time, whether we deserve them or not. 

Kids love to blow bubbles–provide them with bubble guns or bubble wands or a bubble machine and they will be happy. 

Going through airport security with a tired 4 year-old is a little bit like trying to get a puppy to do hopscotch. Something that helps? Candy necklaces. Bite a piece off with every step. 

An older woman of any age smiling at me and my children warmly in public makes my heart swell every single time. I want to be that lady someday.

Having an ice cold beer on the patio with my husband, while the kids play in the backyard, is always a good way to spend our evenings. And the same is true for hot dogs over the fire–when in doubt about dinner plans or a lack of prep, pull some hot dogs out of the freezer, make a fire in the fire pit, and serve chips and cut up apples on the side. 

Watching someone get baptized makes me tear up, without fail. The realization that life is better with Jesus will always be worth celebrating. The combination of humility and joy never gets old.

Making your kids laugh is a great way to spend time. Be it tickling them or making funny faces or running around pretending to be a bear chasing them, they will love it. 

When the neighbors say, Who wants to do one last easter egg hunt out front tonight? I have some eggs left over–say YES! The cost/time of stuffing and hiding a few more eggs (with the candy they got at yesterday’s egg hunt) is far outweighed by the joy of seeing them hunt for eggs alongside their neighbors and spread out their loot on the sidewalk, swapping stickers and slinkies and starburst. 

The smile on my husband’s face when I take time to tell him what I love about him specifically, and the ways in which I’m proud of him = priceless. Worth every second. Say the kind thing you’re thinking and watch it light up your loved one from the inside out. 

At night, whether it’s been a day full of sweet moments or hard conversations or frustrating discipline or discouragement, holding my children close and praying God’s peace and love and delight over them will always always always be the best way to end the day. 

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This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Simple."

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash