Unexpected Blessings

Tonight on the train home, I had the most beautiful experience. And seeing as I was on the L, that's saying a lot!

I was standing in the middle of a car, in between a family: a mother and son on one side, a father and daughter on the other. I rode with them for 3 stops and watched as they interacted with each other. It was the little boy who I first noticed. He was about 4 years old (the age I always picture my son when I'm feeling nostalgic or lonely for him--also, if I had to pick a favorite age of my son, it would be 4) and he asked his sister for a piece of gum he found in her backpack by motioning to her across the train. She shook her head no and he promptly stuck out his tongue at her.

Now this is not cute to parents, but it's incredibly endearing to those of us whose children are grown. What struck me was how the mother interacted with her children. It was so obvious that they were loved. And this despite the fact that the entire family was incredibly tired--both parents were nodding off, and so was their daughter, but not their son who was filled with energy.

I wish I had a better vocabulary so that I could express the joy I felt for being able to witness this family for even a short time. I wondered if they knew how lucky they were to have each other. I wondered if they knew that their parenting showed through their interactions, even to a stranger observing them on a train. I wondered if they were able to take in the joy of that moment, and the thousands of other moments that occur in their lives, instead of just letting in pass unnoticed. I wondered how many times in my own life I have let moments just like these pass me by because I was tired, or worried, or had my priorities mixed up.

I thank God that I was able to see clearly tonight and pray that I am able to keep my eyes open to notice the joy that surrounds me every day.