I’m sitting with my nephew, Ray, and he is watching me type this trying to read what I’m writing. He is 6 years old. And he loves his Aunt Shannon. 😉 He is asking me many questions right now. So many I can’t think straight. lol
But this kid, as energetic and hyped up as he can be, has some pretty straight forward wisdom and something more that I need to accept – innocent affection.
The second they made it to my parents house he ran to the backyard where I was and gave me the biggest hug. Immediately he told me how much he ‘liked me’ and ‘loved me’. At dinner he wanted to sit by his Aunt Shannon and because Uncle Neal wasn’t with me he wanted to sleep in my room. (By the way he is still talking to me right now…, he wishes he could do what I’m doing and he’s asking why I put three periods in a sentence. :D)
“I gotta learn more about writing,” he says.
Back to dinner, he had wanted a drink of my water and I told him that I didn’t think I should share with him because I was coming off of having a cold. A few minutes ago he says to me, “Aunt Shannon,” as he grabs my hand and holds it, “I’m sorry you have a cold and I hope you feel better.”
“Thank you,” I said and began to type this post when he said, “Aunt Shannon, do you know that when someone says they are sorry it doesn’t always mean they did something wrong it just means they feel bad for you because of what you’re feeling.”
Just now he asked me, “Aunt Shannon, how many seconds is in a minute?” (Because I told him I would be done in a minute.) I told him “60 seconds.” So he said, “I think you are going over one minute.”
Okay the final one…he said, “Aunt Shannon, don’t think the old days would be so cool?”
“Yes, I do but why do you?” I asked.
“Because back in the old days their McDonald’s were cooler. They had better stuff to play on like outside like Mema and Papa have and they had big M’s on their roofs and I saw a picture of one where it was a big one on the side of the building! It’s crazy!”
“I love you, Aunt Shannon,” he said. Silence…for two seconds. “One final thing,” he said. “You know what Johnny said about Aunt’s in the car?”
“What did your brother say?”
“He said that we are lucky to have a good aunt like you because bad aunts are mean and good aunts play with you and stuff. And mom said (my sister FYI) good aunts are like moms that play with you and stuff. You are a good aunt.”
What does all this mean to me? He is a six year old boy that can tell me everything on his heart. He can show me how he feels about me. He can be honest with his feelings and he isn’t afraid to love. He is pure.
It hasn’t been that long ago that I would not be receptive to such a pure and innocent show of affection because I didn’t know how. But, what I’m seeing today, within myself as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, is that there is no need for me to ‘act wounded’ anymore and shy away from the innocent love of those around me, especially those closest to me.
He has been quiet now and I think I will honor his wish for me to stop and go to sleep. I’m grateful for his honesty and I pray it is a trait that remains within him as he continues to grow.
Don’t disregard the little ones in your life…God speaks and works through all ages.
Blessings
Shannon