The Jelly Squirter

I’m still smiling to myself. My son just fell asleep, his blankie scrunched under his arm, with one toe sticking out between two slats in his crib. It wasn't a long conversation; he was so tired it lasted about 45 seconds.

 It went something like this: "Naftoli, do you remember we fed the geese this morning at 6:37 am?"
His ears perked up"yeah!"

 "Did you have a good time on the swings today?
His eyes lit up "yeah!"

"Naftoli, did you like going to Catskill playzone to play with all the ballies?"
His body shot up "yeah!!"

And then he fell asleep, sliding into his sheets as if it was home base.

I’m still smiling, but ask me what I did today. I’ll tell you what I told my fellow Mom at the pool today, when she asked me what I’m doing this summer. “Nothing.”

Interesting. When I review my day with Naftoli, it’s jam-packed. When I review my day with myself, it leaves me questioning my very identity as a person. What did I do today? I didn’t clock in any hours at work or orchestrate any major events. There was nothing substantial enough for me to count as having done something, or something tangible to show the world. My day kind of feels like a bland ball of dough, an assortment of ingredients mixed together yielding a tasteless mixture.

 It’s time to squirt in some jelly.  I’m looking for a sweet filling at the center of my life, and I must be the one to inject it. The jelly ought to be rich and syrupy, enhancing the dough to the very last bit. I stand ready, with the nozzle of the squirt bottle aimed perfectly at the glob of dough.

I am injecting meaning into my day.

I am choosing to delight in my memories of each moment spent with my children, and I choose to relish the aftertaste of such a kid-filled day. I am actively conscious that every mundane act is saturated with love and significance, enabling my children to grow up to be healthy human beings. I bear in mind the sweet truth that tending to physical needs of another is a spiritual experience for me.

Come to think of it, I have been squirting jelly all day long. I woke up in the morning with a prayer of gratitude on my lips, there goes jelly. I utilized an opportunity to learn something holy, I’ve gotten another injection. I was considerate of someone other than myself, and the sticky sweetness starts to permeate everywhere.

My day is transformed. It tastes so very delightful, and I’m quite particular.