The Exciting World Through a Child's Eyes

I have always said that we as a human race could learn a lot by looking through a child's eyes. Kids have a way of seeing an amazing, beautiful, exciting world.  If we could only see the beautiful world before us instead of the mess we have created, then things would be a lot better. The other day, I had an awakening of my spirit merely because of a small person that came to visit the Bayou.  Evan is one of my favorite youngsters.  He is so interested in everything nature.  His parents, Eva and Erik, are raising him to not only be interested but also protect all things. This makes me happy. When he was here, he took a intense interest in the Frog Pond.  There, he was able to scoop around and catch tadpoles of all sizes.  I had given him an old canning jar to hold his catch.  This he proudly brought around to the garden to show his mother and grandmother.  They both oohed and ahhed over his prize!  Then Eva suggested he put them back into the pond so the tadpoles could turn into frogs.  Immediately, Evan did just that!  He did not fuss or balk about returning the tadpoles but rather understood that these needed to be in nature.  I am proud of Evan.  I am proud of Erik and Eva.  Mother Nature needs more caring folks like them to help her maintain the beautiful place in which we all live.

After a bit, Evan brought me a pine cone.  It was a fine specimen of a cone and had most likely produced many seeds at one time.  He asked if this was something that he could take home with him.  Ahh, yes, Evan. Pine cones are something that, although serve a remarkable purpose in nature, you can take home.  Their use  in the grand scheme of things has already been spent. The seeds that had been housed inside the cone not only grow into fine pine trees but, also, feed a lot of critters.  Birds, squirrels and even mice love to munch "pine nuts"!  Now, the cone is there as a thing of beauty.  Evan can see that beauty. I can see that beauty..through Evan's eyes.  He makes me see things in a different and intriguing way.

With the introduction of video games and indoor activities (or rather "inactivities"), it is refreshing to find a youngster that truly loves the outdoors and all that is in it.  I hope that Evan remains this way.  He will be a fine protector of all things nature.