I was at the park with my grandsons, Thing One and Thing Two.

Thing One is five years old. He has experienced enough of life to understand that rocks are hard, and that gravity is always on.

Thing Two is two years old. He is at that age where he can say the word “No”, but he doesn’t hear it. He also has no limits and no fear.

Yet.

Thing Two was climbing on the rocks at the park. He slipped and fell a few times, but he eventually learned just how far he could climb.

Thing One climbed ahead of him, then reached down to take his brother’s hand and help him reach a higher level than he could have alone. He climbed higher, looked around, then descended to help his brother return safely to the grass.

Watching all this was my son. He was there not to protect them from pain, but to protect them from harm.

As we climb the rocks in life, we need to be aware that there are some ahead of us who are willing to offer wisdom and assistance regarding the path ahead of us. Likewise, we should be aware that we, too, can offer our own wisdom and experience to those behind us.

The higher we climb, the more we can see.

The more we can see, the more we understand.

The more we understand, the better we can love.

And that word, LOVE, takes us back to that small rock pile in the park. Thing One gladly helps his brother because he loves. Thing Two receives the help because he loves. Their father watches them, protecting them from harm, but allowing them to experience pain, because he loves.

LOVE is why God made us.

LOVE is why we are here.

LOVE is our purpose.

© Wayne Harmon

2018