Lessons learned

When I first became a mother, I knew there would be lessons along the way, but I never realized how much I would be learning from my son on a daily basis. Although the lessons go both ways, what I learn from him far outweighs what he learns from me.

This week alone my son taught me the following three things (and these are the things I remember; I'm sure he's taught me others):

1. How to throw two "frisbees" (plastic container covers) at the same time, and the utter coolness thereof.

2. How to spit. (I can't say I mastered this lesson to his satisfaction... probably got a B-)

3. That momma's can't get tired, but it's ok for daddy's to get tired. I'm still working on this one. I am hoping to get clarification on the translation.

And for my part, the only lesson I taught my boy is the fine art of picking a Cheerio up by your tongue. (It is truly magical.)

So, three to one, he's the better teacher by far.

Stewardship

These days I've been thinking a bit about things: buying things, owning things, maintaining things, sorting things, keeping things clean, sharing things, giving things away. It's rather exhausting, this "Thing Maintenance." Seems like so much of life falls into one of these actions associated with things. Perhaps that's all a part of a bigger Thing we generally call "stewardship."

According to the dictionary, a steward is "a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others." (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stewardship) Hmmm... that's illuminating.

So, here's my take. If I'm a good steward in the context of stuff I generally label "mine," I'm actually recognizing that none of it is really mine, just on loan. And even more, if I'm a good steward, I'm keeping up this property belonging to *another* in such a way that it is in even better shape than when it was first loaned to me.

Ah... well, then I better get cleaning house. But I think I'll take a nap first.