“A joyful heart is good medicine." ~ Proverbs
17:22
Albert was all alone. He’d spent a lifetime collecting memories but
had no one to share them with now.
Isolation seemed to be his only friend.
He’d cheated death for so many years, why’d he have to live so long?
The old man stared through the frost-covered window into the
icy cold morning. Trees branches hung
from the weight of last night’s snowfall.
The sun shown like a million diamonds on the white waves of drifted
snow.
His day just got worse as he envisioned the army of brats
dressed in snow gear giggling, cheering and invading this normally quiet
neighborhood. It was a Snow Day for sure.
A knock at the door stirred the old man from his self-pity. Yanking it open, he was confronted by fat
little baby cheeks flushed red with anticipation.
"Who are you?" barked Albert before pausing. “What do you want,” he continued, “I don’t
have all day!”
“I’m Tommy,” said the
doe-eyed child. “We live over there.” With a warm, inviting smile, the little boy
waved a soggy mitten at the old man.
"Come have a look! See what
we built!"
This was an offer Albert just couldn't pass up. He donned his warmest jacket, hat and gloves
and headed out the front door.
Outside he heard the grinding sound of a snow plow, the barking of
a happy dog, and the laughter of children enjoying their day off from
school. His mood immediately brightened.
Tommy urged him toward a small group of child architects and
builders who had gathered around a newly constructed ‘snow fortress.’ The satisfaction on their faces declared this
icy creation completed.
“Sir, go on in! It’s
really cool; you'll love it," they all chimed!
Faces sweaty from hard work, noses running from the cold,
and the smell of wet wool humbled him.
Albert crawled into the nether-world of youth, puppies and long-forgotten
dreams. This was the world of
children. And he was invited in. There was suddenly no other place on earth
that he’d rather have been.
The sweet music of laughter brought back a flood of winters
past. He remembered building snowmen,
making snow angels, sledding down icy hills, and always losing snowball fights
with his brothers and later their own children.
The placidity of childhood memories stole the icy chill from
winter’s day. He looked skyward, stuck
out his tongue, and for the first time in years caught a snowflake on it. It tasted so fresh and clean. It tasted like youth, like joy, like
love. Albert looked up to the Heavens
and thanked God for the simple truth that you’re never too old to be young
again.
Children, may you always feel young in
spirit and always delight in the simplest of life’s joys. May you always share your happiness with the
heart of a child. And may you always
give your love, your light, your laughter, and your warmth to others even on
the coldest of days. ~ God
