The Playhouse


   The jitters and anxiety of the first days of school have lost most of their steam as the classrooms begin falling into a pattern.  Our "little ones" will be filling their minds with new knowledge while most parents keep their fingers crossed that take-home-projects won't come early.
   From surface observation it's our expectation that the children enter the classrooms to learn while teachers teach.  As a grandparent I have a unique observation point that allows me to see that the roles can be reversed.  Even the very young can teach - even with limited skills.
   James Wesley, Baby James as his siblings call him, is a year old.  Most would call someone so young anything but a teacher, but don't let his age fool you.  I'm one of his most admiring students.
   He's taught me that a simple smile will open a lot of doors and get a lot of special favors that a frown would never render.  I like it that his young eyes haven't been trained to check out labels or fashion.  He loves his family just the way we are, and his smiles show his love even if it's infantile.
   He makes a variety of sounds but most are non-intelligible  Guess that's because he hasn't learned to talk.  Still, he's a great communicator, and it's because he's mastered a lot of body language skills.
   I've mentioned his smile - that's one of his key "words."  When he plants that smile on his countenance it's guaranteed he'll get one in return.  He's taught me that smiling is a body language that requires no vocabulary but speaks volumes.
   He's not big enough to extend a gentleman's handshake, but he's learned to hug and pat.  He's taught me that we all could use a few more hugs and pats.  They cost nothing but our time.
  He asks for a cup of milk or a snack from the pantry without the first verbal request.  His body language kicks in as he leans toward his need.  He's smart enough to have learned where to find the source.  I need to learn from James Wesley to turn my back to the world's solutions and lean toward my Source and Sustenance.
   Our youngest has mastered walking, but his toddler-size steps often collide with his older siblings.  When that happens he  "calls" for comfort, and his mother is the one he seeks.  If her hands are full doing three things at once, he's not deterred.  He clings to her legs until she can bend over to pick him up.
  He's a great teacher in that, too.  The world will always be filled with pain and tears, but until we cling to the true Comforter we find little consolation.
   James Wesley simply demonstrates what God's Word verbalizes:  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine;  Love one another;  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you;  My soul clings to You.
  Forget the Baby James name; it should be Little Professor.