Sunday, October 03, 2010

Ruby on Angels


I can't imagine the rollercoaster ride of parenting. Watching children change as they come to understand the physics of the real world and as they take crayon and draw boundaries around imagination pulls on every emotion we have. We went to see the 'Owl' movie and were minding both Ruby and Sadie for a few minutes. Ruby was running around with her arms spread wide. I said, 'Oh, look, Ruby's flying!' She stopped, instantly, in her tracks and said, 'No, I'm running around with my arms out, I can't fly.' Then she added, 'sometimes you are just being silly.' She was right, I was being silly, I was talking to 'Ruby-two-weeks-ago' not the sophisticated 'Ruby-right-now'. It's hard to keep up.

But then she and I were in the car as Joe and Mike were getting things set up in the restaurant, making room for wheelchairs and kids. Ruby and I, as Canadians, of course discussed the weather.

'It's sunny now,' she said.

'It was raining a few minutes ago,' I said.

'Maybe it will snow!' she said excitedly.

'Do you like snow,' I asked.

'I do,' she said.

'What do you like about snow?' I asked.

'Playing in it,' she answered.

'What games?' I asked.

'I like making snow angels,' she said.

'Those are fun,' I said.

'You know about snow angels?' she asked.

'I do,' I said, not realizing that I was about to get a lesson in theology.

'When I was little,' she said, 'I made a little snow angel. Now I make a bigger one,' she said, and continued without prompting, 'do you know what that means?'

'No, what does it mean,' I asked.

'When I was little I made a little snow angel so I only had to be little kid nice, now I make a bigger snow angel so now I have to be bigger kid nice. Every year my snow angel is bigger so my nice has to grow bigger too.'

'Oh,' I said, thinking through her view on adulthood and responsiblity and all.

'Do you make snow angels?' she asked.

Though it's been years, I said, 'Yes, I do.'

'Then you know,' she said without a hint of humour, 'you have to be really really nice because you have a big angel.'

'So every year you have to be nicer?' I asked.

'Yes,' she said, 'and it gets harder every year.'

'It does?' I asked.

'Yes,' she said, 'because grown ups have to worry so much that they can forget to be nice. That' why God wants everyone to make snow angels. It reminds them that one day they will be real angels. So they have to be nice to practice.'

It was time to go in for dinner. I asked Ruby if I could tell Joe and her mom and dad and sister about snow angels. She nodded and listened carefully to make sure I got it right.

When I finished, she nodded approval.

I felt like I had scribed the first epistle of 'Ruby' ... and for the first time in years, can't wait for it to snow.

22 comments:

Walrilla said...

Wise beyond her years, that one. You all are truly blessed with her. B-)

AkMom said...

in addition to everything else, you need to keep a record of the beauty that is Ruby!

Beautiful wise child.

rickismom said...

Ruby's thoughts just made my day! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing that with me yesterday. You earned the big wings because somehow our conversation resulted in me getting a wonderful sleep from 9:30 right through to 6:30 and the morning looks much brighter.

Brenda said...

I. loved. that. Bless Ruby, and her wonderful interpretation of the world, both seen and unseen. My kids are too old for snow angels (so they tell me!), but one day I'll have grandchildren, and I hope Ruby won't mind if I share her wisdom with them. Little Angel = little nice. Big Angel = big nice. Love it!!

Anonymous said...

Ruby,her parents, you and Joe...all deserve a big round of applause. She learns quickly and with her own spin on things.
Are you a bigger angel because you are older....because your wheelchair is part of your angelness or because you are bigger?

Tamara said...

That was beautiful. Thank you, Ruby.

Belinda said...

I feel like I've just been given permission to fall backwards into the first fallen snow and play, seriously! :)

Rnelle said...

I skipped going to Church today...but I got the message of the day. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Ohhh what an amazing young lady she is. There is so much we can learn from children if we are only willing to listen, that you did Dave and Ruby shared. I will never forget this story. Thanks for sharing once again!!!

profp said...

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much Dave for sharing that story with us! I hope that one day that Xanthe will tell me a story just like that and that she will have as much wisdom at that age as Ruby does :)

Janet Callison said...

Oh my! What a very wise little girl, and what wise parents to encourage this theology!

Shan said...

Just tuck your shirt in first.

The voice of experience.

Lori said...

What a beautiful, wise child -- inside and out.

Blog editor said...

Think she's been here before?

Colleen said...

Dear Dave:

Thanks for sharing Ruby's wisdom. What an amazing child!
Can't wait for that first snowfall :-)

Colleen

~ Teresa ~ said...

Ruby is so wise...I will never think of snow angels the same again. What beautiful insight from a young girl!

Kristin said...

What a truly wonderful little girl. Can you ask Ruby if it's ok for this story to be spread, with proper credit (and a link back here) of course?

Dave Hingsburger said...

Of course, Kristin, that would be just fine ... Ruby will love it, and so will I ...

Anonymous said...

The first Dialog of Ruby.

Might be time for Ruby and Dave to start collecting a Book.

The Book of Ruby.

A Child's Garden of Theology.

The World According to Ruby.

I seriously would buy it, quote chapter and verse from it, revere it.

Many Blessings to you, Dave, for sharing this story with us.

Kasie said...

I just had to share Ruby's wisdom on my Facebook. Thanks Dave and Ruby!