Puddle Jumping

We have had weeks of rain.
I haven’t minded too much, since many of our mulched beds have new plants in them.
The deer had decimated so many shrubs and plants that were planted last year.
Other plants, failed to thrive because of the summer drought.

Our landscaper, who comes in the spring and fall, said that the rain would benefit the plants.
Little did we know how much rain would fall.
Little did we know how wonderful the downpours would be for the new growth.
We didn’t have to water anything ourselves; God took care of that for us.

My daughter sent the video to the family.
It was a video of our two grandsons running on the grass.
They each were wearing their rain boots.
I could see the saturated grass slushing beneath their feet as they ran.

They were laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
I could see that their shorts and shirts were wet.
It didn’t matter.
Children and rain just seem to go together.

I know my grandchildren have their own umbrellas.
I have gotten videos of them out in the rain with their umbrellas, rain jackets, and boots.
Our grandsons had no need for their umbrellas.
Running on the wet grass, in their rain boots was more than enough fun.

They reached the shed with the barn door that holds the lawn mower and yard equipment.
There is a small ramp in front of the barn door to make it easy to get the lawn mower in and out.
My oldest grandson walked up the ramp and stood on the wooden edge that is around the shed.
I watched as he focused on a large, muddy puddle right in front of him.

I knew what I was about to see.
With glee, he jumped right in the puddle with both feet.
I could see the puddle water spray all around him.
I could see splashes on his shorts and T-shirt and knew that some of the water was in his boots.

Soon, my youngest grandson copied the actions of his big brother.
He walked up the small ramp.
Instead of standing on the wooden edge, he just stood on the ramp.
In a ONE, TWO, THREE fashion, he jumped with both feet into the puddle.

However, he is one and a half years old.
He is much smaller than his three year old brother.
His jump was not as precise.
He landed face first in the puddle.

He was totally fine.
No tears; he was not one bit afraid.
He wiped his face with his hands.
I could see him sputtering the bit of water that was near and/or in his mouth.

He went back to do it again.
My daughter, who filmed the episode, assured us that he was just fine.
While the boys were puddle jumping, their five year old sister was inside.
They were soaking wet and she was reading a book.

Difference between boys and girls?
Difference in temperament?
A bit of both, I think.
I embrace the differences and the similarities.

So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets... As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart...I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.
(2 Samuel 6:12-15,21, 22)

King David was child-like in his worship before the Lord.
Many looked on and appreciated his joyful behavior.
However, his wife, Michal, despised David as she watched him dancing before the Lord.
David’s eyes were on God; he was not going to change his “undignified” behavior.

Can you imagine if puddle jumping was prohibited because the boys would get wet?
Can you imagine if my grandsons’ play was interrupted because they were getting dirty?
If puddle jumping is undignified play, then so be it.
They are only little once and puddles call to children.