Jars, Bugs, Joy--

Jars, Bugs, Joy--

Our grandson learned to ride his bright, shiny bike today.  How exciting for him.  He can now get from Point A to Point B in record time.  He can feel the wind in his face as he races down the driveway.  Nothing like learning to ride a bike.  His bright eyes and big smile show the delight he feels in knowing how to ride a two-wheeler.  It truly is an accomplishment that will last a life-time.

Don't you simply love the joy that comes from mastering something new?  It never gets old-this joy that washes over us when we finally gain a new skill.  Yes, anything new that we don't quite get requires practice.  It might be cooking, or running a 5K, or singing in front of a group of people.  Whatever it is, the feeling is probably close to the same.  Joy.  Pure and simple.  Joy.  Laughter.  Pride.  And a desire to do that one thing again and again.

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could gather up that feeling of joy and happiness and put it in a jar?  Maybe if we screwed the lid on tightly, it would remain close at hand when we need it.  Who doesn't need a little laughter and joy?  I needed a jar full yesterday.

We decided to visit our pontoon at the lake.  Take a little ride and enjoy the quiet.  Cruise slowly.  Take in the beauty of the afternoon.  It certainly sounded good.  Spirits were high.  It had been quite awhile since we had the time to enjoy the lake.  Walking to the boat, my spirits began to sink just a bit.  All the boats were covered with dead bugs.  I don't mean a few scattered here and there.  I mean a solid cover of dead, disgusting bugs covering everything.  No doubt when we arrived at our slip our boat would look the same.

Well, actually it looked worse.  We had intended to return to the lake and put the cover on the boat.  We forgot to do that.  It was covered, and I do mean covered, with dead insects.  Spiders had built lovely webs from everyplace they could attach a web.  There was not one section of the boat that was not plastered with dead bugs.  I wanted to cry.  Scream actually.  There was nothing to do but try to get rid of them.

After an hour of wiping down seats, console, motor, deck, floor, we decided to move into the lake and finish  what we could do as we cruised along.  It was hard work.  Dead bugs do not clean up easily. Elbow grease was required.  Does it help to mutter nasty remarks while cleaning?  I think it does.

By now you have probably figured out that there was not much laughter on the boat ride.  How nice to have had that jar full of laughter and joy.  Certainly would have opened it and breathed from its contents.  To be honest, we did have a few laughs as we cleaned.  I think we were so exhausted that simple things began to seem hysterical.

While I do not think cleaning dead bugs is a new skill we have acquired, I do think even this situation brings an occasion for laughter.  Laughing at the stupid things we do-like not replacing the boat cover-takes away their importance.  It was a bad decision we made when we left it open to whatever wanted a place to rest.  If I were a bug, I would certainly enjoy a clean boat for my final resting place.  And what spider wouldn't love to lay eggs in such a perfect spot?  Even found a few white feathers.  Guess the owner enjoyed a rest from all the flying around required if one is a bird.

The ability to laugh at our own mistakes means we understand how insignificant many things truly are. We give them more importance than they deserve when we get angry.  We allow them to take away our joy.  The bugs, spiders and birds did not do their nasty deeds simply to make me angry.  They were being bugs, spiders and birds.  Simple as that.

While I have learned a lesson from this, I think it would be a great idea to be able to take a jar full of laughter and joy with me everywhere I go.  Not only for my own pleasure, but also to sprinkle over others making their day bright and shiny-just like a new bike.