the simple joy of holding hands ...

It is easy to get so caught up in life that you fail to recognize the joy of the simple things.  The joy found in the simplicity of love.   My short story today comes from this place of being aware of the abundant joy found in what is oh so common ... holding hands ~

Riley was on the couch, glued to her favorite show when we first put on Carsyns new braces at home.  Carsyn wanted to walk ... Ri had never seen Carsyn in these new braces or seen what Carsyn can do in them.  We put the braces on, and Carsyn started to walk.  Without a word from Jer or I, Ri immediately jumped off the couch and ran over to Carsyn and excitedly said ... 

 'Carsy - you want to hold hands and walk with me?!?!?!!?' 

And for a couple seconds I think I forgot to breath ... It had never even occurred to me that Riley would have a longing inside of her to walk, hand in hand, with her baby sister.  And in that moment, I remembered all these different moments ... a slideshow of snapshots in my memory ... of Riley holding hands and walking with friends, cousins,  little brothers and sisters of her friends, even little kids she didn't even know ... and it had never occurred to me that walking and holding hands with her sister would be such a big deal to her.  I don't know why I never thought about it, but I just never did.  And in that moment, I was in awe of my first born ... her compassion, her heart, her love that is so so big ... the way she LOVES her sister is seriously SO BIG.  They have the most amazing and special bond.  And seeing my girls standing up together, holding hands, and walking ... well, it's price-lesss ... no amount of money in the world could buy that joy.  It simply took my breath away.

 Sometimes the littlest things bring the most joy.  And sometimes, when you get caught up in the bigness and busyness of life, it can be easy to forget the simple joy that comes from these little things ... like the pure joy found in just going on a walk and holding hands with the one you love ...