I Go Back

We can't reclaim those spacious hours, any more than we can turn back the hands of time and return to that more innocent era, but in my mind I go back to a time of tranquil hours, leisurely afternoons and laughter-filled evenings. On this particular day that my mind has drifted back to, there is a bike ride and hours spent in the park. Memories of swings, slides, and pink peppermint-flavored ice cream with colorful chunks of bubble gum.
Michael and I have taken a long bike ride from our home out in the country, into town, to the park. The bike ride is long, over 10 miles each way, but it is one of our favorite ways to spend a summer day. Sheridan has the most amazing park, and it is worth the effort to get there. Once there we spend our time on the swings, seeing who can swing highest, and going down the slide, the highest slide I had ever seen. The park has a small river running along one side, and a hill with steps going up it on the other side. At the far end of the park is the public swimming pool, and one of the coolest things I have yet to see in a town park. Our park had buffalo and elk! However, on this day, we don't venture down that far. When we do take a break we head to the ice cream stand. To bubble gum ice cream in sugar cones. Pink, shiny ice cream with chunks of gum, the coloring from the pieces have tinted the ice cream in shades of yellow, red, blue and green. Sitting underneath a shade tree we finish our cones and head for the merry-go-round.
After our hours spent in the park we head for home, down the back roads that run from Sheridan to Parker Draw. When we reach the creek near our house we drop our bikes on the ground and dip our toes in the icy cold water. The perfect break, the perfect refreshing break on our long trip home. Not much longer and we are home, another summer day is drawing to an end, but before the sun is completely gone there will be a game played on the front yard. What will it be tonight? Mother may I? Red light, Green light? Duck, Duck, Goose? or perhaps a game of softball played with the neighborhood children?
I have been blessed with the most amazing memories from my childhood. There were times that were not pleasant, but when I go back, I go back to the times with my family. Camping. Sledding. Games. Trips. A garden. Playing pool. Sleeping under the stars. My childhood is a tapestry so richly made that even the most wealthy man could not purchase something so wonderful. I pray that when my boys look back at their childhood that they will feel as blessed as I, to have had a childhood full of experiences, of slow days, and getting to see life at a more simple, more basic level. I pray that we offer them the experiences in life that truly matter. If we, as parents, cannot slow down and enjoy life then we cannot teach our children to slow down and enjoy life. Life should not be about going from one activity to the next as quickly as possible, it should be about savoring the life God has given us.