I was driving to work today, and I was at a part of the drive where everyone wants into the right lane to turn but do not move over until the last second. Lot's of cutting-off. It annoys me :) Anyway some Subaru station wagon cuts me off, and I follow a little more closely to see what this annoying person looks like. As we sit at the next light, the woman inside keeps turning around and talking loudly (or so I assume by the wide open mouth and aggressive gesturing. I figured she was chewing out her child.) Well, suddenly she starts swaying and, apparently, singing. The whole car is rocking. I notice that rising above the back seat is the top of a child's car seat. The car keeps rocking, the mom is swaying, and I think "Wow, that's one animated mom; she doesn't even care that she looks like a psycho!" The mom lifts her hands behind her head and starts clapping. The car sways, the clapping goes on, and suddenly two little arms stick straight up over the car seat and start clapping along. Mom and baby clap together for a few moments, the light changes, and on we go.

Something flipped inside of me like a switch, and I realized how different things are when you have a child. Love does silly things to us, but the funny thing is, once you're there, it's not silly at all. We have so many preconceptions and hang-ups. And then life changes. I'm so thankful that God gives us a chance to experience the way he feels about us. That He gives us opportunity to refresh our clouded minds with a new outlook. He does it in so many ways, whether it's through a child, a spouse, a hike to a mountaintop, times of trial, times of joy. So many ways that we are brushed with God's hand. I've always called it inspiration. But it's more than what that word suggests. I think I'll pursue writing more about this at some point. It's inspiring :)