Don't worry, Be happy.

Last week my grandson, Gavin, broke his leg while playing in his bedroom. No one knows for sure exactly how it came about. But it was apparent immediately that this was not one of those "Jump up. You're OK." moments. At the emergency room, the x-rays showed a fracture just below the tibia. The leg was put in a splint and carefully wrapped with lots of padding. He was sent home with strict instructions to keep him off his foot completely for the next three days after which it could be cast. His bewildered parents drove home wondering how to possibly keep a child of 20 months from putting weight on his foot.

The next few days for Gavin were filled with child-size doses of pain killers, miserable nights trying to get comfortable, no appetite and upset tummy, frustration at the restriction in activities, and, unfortunately, the onset of a cold. Of course the frustration was not his alone. Sarah and Jon had to get creative and exercise extreme patience and take turns "on duty" to maintain some kind of peace around the place.

Friday finally came and Gavin now wears a bright blue cast from his thigh to his heel. He is scooting and rolling around, dragging that cast toward whatever the current goal. He has figured out how to reach up on the couch or table to get his toys. He has found new ways to play with old toys from his current vantage point. He has even decided that sitting still and reading books are enjoyable activities. He doesn't even seem too annoyed at the inconvenience. If it wasn't for the now full-blown cold, he would be back to his usual cheerful, busy, easily-entertained self. Cast or no cast, Gavin is Gavin.

It is quite remarkable, I think, how adaptable children are. They seem to take things in stride, accepting change and working within the boundaries set for them by circumstance. In some ways, children are like animals. They live one day, one moment at a time. They work and play and learn within their limitations without worrying about whether it should, or could, be any different. I love that about children. I admire that about children. I envy that about children.

Somewhere between early childhood and adulthood, many of us lose the ability to just be ourselves. We worry about whether we are smart enough, rich enough, strong enough, pretty enough. We worry about what I "need" to get done, what I "should" get done, what I "didn't" get done. We worry........

I think we all need to be more like Gavin. We need to be ourselves. We need to reach for what we want in our own way. We need to discover new things that bring us joy. We need to work around the inconveniences to figure out what really matters to us. We need to smile more and worry less. Hopefully, we won't need to break a leg to do it!

"Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere."
(The United Church Observer)