joy in joy

Johnnie has suddenly become fascinated with trains. He calls them “eh-ehhhh” (trying to copy “choo-chooooo”).

The day after the obsession began, we were in a parking lot on Main Street right next to the track as a freight train came by. The girls eagerly pointed, “Johnnie! Look! It’s a train! Choo-choo!!” 

He was speechless, simply staring from his car seat out the window. Then pointing. Then just staring more. Then an excited shriek, an “eh-ehhhh” and more pointing. 

I was in the driver’s seat, with Lucy right behind me. As she watched his face, she told me, “It makes me so happy to see him so happy. It almost makes me want to cry.” 

I told her, “That’s called finding joy in the joy of others. And if you take that feeling and multiply it by a thousand, that’s how it feels to be a parent.” 

Such a sweet moment. ♥️