Go fly a kite

We had a great time as a family one recent Sunday. All of the kids — with the exception of Amy, Stephen and Augustus out in California (missed them immensely) — stopped by for a few hours. No plans. No agenda. Just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company.
At one point in the afternoon, we all ended up outside in the backyard. The boys — Isaiah and Ivan - were playing with a bat and ball, and our only granddaughter — Caroline — was busy going from person to person, playing with toys, and trying to keep up with the boys. One of the kids decided they wanted to fly a kite, so the kites came out of the shed. One of the adults helped get the flying objects up into the sky, and the piloting was soon turned over to other adults. As we all watched, the kites soared above the house, fields and trees.
My heart enjoyed seeing everyone being together and enjoying such a simple activity. My day was somehow made better by this wholesome, all-inclusive family experience.
I believe this kind of interaction might just be what is needed in our nation today. Not everyone sitting around the living room looking at their phones or acting as if they are listening to each other. Not planning an “activity” that becomes the focus of the get-together instead of just being together. Not buying tickets to some grand event and wearing matching t-shirts so everyone can be easily seen in a crowd.
Just being together and enjoying that togetherness. As I’ve already stated, it did my heart good; good like a powerful tonic made of love and appreciation and relaxation and, oh, so much more.
So maybe, just maybe, this whole “hang out at home” scenario we’ve been living for so long has a bright side; a silver lining if you will. And maybe when someone asks (as someone is wont to do from time to time) … “What is there to do today?” … The answer might well be “Hey — let’s go fly a kite.”
“Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!”
(From the movie Mary Poppins … “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” by Richard Sherman/Robert Sherman © Walt Disney Music Company)