When Lightning Bugs Look Like Fireworks

On the Fourth of July, Kristi and I went a couple blocks from our houseto a huge hill where we could enjoy the view and the fireworks, not onlyfrom the town we live in, but from nearby towns as well.It was a hotnight, but there was a wonderful breeze, and we could see a long wayin all directions.

I wanted to see our three-year-old Caleb's reaction to the fireworks.He sat with us all of two minutes before he started tumbling downthe hill and giggling.

"Caleb, come here."

He would reluctantly come back by us and sit for a spell.

"See the pretty colors over there?"

"OOOOOhhhhhhhh!" he replied, all the while looking in a different directionfrom where the fireworks were actually going off.

"Heeee heeeee!" he giggled as he tumbled down the steep hill again...

"Caleb, come here and watch with Daddy."

"OK, Dad."

Back up the hill he would come. I tried getting him to concentrate on thefireworks again. He watched for another twenty seconds before hestarted walking away from us. Suddenly he let out a squeal of delight."Finally, he is enjoying the fireworks," I thought.

He yelled out, "Look at all the lightning bugs!"

I sighed and looked down the hill; indeed, there were literally hundredsof fireflies that were stealing Daddy's thunder.

I tried in vain one last time to get him to watch with me. "Caleb, tell mewhat colors you see."

"That's a green one, Daddy! And a red one!"

This lasted another minute or so before he reached in the strollerto tickle Connor, his eleven-month-old brother. Then he was offtumbling down the hill again, saying, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,"with each spin of his body. I started to call out to him again whenKristi leaned over to me and whispered, "Michael, just let him bea kid. There will be other years."

I had been getting so irritated that he wouldn't sit by us and take inthe fireworks. I guess I had this preconceived notion that he wouldsit on my lap and just squeal with delight every time one exploded.Then he was going to ask me if they were magic, so that his proudDaddy could stick out his chest, and explain away. Luckily myunderstanding wife was there, and was able to gently nudge meback to reality.

There was nothing wrong with my expectations, but once again myimpatience was getting in the way of enjoying time with my wife andsons. I should have picked up on the cues and tumbled down the hillwith my boy. Fireworks have been around for hundreds of years, butmy boy was only going to be three years old for another week.

I bet when a person tumbles down the hill, the lightning bugs looklike fireworks going off. I guess I'll have to start a new tradition onthe Fourth of July. Actually, from what my three-year-old tells me,the show goes on every night!

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Michael is happily married to his high school sweetheart Kristi, and hastwo young boys. He is an author, speaker, business owner, andfounder of "Straight From the Heart," a free daily E-zine that featuresinspirational and uplifting stories by published writers.To subscribe, send a blank email to:Michael T. PowersThe above story is from his new book, Straight From the Heart "A Celebrationof Life", which is now available! To read some more stories from the book,or to purchase your own copy, visit:http://www.MichaelTPowers.com