Yesterday was Tuesday. I like Tuesdays. I go to Playgroup. I know that to some this may seem like a pretty unspectacular thing to do, but for me, it is where I see my peeps. We sit, we drink tea, eat cake and watch our children play. It is a time of connection and reflection and sharing the journey of motherhood.
I am part of a really lovely group of girls. We look out for each other and we care for each other and we like to talk about all manner of things. It is the kind of group that likes to cook meals for girls who have just had a baby. We mind each other's children. We invite each other's families over for dinner. We are a little community.
Today we said goodbye to a lovely lady who has been helping out with this particular playgroup for over 10 years. 'Mrs Lyn' volunteered her time to come and make the mums in our group cups of tea, or coffee. To some mums, like myself, this was the only cup of tea I got to start and finish while it was still hot. This may sound small, but it is the accumulation of small things that makes a heart happy.
The mums have changed over the years and so have the children. The toys have been updated yet the coffee mugs have stayed the same. Being a bit of a party to farewell our lovely 'Mrs Lyn' I invited some of those mums whose children had grown, so they no longer came along to playgroup. It was so nice to see them again. It was lovely to see the love and respect that they had for a lady who made tea and gave advice, hugged babies and shared her story.
I watched as 'Mrs Lyn' went around the room and said good-bye to us all. There were tears, there were hugs there were the last little bits of advice and well wishes. I know it was a sad moment, but you know what? I was happy. I was happy because I got to witness someone who gave her time to others. Time is something none of us have enough of. Time is possibly the most precious thing to give to someone, and here was 'Mrs Lyn' ending an era of giving two hours a week to a group of mums with small children.
I am inspired to think of ways that I can give my time to more people. Life can become stale and insular if we spend it all on our own, and that does not sound fun. I am determined to look for ways I can do some small things for others that will hopefully accumulate and help make someone's heart a little happier.
How about you? Do you give time to others? Do you try to brighten someone's day?
