From the Mouths of Babes...

You may not be familiar with the old saying, “from the mouths of babes,” but recently I was reminded of the profoundness of this short reminder of innocence.

A visit to my brother's family and home in Florida afforded me an impromptu invitation to a birthday party for a four-year-old held at the local bowling alley. Now mind you, I have a 17 and 19-year-old so it’s been quite some time since I’ve been to a soiree as auspicious as this and looked forward to it. An opportune chance to mingle with the small folk…. 

Upon my arrival my five-year-old nephew Colby delegated himself as the host for his cousins' party and decided to introduce each of the attendees to me. Such a gentlemen in the making!

“Uncle Jimmy this is Mikayla," Colby said.

"Well hello Mikayla. Don’t you look lovely," I replied.

My comment was met with a quick head turn as she scooted away.

“Uncle Jimmy I’d like you to meet Trinity, she’s Mikaylas sister.”

"Wow Trinity, you’re so tall, how’d you get so tall?”

Her reply was a great big smile and a loud giggle.

Okay, so maybe I’m not so old and scaring all the young kids after all. 

"Uncle Jimmy, this is Trevor and he’s my cousin!"

Colby was quite proud of this special introduction because they’re close in age and best buds.

"Hello there Trevor! How’s the bowling going? Any strikes yet?"

Trevor's immediate reply, “I’m going to be six!” 

A man who knows where he’s at.

“Wow, six-years-old; you’re a big guy now! So Trevor, tell me, when exactly will you be six?”

And here’s where the fun began.

His reply, “I’ll be six right after five!"

This literally left me speechless… I stared and thought what do I say to this totally logical, un-coached, innocent yet correct reply? He’s right, and lord knows I’m not going to argue with a five year old.

So before I could say another word he added, “Don’t you know six comes after five?"

I said, “Ya know Trev-Man, you’re a hundred percent correct! I just never looked at it that way!"

He walked away arm-in-arm with my nephew to take his place on the alley and wait his turn to bowl. 

As Trevor stepped up to the line to roll that ball down the alley for a shot at a strike the innocence of children struck me. It served as a solid reminder of how most of us tend to get so wrapped up in life -- meeting deadlines, worrying about money, current local events and world events -- that we really do forget six follows five. It doesn’t matter when it occurs, it just does and that’s what really counts.