I took my littlest to the playground earlier this morning. It felt so refreshing to be out in the sunshine. It has been so cold outside that the kids haven’t wanted to be out very long, if at all, and neither have I. This particular morning was beautiful. The sun was shining and the temperature was nearing 40, but felt warmer in the sun.

We arrived at the playground and when I took him out of the car he took off across the grass shouting, “Playground!!!” We were the only ones there. 

After about a half hour, we were up on the play set and I saw an older couple walking towards the entrance. They both had canes and were a little bit hunched over. I’m assuming they were at least 80. They both wore big coats. The man wore a giant wool hat. 

They sat down on the bench for a little bit and we continued to play. At one point I turned and noticed the woman was gone. 

I spotted her walking across the wood chips towards the swings. Her husband stayed on the bench. He had what looked to be rosary beads in his hands. His arms rested on his legs as his hands held the beads, his head was bowed.

I looked back to the swings to find the woman swinging! I waved to her and she gave me a big smile and a wave. I watched as her as she swung back and forth. She looked so peaceful. It was really sweet. She smiled at Peter, who of course scowled at her because he wanted the playground to himself. In fact, as soon as they left, he said, “I want to go on the swings now!”

I am pretty certain I have seen this couple walking near this playground before. The woman is always smiling and her husband often seems a bit more reserved. Whenever I see older couples like that I like to wonder what their story is. To be of that age and still have a partner by your side, they’re blessed. I hope that will be me and Zach some day. 

With the chaos currently going on in our country, it was a good reminder that the simple things in life are important. It’s really easy to get distressed with everything that is going on. I myself have had trouble with this recently. But, on this morning, I looked at this couple and thought, “What chaos have they seen in their long lives? They must have had struggles to overcome both within in their own families and greater community and here they are walking together on a beautiful morning using a playground. Whatever they have faced, they have overcome.”

Get outside, out of your house and your head to remind yourself of the beauty of life, the beauty of relationship. Get outside to remind yourself that you are never too old for a ride on a swing.