We all go through rough times in life. It is easy to want to blame others for our situation, but it is not about others, but ourselves. I keep learning and relearning that when I blame others, it just keeps the sadness and negativity in control of my life. The longer I hold on to my negativity and sadness, the more of my joy and wealth I give away. Sometimes we just need someone to help us refocus.
Decades ago, I worked in a summer camp and had a little boy named Mikey. He was learning how to be away from his mom for the first time in his life. He would come in crying and I began playing this game with him to redirect his energy. I would say can you make a monster face and he would. How about a sad face and he would and before you knew it he was okay and then we could go play with the other kids.
One day we were playing the water when I realized I had lost a piece of jewelry that I never took off. It brought tears to my face and no matter how hard I tried I could not stop the tears from rolling down my face, and then this little boy gave me a gift I will never forget. I tried to capture this in a poem about us and this experience.
And The Little Boy Said
Make a monster face, the little boy said
As he saw the tears rolling gently down my face.
Make a silly face, the little boy said
And my heart was soothed by his innocent grace
Make a happy face, the little boy said
As he kissed my cheek, my heart gave way
He played the game, I had played with him
When being five was much too hard and tears cascaded down his face.
I sit here now, with tears on my face
And the little boy says, make a monster face.
But the tears are stored up
Deep and wide for a love that's lost and wants to hide
And the little boy said, make a silly face.
The games we played don't seem to work
The tears still flow like a trickling brook
Down the countryside of my face
And the little boy said,
Make a happy face
Copyright ©2002 Sharon Jacobson