The Inspired EC Blog — joy

A small sticky hand slides into mine. I know that if his mama were here, it would slide into hers.  Laughter erupts as I tickle her belly. I know that if her daddy were here, she'd be laughing up at him.  They trust us. Each and every day, parents, grandparents, foster carers and guardians step into this place we create. They step into this place knowing that when they walk back out the door, they leave a part of them with us. They say goodbye, their noses pressed to the gate, fighting back tears as their little one wails, or...

  I was sitting at the traffic lights when he caught my eye. He stood there, with his dog, waiting to cross the road. Headphones in ears, leash in hand, he began to move. It started out a gentle nod of the head, presumably in response to the beat of the music. And then it evolved into a more active kind of dance. I could tell he was getting into the music, and it filled me with a complete sense of what could only be described as joy. I felt a smile spread across my face. And then I noticed...