motions

Without fear, without hesitation they step forward. One foot lifts and the weight transfers to the other. Touchdown. The other lifts and the weight transfers back to the original foot. Perhaps their eyes should be searching their new surroundings or their ears listening for sounds unknown, but they aren't because it is familiar even though it is new. Instead their minds are working to control the anticipation of seeing their father and calming their jittery, buzzing bodies to hold them in one place while I extract the luggage from the conveyer belt. One of them guides the empty metal cart to my side and holds it steady while I lift and haul our goods onto it while the other holds the little ones hands and helps him adjust his backpack so it won't tip over. Silent. Words aren't needed to perform these actions because they are second nature. From start to finish there are no real surprises. Every time it goes like this: We get our tickets, we go through immigration, we go through a scanning machine, we go to a gate, we wait some more, we get on a plane, we watch some tv, we eat, we sleep, we use the bathroom, we wash our hands, we go back to sleep, we eat some more, we land, we get our luggage ready, we brush our fingers through our hair, we get in line and leave the plane, we follow the lines of people, we listen to mommy and stay close, we show someone our passports, we go through another checkpoint and scanner, we find our next gate, we stop to use the bathroom, we smile and ask nicely for a treat and get one, we wait, we get on a bus, we get on our plane, we drink a drink and eat a snack, we land, we gather our things and get off, we get in more lines and go through immigration and we finally end up at the baggage handling where we realize we have finally arrived. This time we are in the Netherlands. Even the young one knows where we are and what this means. This means daddy will be with them soon. Everyone is speaking a strange language and their surroundings are entirely new...but nothing can possibly sway their thoughts off of the same path their feet just followed to put our family back together again. Rooted deep inside of them is an impulse to stay together no matter the distance, no matter the cost, no matter the challenge. Everything seems easy and necessary when compared to separation. While some children would complain that they will be leaving their friends, these children are saddened briefly but revived by the thought that they will be adding new ones. While some would worry about where they will live and where their things are, these just make do with what they can carry, which is quite a bit this time as they are now bigger and older and stronger. They are not only stronger physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. They push on, step forward and take strides the length of which are only rivaled by a giraffe trying to outrun a lion.

They ARE courage...

and they are mine.

They keep me strong and they remind me of what is important. I hope my feet are as sure as theirs and my mind as purely driven.