The Secret Language of Snails

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am a doting Grandfather.  My Grandsons are brilliant, beautiful, and brightness in my life.  I try not to write about them too often in this forum because not everyone relates to children.  Yesterday, however, Orion did something that will remind me often of the value of being led by children.

I was visiting with my Son and his family yesterday and Orion was playing with a stuffed frog and snail crafted for him by his very talented Mamaw (for those who do not know “Mamaw” is the southern term for one’s maternal Grandmother).  The frog is green (pronounced “geeen” by Orion) and the snail is red and yellow. 

Whenever Orion and I talk about snails or he is impatient I sing a song for him.  It is

Herbert the Snail’s Patience Song.  You can listen to it HERE.  It is from the children’s musical Music Machine.

Orion runs up to me with the frog and snail and says, “Sing it Ganpa (Orion speak for Grandpa).   So first I sing a song about a frog for him.  Then he says, “Snail song Ganpa.”  So I sing the Patience song.

Then to change the pace I ask Orion, “What does the frog say?”

He answers, “Ribbit Ribbit” there is a pause and then he continues, “Snail says ‘have patience.’”

What a lovely lesson in how we influence children without realizing it.  It brought to mind how patient his father, my Son is in dealing with his children.  It often inspires me to be more patient with others.  My Son was not home when Orion first did this early in the day.  At dinner last night he showed me that the association had stuck by having him say it for me.  Although I have no idea what snails really say, I have no intention of correcting this.  Who knows, perhaps Orion is tuned in to the secret language of snails.

Patience

There was a snail called Herbert who was so very slow
He caused a lot of traffic jams wherever he would go
The ants were always getting mad and the beetles, they would fume
But Herb would always poke along and sing this little tune

Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you

When Herbert was much younger, he often got in trouble
Forgetting that he was a snail, he did things on the double
He'd crash through every spider web and with crickets he'd collide
'Til one day Herbert's father took his speeding son aside

Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you

As you can well imagine, there's a moral to this tale
Some of you may find yourselves behind a creeping snail
So if you get impatient and you're easily disturbed
Think about this little song and take a tip from Herb

Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you - Frank Hernandez & Sherry Saunders Powell

“And a little child shall lead them…”

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."