I came back from this trip (to help my folks be tour guides to their Dutch friends the Sneikers in NYC) with a smile on my face. "My parents are just so much themselves," I said, "unpretentious and unapologetic." They are very easy to love.

I am blessed to have so many people in my life that are easy to love. Maybe this is why God seems to be so delighted all the time. Of course there is plenty to make us sorrowful, and good that we pay attention to that as well. But bright and patient people with ice cream stains on their shirts and generosity and kindness in their hearts go pretty far to help us pay attention to joy as well.