A few summers ago, we were at a water park—and I took my favorite role:

“the dry witness to splash-pad joy.”

I didn’t jump into the wetness (not even a little)… but I “did” plant myself close enough to see everything—his hair dripping, his braces flashing in the sun, that huge grin that kept growing every time the water blasted up and surprised him again.

He would look over at me after every “big splash” like, “Did you see that?!”
And I’d laugh and cheer and make the exact face he was hoping for.

That’s the thing about kids… they don’t just want fun.
They want “to be seen” in their fun.

In that moment, I realized something simple and sacred:

Love isn’t always about doing the same thing together.
Sometimes love is being the safe place on the sidelines—
the steady eyes,
the warm smile,
the “I’m right here,”
the one who holds the towel and the snacks and the belonging.

And honestly? Watching him light up like that did something in me too. It reminded me that joy is contagious. That presence counts. That sometimes the most powerful gift we give is our attention—undivided and delighted.

I stayed dry…
but my heart was absolutely soaked in joy.

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