The Drawing Through Her Eyes

I watch her as she draws. Her little hands confidently follow the lines, never coloring outside them, carefully choosing each shade as if selecting precious gems. From time to time, she glances at me with her big, curious eyes and cheerfully says, “Auntie, draw!” I pick up a pencil and pretend to draw, but in truth, I’m just watching her. And as I watch, I imagine my brother here with us, watching her too, proud of every stroke she makes. Because, just like him, she is incredibly talented. I don’t say that just as a biased aunt – though I am – but because it’s true.

This drawing is the work of a three-year-old girl. She’s already a little girl, and my heart tightens when I think about how tiny she once was. I held her in my arms like the most precious treasure. Now, we talk, sing, jump around, laugh, pretend to put on makeup, hug tightly, and love each other – truly, with all our hearts. Because you don’t know what it feels like when she hugs. It’s a hug with her whole soul, one that reminds you of real love and the essence of life.

As we spend an hour coloring a single picture, I think about how people often say that children “slow things down,” as if that’s something bad. But is it really? Is slowing down truly a flaw? Children give us the chance to pause, to be present, to breathe in the moment and savor it. Who else would remind you of that if not these pure, innocent souls who say, “Come on, draw! Be careful how you color.”

Children teach us to slow down and be here, now, fully present. And that is the essence of life – not rushing through it but living it. So let them be part of your world, because children are its greatest treasure, its meaning, and its joy.

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Crtež i Ona 

Gledam je kako crta. Njene male ruke sigurno prate linije, ne prelazi bojicama, a boje bira pažljivo, kao da bira dragulje. Povremeno podigne pogled ka meni, velikim očima koje sijaju radoznalošću, i veselo kaže: “Tetka, crtaj!” Onda ja uzmem olovku, pravim se da crtam, ali u stvari samo je posmatram. I dok je gledam, zamišljam mog brata kako je s nama, kako je i on gleda, ponosan na svaki njen potez. Jer baš kao i on, talentovana je. I to ne kažem kao pristrasna tetka – iako to jesam – nego zato što je istina.

Ova slika je delo trogodišnje devojčice. Već je devojčica, a meni se srce stegne kad se setim koliko je bila mala. Držala sam je u naručju kao najdragocenije blago. Danas razgovaramo, pevamo, skačemo, smejemo se, pravimo se da se šminkamo, grlimo se snažno i volimo – istinski, celim bićem. Jer, vi ne znate kako ona grli. To je zagrljaj dušom, onaj koji vas podseti na pravu ljubav.

Dok zajedno bojimo jednu sliku već sat vremena, mislim o tome kako ljudi kažu da vas deca “usporavaju”, kao da je to nešto loše. Ali, da li je zaista? Da li je usporiti zaista mana? Deca nam pružaju priliku da stanemo, da budemo prisutni, da udahnemo trenutak i uživamo u njemu. Ko drugi bi vas podsetio na to, ako ne te čiste, nevine duše koje vam kažu: “Ajde, crtaj! Pazi kako bojiš.”

Deca nas uče da usporimo i budemo tu, sada, potpuno prisutni. I to jeste suština života – da ne jurimo kroz njega, već da ga živimo. Zato im dopustite da budu deo vašeg sveta, jer deca su njegov najlepši ukras, njegov smisao i radost.