i have had a blog post written, in my head, for a few weeks now...using this picture of our son who, on shaking legs, tried a new sport...
went out on a limb in unchartered territory, nervous he wouldn't be able to succeed...scored 2 goals
my blog post was going to be about learning something from my child...how i need to take more risks and go into unchartered territory...i need to try new things!
but as i sit waiting to get a text to pick up one of our teenagers (when i want to be sleeping) i think about the new things i've been doing lately
not things i would think up on my own...but i've been growing in new ways...learning new things. and i have been totally ignoring all the growing i've been doing lately...simply because it doesn't fit my idea of "personal growth"
i am in the process (reluctantly) of becoming power of attorney for a distant neighbor who finds herself dying in a nursing home and whose only visitor is me
oh, she has some family. but they want her stuff. they don't want her.
i tell her i love her when i leave. and i mean it. because i have learned a new love for this neighbor...in a classroom i never would have chosen on my own
today i stood behind one of my closest friends as they sprinkled her husband's casket with holy water
i have walked a journey with her for 6 long years. watching her trust and love God in real and honest ways has taught me much. i thought today about what i would have missed had i quietly walked away because sometimes things were just so overwhelmingly sad and messy.
without exaggeration, i would have missed miracles
learning to let go of growing children...learning to truly love and appreciate my Dad's wife...learning to speak less and listen more...learning to accept people as they are...learning, learning, learning
sometimes i miss the amazing lessons God is trying to teach me...
because i am addicted to making myself happy and content with learning the things i want to learn
true happiness and contentment, true learning and growth...
come when i humble myself and whisper
i will follow where you lead me
and i will LOVE
Watch what God does, and then you do it..mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Ephesians 5:1
Behold, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:19
8 comments:
You seriously take amazing pictures! And, you write the best posts that always make me reflect about my own life. Thank you for being such a good friend and neighbor to those in your life that need you. I bet you'll never know just exactly how much that means to those two women. You will be blessed for having such a kind heart. Thank goodness for people like you in this world. You are the kind of woman that makes me proud to be a female and also glad that I stumbled across your blog! Thank you for sharing with us! <3
I love your post! I love how God uses you to remind us all who read your words, that we are learning. Contentment is hard in this day and age, but one lesson, that I am trying to instill in my kids, and still working on in me. May the excitement of hockey be grand, and the peace of servanthood be a lesson to your entire family.
Gorgeous photos, Cathy. But even more, a wonderful post. Bless you for being there for your neighbor. And how terrible of her 'family' to treat her that way. I'm sorry about your friend's husband. Yes, it is all about growing...sometimes in ways we would never have chosen.
xo
Claudia
Beautiful post...loved it! That is my goal...whatever his will..that is mine also. It does make me the best I can be! :D
...beautiful, beautiful post, cathy.. oh my.
so sorry for your friend and your neighbor; i think you must have a loving heart of gold.
you are beautiful!
wow.
quieted.
and humbled.
thank you for sharing.
God bless her.
you.
again opening our eyes & hearts.
You are such a beautiful person! And I learn so much from you all of the time. Thank you for sharing this post.
Hugs from Cali.
PS Where are you? It's been a week.
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