Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Unwrapped :: Open-Handed Love

Most days it sounds more like the booming bass of an African drum than the steady ticking of a reliable timepiece.

Thirty-four years of tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock....resounding louder and louder as each day passes.

I have always believed that God has a plan, His own timing for our lives.
Sometimes it just seems CRAZY slow.


I try to focus on the positive, 
but it is hard when little things derail me,
Especially the knowledge that so many friends my age are attending middle school concerts or at the very least kindergarden ones.


My friend, Holley, says we are all on a one lane track, not competing against each other, measuring mile markers at the same checkpoints.

I love that.
It reminds me not to focus on that "I'm getting behind!" feeling.

Which I do.

A LOT.

Yet. The pounding, booming pulses in my head reminding me that I am getting older every day. That my body is not what it used to be. That my curves have not yet held life and time is slowly but surely moving to the point on the scale where the hours are not on my side anymore.

I think that is what I appreciate about my friend, Emily.

I work for her.
She is a Mary Kay director, and I assist her a couple of afternoons a week -- office work, graphic design, babysitting, car pooling, getting dinner prepped, basically whatever she needs during those hours.

Her kids have crawled their way into my heart. 


Jake Ray is 6, almost 7.


Olivia will be 3 in two weeks.


There is play and laughter.
Negotiation and discipline.
Imagination and discovery.
Games and tears.

They know me well now...enough to push the boundaries to see how far they can go...we have our "moments" together.

But they love me.
And I love them.
Very much.

You see, Emily and her husband, Wayne had to wait a long time for these two gifts, so they do not take parenting lightly, and the most beautiful thing, they do not hold it selfishly.

She lets them love me and have a relationship with me
And not just me
But others too
Whom they both love JUST as freely.

Today
as I danced with them in front of the spotlights in the yard, making monster shadows on the house as their parents put up Christmas decorations, I felt thankful to be given this gift from two grown ups who themselves know the deep anguish in waiting in a world that is seemingly leaving you behind.

And I want to remember this open-handed holding in which they love their kids
Inviting others into the joy.

This is how I unwrap the gift of today...



12 comments:

Barbie said... Best Blogger Tips

Beautiful, my friend.

Positively Alene said... Best Blogger Tips

Oh my gosh - those pics!!! Precious children. I sure miss that stage -- so fun and full of life!! Blessings sweet girl.

Mom said... Best Blogger Tips

Love this! ...and, when we have done all to stand, WE STAND on His promises! Love you, Baby!

Karrilee Aggett said... Best Blogger Tips

So beautiful!

Annie Barnett said... Best Blogger Tips

I so appreciate your gut honesty, and the way you unwrap the hard and the good together, because that is life, isn't it? You teach me lots, friend.

kris scorza.sobieski said... Best Blogger Tips

beautiful and honest. i love the idea of a family sharing itself as a family. my parents were that way and i hope that my children see it in me and learn it also. --kris

lindseyfoj said... Best Blogger Tips

They mean so much to me! I AM very thankful for them and learn a lot from how they parent and let others in!

lindseyfoj said... Best Blogger Tips

It is indeed! I love you, girl! YOU teach me! And that is the best then, right? When iron can sharpen iron.... #MissYou

lindseyfoj said... Best Blogger Tips

Thank you, Karrilee!

lindseyfoj said... Best Blogger Tips

Amen, Mama! You taught me well... Thank you!

lindseyfoj said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanks, Alene! They ARE indeed a lot of fun!

lindseyfoj said... Best Blogger Tips

Thank you, Barbie!

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