Feeling raw tonight. Exhausted from a challenging day at work.
When I started this job I thought. . . I’m going to change the world. . . at least my little part of the world.
Days like today remind me that sometimes there just aren’t answers.
Sometimes, no matter how much perspective someone has. . . it still hurts.
Sometimes the are no “right” words.
Sometimes. . . life is just hard.
It is on days like today when I hope and pray that being there is enough.
The evidence is clear. . .
I will not likely change the world. . .
But. . . what can I do?
I can continue to work to be intentional about enjoying all the simple moments of life. . . to breathe deep and taste the preciousness of the everyday like we did that this weekend. A rare weekend, as of late, when we had absolutely nothing on the calender and spent our time at home.
Chad decided to spend the day doing his “fall cleanup.” (That’s landscaper speak for making the yard look pretty.) The day was beautiful without a cloud in the sky and sun shined brightly to make the temperatures perfect for being outdoors. Chad worked the entire day with his little helpers at his side. . . until, of course, they were ready to play.
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| Yep, that’s Chad with a tomato. . . they are officially gone! |
And so it was. . . an afternoon where the kids played, laughed, and helped their dad in the yard. They spent every ounce of energy they had as we all enjoyed one of these last beautiful days before cold invades us. The best part of the day for the kids? Playing with our neighbor, Miss Nancy. We hit the jackpot with this one. This lovely lady spent no less than an hour playing an intense game of hide-and-seek with our kids. And let me just tell you. . . this lady goes the distance. . . she is not above climbing in a trash can to find the perfect hiding spot.
And on Sunday Chad and I sit and watch them again.
We marvel at their beauty and their innocence. We laugh at their silliness. We take pictures of Charlie in a pink Barbie car and look forward to embarrassing him when he’s in high school.
It is on nights like tonight, when I am weary from a challenging day, that I am convinced that these things do matter. I know it doesn’t come close to changing the world, but I wonder if these moments might somehow make a small mark on the world as our kids learn to enjoy these simple things. I wonder if they will remember how much we delighted in them as they delighted in everything. I find myself hoping that they see us seeing them. Hoping that these simple-but-spectacular moments mean something simply because we showed up.
Because that is something I can do. . . I can show up.
The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt.
Frederick Buechner
Fabulous photos and post! Showing up is what it is all about…and with that you ARE changing someones world! 🙂
What a great neighbor!
I'm so glad that you have Chad with whom to marvel at your children with.
I love it.
Marriage is good. Parenting is good. Life is good.
Cute shoes! 🙂