Gardening has taught me appreciation despite flaws. Gardening has taught me to look at an expanse of land for what it can become, to see future flowers where now are just weeds and hard-packed dirt.
Gardening requires my "someday" eyes.
The children I raise need the same approach. One recent day I was particularly hurt that my teenager exploded in anger when his sister's sudden sickness prevented our trip to the amusement park. I was so upset with him. Where was his compassion?
Where, too, was mine?
I sought a quiet moment to reconcile my negative feelings. The prayer was quick. I came to understand my son's disappointment and his limited tools to express and control it. Even greater, a picture formed in the upper right corner of my mind. I saw him as a man, leaning beside his own daughter in the bathroom and stroking her hair out of the way. Blond, I think.
Someday.
I saw my son for all the potential within him, and my heart swelled anew with the charge to get him there.
3 comments:
That is beautiful. And inspirational. I bet your teen would roll his eyes if he saw it! But mine are teary.
Thank you for this. I needed it today. I like to think I have this unmoveable faith and hope about my special little guy. And then days like today, it is so hard to see the sun through the clouds. Thanks for helping me to remember that there is divine potential in all of us. It may just take a few of us a little longer to reach it. This too shall pass. This too shall pass. :)
BTW - I came across Rob A through the Jackson Family blog. She lost her little girl, Lucy, two years ago. Rob A.'s humor helps her find her smile. He does the same thing for me. Enjoy!
What a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I really needed to hear it.
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