From the Heart
Hello friends!
This week I have turned over my keyboard to my daughter, Emily. She and her husband, Drew, and their nine-year-old son, Aiden, and seven-year-old daughter, Leah, live in Tampa. Both Emily and Drew work out of their home with full-time jobs.
I thought her thoughts that she posted on Facebook were something that others needed to read and so I introduce you to my daughter, Emily…
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 already had me feeling very heavy-hearted. So many people who we are very close to were, and still are, dealing with so much on their plates that I found myself aching for answers. I know it’s not my responsibility to fix/cure/save my loved ones from the pain and luckily, they weren’t asking me to either.
Then the fear of this virus turned all of our worlds upside down. Or has it? What if I changed the way I said that to downside up? What if we stopped being afraid and started doing the opposite? Let’s be calm, curious, trusting, or be like all the docs/nurses/first responders and be courageous.
I had a moment last Thursday when I realized the kids will start their home learning this week and it happens to be one of the busiest times of the year for my work. Fear crept in and I almost lost it. I was already feeling so bad with my normal work load and not being able to give the kiddos much attention. Then during one of many conference calls, Leah (our seven-year-old) brought me her version of a grilled cheese sandwich with a note that said, “Thanks for being a star.”
As I sit and reflect on these past couple of weeks, I cannot help but think that what Leah did for me that day really is how we all should be living our lives. You see, our kids have not allowed fear to creep in, they haven’t lost it, they simply are trusting, curious and courageous. Before Leah made me that sandwich she could have been upset or feared that I might not feed her. It was almost 2:00 so I wouldn’t have blamed her. Instead, she trusted herself and got curious about how she could help me out in that moment.
This week we will start the new at-home learning adventure, and I hope I can find myself being more trusting and curious and of course … calm. I know I will fail at times, but I trust He won’t let me. I am going to work on focusing on the up in the downside.
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Yes friends, I think my daughter has a wonderful perspective. And … I think she might be a writer. Thanks Emily! You made your mama proud!