A day that started out not to be so good ended up rather well. I won’t go into that in much detail because I would be violating the boundaries of one of those very private people that I am close to. How they put up with me I’ll never know because I am an open book, to say the least. :) A conversation that was difficult but I thought necessary (whether or not it really was remains to be seen, as well as its effectiveness!) moved into the past tense, and all is well……………….as far as the conversation goes. For that I am thankful, and I am thankful for the tie that binds. My heart feels warm now that it’s over and love and peace reign. You know how sometimes you just feel like you have to speak up and speak your mind? Well……………like I said, it remains to be seen whether anything productive will come of it.
I’m reliving a Christmas memory now that also warms my heart. At the relative’s house where we went for our Christmas Day meal, the head cook wouldn’t let anyone eat ’til all who wished to voice their thoughts did so…………….about what they were thankful for in this year. I’ve heard of people doing this at Thanksgiving, but it’s an okay Christmas thing, too. From start to finish, 95% of those who spoke their thoughts aloud were thankful for God and family……………..and the same 95% were choking back tears before they finished. I know it doesn’t SOUND fun, but it wasn’t really MEANT to be fun, after all…………….just honest and thought-provoking. Most of my family are emotional, okay? :) I knew better than to get very deeply into it, so I just generalized it all by saying, “I’m just thankful!!” This branch of the family is not one I would have expected this from, and I am deeply appreciative of them for sharing their hearts, and it warms MY heart to remember it. And if I had thought quickly enough, my comment would have been, “There’s an old saying that blood is thicker than water. I am MOST thankful to know that LOVE is much thicker than blood!”
A friend made a comment on Facebook regarding some items on my list of “16 Random Things About Me.” Actually, more than one made a comment. Thank you, Steve, for your comment and for your support and love. The other came from someone who was a close friend in high school. She and I, as well as some others, reconnected by way of the high school reunion in the fall of 2007. It had been close to 40 years since there had been any communication between us and, in fact, I lived those years believing I had disappointed her with some of my choices back in those days. The fact that she WANTED me to come to the reunion and WANTED to see me enough to send me a note specifically asking me to come………….well, that just fills my heart with warmth in knowing that the bond of love and friendship is a lot more resilient and stronger than youthful stupidity! For her to care enough to comment on Facebook in a positive way about her friend, Judy, is one of those blessings of the past year. Both she and another close friend from those days read this blog on a regular basis. I am thankful for both of them, that they would be interested in reading anything I might have to say. My heart is full tonight with thankfulness for Caril and Sharon.
Another Christmas memory warms my heart. That of Michael, Brigitt, Hailey, and Emily and the Christmas time we had together, simply sharing barbecue and hamburgers, and opening gifts. Besides all that, they brought gifts for Barney! Now I already loved these 4 people immensely, but when they brought in gifts for Barney, I just knew all over again that my love was well placed! The girls love him and talk about him all the time, and I just expect them to be down in the floor with him. But Michael plays with him and loves on him, too, and talks about how soft he is……….and Michael’s 6′4″ and weighs over 200! And Brigitt. She’s an animal lover from way back. She was down in the floor with him, taking pictures of him, and telling him she loves him. These four provided a Christmas memory that will last until my case of dementia sets in!!!
Then there was Rhonda. We had already promised our meal-eating to another house when she let us know when her meal would be. We did, however, drive the 45 minutes to her house from the first one, just to see her on Christmas. We visited briefly. Then Rhonda looked at her Mom and said, “Mom, you look like you feel awful. I would understand if you want to just go home.” (Rhonda has her own set of health problems and does truly understand.) At that, Doris stood up and made ready to do just that because she did feel terrible. The love and empathy Rhonda displayed for her mother moved me deeply. (And she wasn’t just trying to get rid of us!)
Christmas morning provided another cause for warmth in the simple act of helping another daughter with her holiday meal. Her oven was busted, so she came to our house early that morning to cook for her family. All either of us did much was give her some instruction and encouragement, and she turned out a pan of dressing that was to die for. She, her friend, and her son spent part of the day with us thusly, and it was fun. I’ll treasure that time.
Then tonight………………..an episode of The Cosby Show made me think of a certain dear friend and brother who left pulpit ministry to become involved in funeral home ministry. He has a dry wit that cracks all of us up, but he has a heart of gold. Never is that heart more evident than when he talks about his family. Of late, this heart has been particularly soft when it comes to his grandchildren! On the TV show, Cliff Huxtable was babysitting his very, very young twin grandchildren. He was so silly, as Cliff could be………………..showing the grandson his big old foot so he’d know how big his foot would grow to be one day! Then he told the little girl and boy the story of his brother, their uncle, who had passed away at age 7 and how special he was. He also told them he didn’t think he was old enough to be a grandfather because old people walk like this…………! They both just laid in their carry-alls and watched him like he’d lost his mind!! I told Doris I could see Greg doing just such shenanigans to entertain the twins and Jackson! Everybody knows the kind of dad and granddad Cliff Huxtable was……………….but my heart is warmed because I know people who are REAL whose children and grandchildren turn them inside out. The pulpit to funeral home guy is one of them! There are others in this blogging family who encourage me daily by the absolute devotion that moves them when speaking of their families.
Just sharing some random warm heart ruminations tonight…..
TODAY’S SMILES:
- Friends
- Family
- Pets
- My blogging community, who are also family
- A warm, comfortable home
- People who love me enough to put up with me when I decide I need to speak my mind
See you tomorrow night…………..if I’m able to blog. It’s a work day, and you know what those do to me!!!
Love and joy to all. God bless and keep you.
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