Month: December 2011

Wednesday Words: A letter to the wind

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I visited my brother’s grave as I was on my way home from spending a couple of days with a dear friend–some much-needed “me” time. I just sat on the ground and wrote him a note. To be honest, I don’t usually like going to cemeteries. They make me sad and remind me of loss and decay. I was by myself on this trip, though, and I wasn’t on a tight travel schedule, like we usually are on road trips, so I decided to stop and sit for a while. This is what I wrote:

I came here to talk to you–well, not converse with you, I suppose–just to get some thoughts out of my heavy heart and burdened mind–

and place them upon the wind.

I think about you often.

I set up your stocking again this year–off to the side in a place of honor–

just to remember.

I wish I could remember every Christmas we spent together–from your first one in Germany (I’m sure there was snow, but I wouldn’t know) to the last one three winters ago. I wish I could remember every gift we exchanged. I remember the year I gave you a pocket knife and whetting stone; you really seemed to like it. Of course, I remember the year we got out much-coveted Cabbage Patch Dolls … and the few years later when you put it away because big boys don’t play with dolls. 🙂  I remember the can of Fix-a-flat that you gave me when I had so many car problems. And the jewelry box that I still use to this day.

I was going to write a poem for you, but really, I just want to talk.

Sometimes, I just need to hear your voice.

Monday Musings: Insanity

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It’s insanity!
Kids before the Christmas break:
What’s a mom to do?!?

Oh, dear – what a week we have in store. The kids’ schools let out on Wednesday and Thursday, but you’d think the break had already started, as off-the-walls as the boys have been. This morning, No. 4 had a full-on, toddleresque, knock-down-drag-out temper tantrum … over a pair of shoes. Oi vey. It is moments like these that make me want to hug their teachers, kiss their feet and tell them how terrific they are. I could not spend most of the day, five days a week, with a roomful of kids. It would drive me nuts. I love my kiddos; don’t get me wrong, but whew – teachers are heroes!

Merry Christmas to all my teacher friends … and THANK YOU for all you do each and every day!!!

Extended family

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I have a small plaque that a co-worker gave me a few years ago that reads: “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.” Having grown up with only one brother as a sibling, I can attest that I have a few close girlfriends who are like sisters to me. In fact, one of my favorite stories of all time is the Anne of Green Gables series; I particularly love how the author described Anne and her best friend, Diana, as “kindred spirits.”

Having a kindred spirit is more than just having a BFF, as today’s vernacular suggests. With a BFF (best friends forever), you may pal around and have plenty of things in common, but then someone’s parents get relocated out of state or you grow up and move off to different colleges, and over time, the friendship may lose touch. You don’t mean for it to; it just happens. It’s part of life. With a kindred spirit, however, no distance keeps you apart. There may be periods of life when you don’t see each other for months or even years, but you have a heart-to-heart connection that goes well beyond Facebook updates, Foursquare check-ins and text-gossip.

Proverbs 18:24 refers to “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (NIV). The Message paraphrase reads: “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” That type of relationship, the family-but-not-by-blood connection with someone is an amazing gift. It’s the type of friendship that I believe the disciples had with one another and with Jesus. It’s the type of relationship that I believe we ought to have as a church body.

When we talk about “doing life together” as a church family, it’s a step in this direction. We build relationships with each other through Life groups, and that is terrific, but it takes making a special effort to reach out to someone in friendship to build a kindred spirit bond. It means being honest, taking off the façade and being held accountable. It means being vulnerable. Are you willing to let a kindred spirit have access to the tender parts of your heart?