Forty years is a twinkle in the annals of history books. Only four decades, only forty years, only a mere moment. But when you put the days on a string, the hours and the minutes, and the seconds - you begin to see how much Life can be lived in this twinkle of time. Laughter, Tears, Sadness, Fears - Joy, Relief, Depression, and Victory all combine to create a unique human experience. Forty years is a twinkle, but compile each moment together, and you have a lifetime of sparkling moments - a sky full of stars. (I felt this was appropriate for Birthday Eve, and my last day of being 40...this draft was written for myself on my 40th birthday last year - it was edited and given as a gift to a dear friend who celebrated her 40th birthday a week later. Her version is better, but I didn't keep a copy, because it is hers.)
Tag Archives: Birthday Month
The Perfect Cup of Tea
Metaphorically, true friendship is... a good hair day, the perfect cup of tea - no red lights on the way to work, and the first night of sleep on freshly washed sheets. Socially, it's a smile at the caller ID, a long conversation full of honesty, and empathy - and the ability to pick up where you left off... after two hours, two days, or four months. Emotionally, it's companionable silence where words are not necessary, laughing at the ridiculous when it is, and prayers in - and through, the pain. Essentially, true friendship is the ability to be your utterly weird, and wonderful self, and feel perfectly and completely at home. Celebrating all of the wonderful people who let me be my weird little self, but especially my friend Candy, who is having a birthday today, and who is learning to love tea as much as I do. 🙂
The Gift of Time
One of the greatest gifts the Lord has bestowed to us, is the gift of time. And the greatest gift we can give Him in return - is how we spend that time. We can fritter it away, or pile it up with study, or work, or mindless activity. But what He would love, what He would ultimately prefer - is if we just took a deep breath, and said, "I'd really just like to spend my time with You."
Bless Me With Indifference
Betrayal is a heavy stone that weighs down the pockets of my mind. It frays the seams, and nudges other more important thoughts out of my soul. It wearies me, worries me and begs for my attention. The wounds cut even deeper when the Betrayer has gloated to others about the success of their crime. I pray for relief and for release - through forgiveness first, and finally, the blessing of Indifference where pain ceases, and peace begins. Another moment from the archives of last year. I had a LOT of feelings to work through, and I'm grateful for the time of reflection.
Self-Reflection
It takes courage to self-examine - and strength to face when we were wrong. This should not be a foreign feeling - it should be our every day norm. So much of life is running, and we never take a step. Over-stimulate, stupefy, whatever it takes, NOT TO FEEL. But victory can be found when we sit very still and hold a mirror to our faces Self-reflection leads to self-realization and to freedom of self.
Slaying Dragons
Why does it seem we must all slay our own dragons? There are so many obstacles, pitfalls, and heartaches we could avoid... if only we learned from the dragon slayers of the past. If we allowed their experience to be our experience. But then, I suppose, if we never slew our own foes, we would also never come to understand the meaning of the quest.
Ashley Raymer-Brown 