I Love my Life!
As a pastor’s wife, Sunday’s are not a good day for a headache to take up residency. I got myself together and headed to Crosspoint Church to help the set-up team construct the preschool/nursery area. Between not feeling like eating, no pain medicine, pounding headache and the set-up area being 110 degrees, my attitude of perseverance melted like a snowman wanting to make some hot tea. Two hours later, with 10 preschoolers running, 8 babies crying next to me and a room set at 110 degrees (and a partridge in a pear tree), I decided to vacate early and retreat to the couch in the comfort of my own home.
I Love my Life!
I truly wasn’t sick with a virus but looking back at the week, it’s no wonder I woke up with a pounding headache. Tuesday afternoon included a trip to visit a new friend at the hospital. I went as the “Pastor’s Wife,” to meet and chat with a young girl who had attended our church a few times. I came away as the “Blessed One” listening to someone in their early twenties talk about a serious disease that is not curable. Yet, she conveyed a determination to make a “difference in the world,” by educating people about this disease and helping local chapters raise awareness and money. My life was richer that day listening to her.
I Love my Life!
Wednesday, after working in the office, I headed home to clean house and get ready for a small group of couples who meet in our home each Wednesday. This small group usually involves a study of life topic and includes mostly couples who have teenagers. I am so blessed to have these couples in our lives. If you have teenagers, you understand the roller coaster ride of highs and lows and it’s great to have couples who can share and encourage one another on this journey. Such was the case on Wednesday night, where words of “I understand” and “I care” were warmer than the gas fireplace.
I love my Life!
Thursday began with a Happy Birthday to my husband! It’s a true gift to have a husband who is faithful, committed, and hard-working, has a love of family, people and God. He’s never claimed to be perfect although some might expect that from him as a Pastor. He’s simply the best and a gift from God. Thursday afternoon was a little “me” time, to wash that gray right out of my hair. Not a good sign, when you walk in the door and my hair stylist/worker of miracles says, “You want me to take care of that mustache too?” I looked around to see if she was really speaking to me! Later that evening I joined a group of friends at another small group. I just love the honesty in this group. There were statements like “I don’t agree,” “I don’t understand,” and “I struggle with this.” Pure honesty in the middle of life, no pretense, no fancy words, no great explanations, just a group journeying through life together, respecting each others beliefs. Not a group you stuff into a pretty box and put a bow on it and say, “There it’s done!” I think the “love for each other” rises above the differences and mutual respect reigns in place of judgment and arrogance.
I Love my Life!
Friday kicked into gear with our home being the first of two stops for the neighborhood “progressive” dinner. It becomes a marathon day of cleaning, cooking, preparing, and running. Thirty minutes before the start of the dinner, I declared everything done! Although, there were things undone, clothes stuffed in the garage, mail pushed under the bed and well, you know what you do when you get to the last half-hour!! This night of twenty people was filled with neighbors laughing, talking and caring about each other. Oh yeah, and did I mention some GREAT FOOD!!! The night ended with a “white elephant” gift exchange. Three gifts were very funny – the CLAPPER, a pair of ugly men’s bedroom slippers and an old clock that was the last gift given to a wife whose husband had recently left the family for the usual reasons. In the end, you realize the importance of your neighbors who you live with and see mostly day to day. It’s important to talk and converse outside of just pulling your car into the garage, waving and closing the door, shutting out the world and your neighbors.
I Love my Life!
Saturday morning began at 9:00 am sharp in my “old” neighborhood where my close friend was hosting the annual children’s Santa party at her house and she had asked me to come. I had a double interest as the person playing Santa was one of our “old” youth group kids who now attends and serves in our church along with his beautiful wife. Santa arrived on the fire truck, thanks to Firehouse #9, who has faithfully delivered Santa for as long as I can remember. Santa greeted everyone with “Merry Christmas Y’All!” and added, “I’m from the South Pole!” There was much laughter, hot chocolate, donuts and chatter that settled in the air and couldn’t be captured in a Yankee Candle container! My greatest blessing that morning came from my friend. She was relaying to me her very difficult week. Last week, it was her air-conditioning/heating unit that needed to be replaced completely. This week, she found herself on the side of the road with a failed transmission and failed computer circuits in her car. Two very high dollar items for a single mom whose income is very limited. I could only mutter “I’m so sorry.” With a twinkle in her eye and her hand in mine, she replied, “These are all things that are “fixable.” A very profound statement for a young mom whose husband died two years ago of a sudden heart attack and left her with two small children to care for. “Yes,” I replied, “a great way to view your last two weeks – all things that are “fixable,” indeed.” I left with a profound peace. A gift that money could not buy.
At 11:00 am, I made my way to the little town of Van Wyck, South Carolina for their first annual Christmas Parade. I understood now, standing along the parade route, that this little town is pronounced, Van Wack!” and they took great pride in their little parade. I was there to root on my friend whose little mini horses were a part of the parade. She had encouraged me to volunteer to be the “unicycle” rider but somewhere along the way, my brain shouted NO NO don’t commit!! So, for once, I listened to my brain and just enjoyed the parade. I had an added bonus of watching the Indian Land Middle School Marching Band and my teen preschool helper paraded along playing his trumpet. The minis were perfect, parading through the streets with most dogs and kids much larger than either of the little horses. The rest of the day was spent meeting the needs of my own family. All things we all are called to do and do with great pleasure and shear exhaustion.
I love my Life!
So if all this activity was the cause of a rip-roaring Sunday morning headache, I guess I wouldn’t do anything any differently. Because I truly LOVE my life, I LOVE the people who God has placed in my path. I have heartaches, concerns, challenges, and sickness very close to me but life is meant to be lived by crying, rejoicing, praying and caring together. It seems the last three years has lead me to a place where not having all the answers is okay, having friendships with people who may be different in beliefs and attitudes is the way that Christ has called me and getting involved in people’s lives doesn’t always end with a pretty bow on top. If you’re living life, then stress levels are high, not removed. The greatest gift at Christmas is the gift of life itself and living life in relationships with each other and with God because of Jesus Christ. And, for as long as I am treading around upon this blessed Earth; I plan to live it to the fullest. Have I mentioned that I love my life?
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