I worked in a nursing home amongst aged population sometime ago. I was struck by their solitude and the lack of visitors they had. They were moved by the simple kindnesses shown to them by the staff. They lit up at just the hint of company for whatever the reason. I was saddened for them as I engaged with them because they were very vital people. Within these walls were human libraries. One was a former horticulturalist who just happened to be blind now. Another was a widow who had cared for her family who was rich with recipes in her head. Another a former seamstress and on goes the list. All set on the shelf. Cast off as memories caught in the middle of here and gone. I understand there are situations where it is difficult for individuals to be cared for by their families but the longer we keep our aged ageless and less a memory and more in the present, the more vital our lives and our community will be. All our lives will be healthier and richer and the knowledge won't be lost. All the knowledge in the library in that nursing home sitting on the shelf was collecting dust. It was craving to be read. I know.... I go through those times due to my own lack of autonomy. God means for us to be vital and rich in our souls... He means for us to care for one another...it's really the only way our lives become truly rich.
TRUTH: we can blame others for our choices and keep those as our reasons and hold tight to our anger and call our anger our principles and allow those choices and "principles" to rob ourselves of growth, forgiveness and relationships we will wish we could have back some day. Each and every day we have a CHOICE to let go of those reasons and let them not matter anymore and have a fresh start. We have this choice every day. This is called GRACE. WE make it so much harder than it is. We don't even have to grasp grace. Grace is right there waiting to wash over us...all we have to do is empty our hands of our grudges.
Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
so it's 7:15am... it's NOT my time to get up. I have gotten up at this time before and if I weren't tired I would get up this time but I listen to my body and get up when it wakes me up but this morning, that was not to be the case. First let me tell you I was already nudged at 12:30am by Chase (big dog) to go out to to potty EVEN THOUGH she had gone out at 9:30p before we went up to bed. This was unusual for her. Nutty dog. Must be too much water drinking from her McDonald's french fry treat (she had 3). Anyway... it's 7:15am and I'm being nudged because she is big enough to put both her paws on the side of the bed and reach over and put her nose on whatever part of my body she can reach. This time it was my arm. Other times it has been my face. Mind you she is polite....she is just politely and persistently annoying. "Go lay down Chasie" I say.... she stays. I repeat. She stays. I repeat and point to her bed. She walks to the door through to the landing and back, stops at my bedside where she sits down and just stares at me. I close my eyes. She nudges me. "Go lay down", I whisper. She just sits and stares at me. She is not having it. I just lay there looking at her. She begins to wag her tail.... she know she has me awake....I start to giggle "Ok Chase, give me a sec to get what I need". Now her tail is in a full wag and she is in a jack in the box waiting position. But she has accomplished her task....I am up and she is getting her breakfast.