I am up at 6:30 this morning, which is unusual for me, but I have to take some prednisone to maintain my sanity. I have been attacked by an allergy to moxicillin this week and believe me, it is very time consuming.
Anyway, I believe I am as lucid as ever at this time of day so I will create this post and hope it isn't just a lot of useless jabbering.
There seems to be a great deal of discontent lately, in my family, and with other loved ones as well. I think it is really due to the weather. This winter is more than making up for the past mild ones. We got spoiled by dealing with very little snow and rather moderate temperatures before and now it is frightfully cold and we are getting snow every few days. I am so greatful to whoever is keeping my walks cleared. But it is a very bad year for papabear to have moved home from Arkansas where the temperature the other day was hovering around 70.
It is very difficult for papabear to have to drive to work each day, down around the 'point of the mountain' where the traffic is so dangerous and people are so pushy and self-absorbed when they drive.But it is worse for Stevebear to have to BE at work by 4:00 AM! and then try to navigate all day in the slippery stuff. The other bears are up and out fighting the cold and traffic for jobs that are unsatisfying to say the least, before the crack of dawn. Do you remember that bears should be hibernating in the winter? It's nature gone wrong. Everyone is unhappy. What a joy Spring will be this year.....if we can hold on that long.
So what keeps us going? What or who are we doing this for? It's such a fight, such a battle. Everyone needs comfort and some peace of mind that just can't be found right now. Ideally, if each of us would do a part to support the other, things could at least be easier. Remember that life was never meant to be easy. "By the sweat of your brow" was there from the beginning. And I guess that included by the frost of your breath. As the Bible tells us, woman was created to be a helpmeet for man. I've always wondered why that was spelled helpmeet and not helpmate, but perhaps that's a point to ponder another time.
I have Yanni playing In My Time as I type, so you might imagine that I am about to become rather maudlin. It's just that everybody seems unhappy nowdays and frustrated and unfulfilled. That affects me. You see, I love you all and want to change that. So I am pondering now-what makes life worthwhile.
In your own mind you have probably answered that immediately. I believe it is love. When Daddy died, so many people were at his funeral that I hadn't seen for years, offering their sympathies and expressing their love to me as well as for him. I thought to myself, it's love that remains eternal. Love goes on and on. I will always love Daddy and, in fact, I have come to love him even more than I did at the time. It is the same for Mama and my sister, who died so close to the same time. As I think of them, remembering what they've done for me, or as I've come to know a bit more of who they were, as some would say, they live on in my heart, and they are always with me, becoming more beloved and alive as time goes by.
So what does this have to do with snowy, cold weather and winter blahs and frustrations? It's that we need each other,because it's Love that endures. Hardships come and go, but if you remember those times, you will likely remember who was there to help you get through it. And everyone needs someone to help them meet the challenges. A warm hug on a cold night is priceless. To see your littlebears, even when they've grown up, laughing and happy is eternal bliss. To know that someone loves you, no matter what, is what we are all looking for. Maybe that's all we have to hold onto when the weather is freezing and the snow is 8 inches deep. You realize that while you are sweeping the frost off your car so you can go get groceries, somebody else is battling the traffic so he/she can get to work or pick up the kids. If there is a warm smile and a hot chocolate when you get home and the kids have funny stories to tell, then it's worth it. After all, you are all home and warm and accounted for. That is a blessing you may come to appreciate more and more as all these times go by.
5 years ago
2 comments:
Mumsy, this is a lovely post. very encouraging and empathetic at the same time. Thank you for your words. I have really had a good attitude about winter and snow this year. Mine and Jeff's fantasy is to move to Alaska and be hermits so I just pretend we are already there. It helps that my job is pretty lenient about being late etc. Nonetheless, I am getting quite ready for spring. Just think what spring will bring for this family this year! It's a lot to look forward to. Thanks for the reminder! I love you! (P.S. I'm impressed with you writing at 6 a.m. on drugs! haha!)
I wish Steve would read this.... all of the chaos and the cold and snow and misery just boil down to one thing, when it's all said and done or said and gone, all you have left are those who love you, whole heartedly... with no reservations. I'm hoping against hope that we survive this winter. I would hate to lose my new family. I love you all very much even those I'm still getting to know. You've all been so warm and accepting and loving. Thank you all for that. And I suppose whatever will be will be.... I just pray it's the right thing for all of us and not a hasty decision made in the midst of all this frigid gloom....
Post a Comment