Sunday, October 10, 2010

I Smell Good


We often hear “I smell good” from Sophia when something yummy smelling is in the oven or on the stove, sending flavor full odors into our home.  Basically anywhere Sophia smells yummy food she’ll declare this.  She loves her food.  She loves the smell of good food.  Don’t we all?

What I like about her phrase is we understand what she means, despite the words not in proper English form for their meaning.  BUT, we KNOW her, we KNOW what she means.  We SMILE when she says this as we think it is cute coming from our three year old.

It is also an example of pure understanding by the ones who love her and acceptance.   I am not quick to say “Sophia says ‘it smells good’.” We just smile and know.   It makes me think of friendships I have or have had.  Some have been a struggle on basic communication and I’ve felt I’ve had to defend my words on a constant basis with the understanding so often skewed in ways that I’m like “no, no, that isn’t what I meant.”  
Often those relationships wear me down and don’t  last.  There isn’t a connection and when it is that hard, there probably won’t ever be one.  My BFF’s are the ones I’m comfortable in my skin with and can “spew” my thoughts/feelings/emotions and be accepted in full with UNDERSTANDING 99% of the time. It doesn’t mean we have to AGREE.  That is another thing.  The English language is complex and how we use expressions and words, mixed with our baggage of upbringing, education, experiences and culture all play into that. 

So…to my BFF”s who “get me” – thank you.  Thank you for making me at ease enough to be who I am and love me anyways.  When life gets rough you are there for me to vent…you are there for me to lean on, you are there to understand or pretend you understand without judgment. 

“I smell good” is the core of comfort….may you “smell good too!” 
I think I’m ready for that crock pot potato soup…later.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Dead Bird on the Sidewalk of Life

What does the death of a bird represent in your life?  When you see a dead bird, does your heart go “aaahh, poor bird” as mine does?   Some believe they are omens. In our case, this dead bird came before a series of threes that ended with Steve losing his job....I’m not superstitious, but oddly coincidental?  Of course Anthony had to pose with it before cleaning it up...silly boy! 
 
Dead birds are often s a reminder to me that everything is mortal, everything dies or ends in time and it is just part of the life cycle.  These creatures that fly high in the sky yet eventually end up becoming apart of the earth again.  They are both of the sky and earth.  Interconnected.  Aren’t we all connected by the shared experience of being simply being alive, no matter what species? As Christians I’d like it if we’d remember this more often, look at the dead birds in our lives and come away with more compassion and understanding for each other.
 
We all know this old hymn (or at least the refrain) with words by Civilla D Martin:
 
1.      Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
o        Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
o         
2.      “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
3.      Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
 
Mrs. Martin must have felt the “aaahh poor bird” moments in life too and she took that and turned it into something positive.  So, go find the sparrow in your life and be free knowing He watches you!

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