It's been growing gradually. Taking over my heart. Moment by moment, smile by smile, incident by incident. It's only now, as I read a *blog post* that challenged my very core, that I was faced with something breathtaking. I have been given a passion.
I have always cared for others. I love to work in the background, surprising others by anticipating their needs and fulfilling them. But now a new kind of care has been placed on my heart. One that has snuck up on me, and yet is not a huge surprise.
A passion for the helpless.
They're all around.
Everywhere you look.
Helpless in different ways, but helpless none the less. I've gravitated to a certain brand, however. Those sometimes completely misunderstood because of their differences. Disabilities.
I say it again... disabilities.
I raked leaves at her house today, and it wasn't very long before she was knocking on the window, wanting to see me. She had seen my bike, it was revealed. Her arms opened wide, and she hugged. Oh, does she ever hug. She's the perfect height for it, too. She nestles right in and we just stand there, my head upon hers and my heart feeling oh, so happy.
Why? Because of a passion.
A passion to see the inside, that spark in her eyes, to dig it out and to hold it up proudly to everyone around. A passion to help others see what I see.
I read her *blog post*, having already heard it once. But this time it dug down deeper. Now having worked with someone that requires digging out and refining, I can only appreciate this program so much more. PLEASE read her post, because she puts it so much more eloquently than I could ever say. I will be contributing, if that's the least that I can do.
I logged onto FB, and the very first thing that met my eyes was the encouraging news that one of my classmate's younger sibling's adoption was coming along swiftly. I smiled and replied enthusiastically. But it wasn't just because one more kid was to be given a home to grow up and feel safe in.
It was because he has Down Syndrome. I can just imagine the love and safety that that family holds for one such as him, and I just want to wrap my arms around him, to watch him grow, to see him triumph, to see him LIVE.
A passion.
It scares me. To the VERY CORE. What might a passion do to me? I had it all planned out, little as the planning was. I was going to be normal, follow safe routines, not drop any surprises.
But this? This opens up a door to so much more. Where might this lead me?
I'm almost scared that He's answering my question of "What do you want me to do?" Scared and yet terrifically excited.
Showing posts with label fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fun. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 1
Thursday, October 27
Cheerio!
Top o' the morning/afternoon/evening to you, Mr. R.! Glad to see that you've made it this far... (ooo... that rhymed).
To get to my portfolio, please click on the "Literacy Portfolio" page link up above, but before you go, there are some things that you should know (the rhyming is an epidemic!). Except for the items that are included, the rest of the items are through links on the web. Whenever a title is in a slightly different color, you can click on it to get to the link.
To make sure that this is apparent, I will also write the word "link" in the explanation of what you will find. Although I will mention what my item is inside of my rationale, I will also put a small parentheses statement before the rationale to let you know what the item is and how it is represented.
I think that's all... Enjoy some chocolate-chip brownies as you peruse!
~Christy
To get to my portfolio, please click on the "Literacy Portfolio" page link up above, but before you go, there are some things that you should know (the rhyming is an epidemic!). Except for the items that are included, the rest of the items are through links on the web. Whenever a title is in a slightly different color, you can click on it to get to the link.
To make sure that this is apparent, I will also write the word "link" in the explanation of what you will find. Although I will mention what my item is inside of my rationale, I will also put a small parentheses statement before the rationale to let you know what the item is and how it is represented.
I think that's all... Enjoy some chocolate-chip brownies as you peruse!
~Christy
Monday, October 10
One Month
It's month since I've met you, beautiful girl. You have a smile that could light up a ballroom and eyes that twinkle with mischief. You have an unbreakable spirit, but you get easily down. You love to have fun and joke around.
I'm so glad that I took that *leap* not so long ago. It's been a wonderful adventure and as the leaves turn crisp and shrivel up, I look forward to it continuing. You're not always easy to be around, you must realize. You throw fits, mess up my schedule and don't always make the best first impression. But I'm on your side.
Sometimes, when you have a one-track mind, I catch myself looking around and wondering Who's watching? Then I look back at you as you dip your head forward and look at the floor. I respond by turning my head upside down to meet your eyes, and you smile. And that smile is what it's all for.
Some may not understand you, but that's alright. I've been so privileged to know you beyond your actions. I'm so glad that I look forward to being with you, that it doesn't seem like a job at all.
I love that you love my family. From the very first, you hugged my mother and that meant a lot to me. It also means a lot, Mom, that you let her in that very first day with no if, ands or buts.
You are capable of so much more and I want to see you grow. I want to push you to where you feel uncomfortable. Never hide behind the title "disabilities," because it's not who you are. You're smile is not disabled and your laughter is most definitely not.
Some may see you as you walk down the street, thinking Wow, what's wrong with her? She's drooling and doesn't walk straight. She'll never be worth anything. Nothing could be less true.
When I see you walking down the street, do you know what I see? I see a heart that is so full of life and laughter. You give so much to your mother and father, I know that you are the apple of their eyes. You give so much to me in allowing me to find my gifts and work along with you to bring you to fuller independence.
You know what? I think God's using you in a mighty and powerful way in my life. Yup! You teach me about patience, *promises* and unconditional love. He is using you mightily as a "grace grower" in my life.
Who am I that I should be ashamed of God's creation? Sure, you don't always act the way I want you to, and I find myself explaining you and your actions more than I want to, but you are so worth it!
I would cover you in stamps and "kisses" if I could!
Your Rose
I'm so glad that I took that *leap* not so long ago. It's been a wonderful adventure and as the leaves turn crisp and shrivel up, I look forward to it continuing. You're not always easy to be around, you must realize. You throw fits, mess up my schedule and don't always make the best first impression. But I'm on your side.
Sometimes, when you have a one-track mind, I catch myself looking around and wondering Who's watching? Then I look back at you as you dip your head forward and look at the floor. I respond by turning my head upside down to meet your eyes, and you smile. And that smile is what it's all for.
Some may not understand you, but that's alright. I've been so privileged to know you beyond your actions. I'm so glad that I look forward to being with you, that it doesn't seem like a job at all.
I love that you love my family. From the very first, you hugged my mother and that meant a lot to me. It also means a lot, Mom, that you let her in that very first day with no if, ands or buts.
You are capable of so much more and I want to see you grow. I want to push you to where you feel uncomfortable. Never hide behind the title "disabilities," because it's not who you are. You're smile is not disabled and your laughter is most definitely not.
Some may see you as you walk down the street, thinking Wow, what's wrong with her? She's drooling and doesn't walk straight. She'll never be worth anything. Nothing could be less true.
When I see you walking down the street, do you know what I see? I see a heart that is so full of life and laughter. You give so much to your mother and father, I know that you are the apple of their eyes. You give so much to me in allowing me to find my gifts and work along with you to bring you to fuller independence.
You know what? I think God's using you in a mighty and powerful way in my life. Yup! You teach me about patience, *promises* and unconditional love. He is using you mightily as a "grace grower" in my life.
Who am I that I should be ashamed of God's creation? Sure, you don't always act the way I want you to, and I find myself explaining you and your actions more than I want to, but you are so worth it!
I would cover you in stamps and "kisses" if I could!
Your Rose
Monday, September 5
Race
I can't believe that it's done. All my training for the team triathlon was put to use in one day, and not necessarily along with the satisfactory results I had hoped for. For those of you who know me, I tend to beat myself up a lot. For failing to meet the expectations that I set up for myself... even if they are unattainable.
There were a lot more hills than I had anticipated, and halfway seemed to take its own sweet time getting there. I almost took a detour to Jasper during part of it. But because the biking course was so far removed from the general gym where the triathlon was taking place, it was easy for me to zone out and to think that this was just another training bike ride. Which it wasn't... by any stretch of the imagination. As biker by biker announced their passing and then did so, it was easy to become discouraged. This wasn't the glorious thing that I had imagined it to be... my team mates were far away and I felt like I was doing this without any preparation before hand. It didn't help that I had never set eyes on the course before.
As I turned around and headed back, it was easier to coast, to let my muscles rest. Even though I knew that the Velcro band around my ankle was timing me, it was easy to be disillusioned by what seemed to be, instead of what really was. I was jealous... envious of those whose calves where easily twice the size of mine... and yet, I couldn't (or wouldn't) push myself harder. It's hard to know what could've been because it's in the past, but I feel as if I could've done so much better. Yet, we ended happily. We smiled and laughed and took many pictures in order to get the "right" ones. We had fun... that's what it was all about... right?
I have to remind myself to take things lightly. Especially things like this. New things that I didn't know what to expect of myself. So I lowered my expectations... as well as raising them. Lowering them for others... raising them for myself. Why? Because I'm still learning... learning that it's not all about me at all.
All this training up to the race taught me some valuable lessons. I learned some things about *hills*, most of all. But as the race got nearer and nearer, my training began to lag. I just didn't feel like going out and biking 20 km just because the day was steadily drawing nearer. I was tired, I was fatigued, and school had started. But as I was biking the real race that day, I sure wished that I had practiced a little more. That I had smoothed out my mount and dismount. That I had been eager and excited to be the best that I could be.
Does this sound familiar? Sometimes I can't help wondering how near a different, more real race day is. That day when all will end, and the final "race" will have, in a way, begun. When all my actions will have to accounted for, all my words, all my time, everything that He ever gave me. Am I training for that race even as hard as I trained for this past one?
"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)
I tried to incorporate the two. For example, Psalm 1 and 1 Corinthians 13 may sound like chapters to you, but to me, they are hills. Rather, they are the things that I could concentrate on reciting to get me over the hills... even if I absorbed nothing from them at times. But in my everyday life, am I practicing, am I realizing how real that day really is?
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT)
I am sad that this race is over... however I am not going to miss sore muscles, cramped time schedules, and wind that changes directions exactly as I reach half way and turn around.
But in no way am I done training.
There were a lot more hills than I had anticipated, and halfway seemed to take its own sweet time getting there. I almost took a detour to Jasper during part of it. But because the biking course was so far removed from the general gym where the triathlon was taking place, it was easy for me to zone out and to think that this was just another training bike ride. Which it wasn't... by any stretch of the imagination. As biker by biker announced their passing and then did so, it was easy to become discouraged. This wasn't the glorious thing that I had imagined it to be... my team mates were far away and I felt like I was doing this without any preparation before hand. It didn't help that I had never set eyes on the course before.
As I turned around and headed back, it was easier to coast, to let my muscles rest. Even though I knew that the Velcro band around my ankle was timing me, it was easy to be disillusioned by what seemed to be, instead of what really was. I was jealous... envious of those whose calves where easily twice the size of mine... and yet, I couldn't (or wouldn't) push myself harder. It's hard to know what could've been because it's in the past, but I feel as if I could've done so much better. Yet, we ended happily. We smiled and laughed and took many pictures in order to get the "right" ones. We had fun... that's what it was all about... right?
I have to remind myself to take things lightly. Especially things like this. New things that I didn't know what to expect of myself. So I lowered my expectations... as well as raising them. Lowering them for others... raising them for myself. Why? Because I'm still learning... learning that it's not all about me at all.
All this training up to the race taught me some valuable lessons. I learned some things about *hills*, most of all. But as the race got nearer and nearer, my training began to lag. I just didn't feel like going out and biking 20 km just because the day was steadily drawing nearer. I was tired, I was fatigued, and school had started. But as I was biking the real race that day, I sure wished that I had practiced a little more. That I had smoothed out my mount and dismount. That I had been eager and excited to be the best that I could be.
Does this sound familiar? Sometimes I can't help wondering how near a different, more real race day is. That day when all will end, and the final "race" will have, in a way, begun. When all my actions will have to accounted for, all my words, all my time, everything that He ever gave me. Am I training for that race even as hard as I trained for this past one?
"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)
I tried to incorporate the two. For example, Psalm 1 and 1 Corinthians 13 may sound like chapters to you, but to me, they are hills. Rather, they are the things that I could concentrate on reciting to get me over the hills... even if I absorbed nothing from them at times. But in my everyday life, am I practicing, am I realizing how real that day really is?
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT)
I am sad that this race is over... however I am not going to miss sore muscles, cramped time schedules, and wind that changes directions exactly as I reach half way and turn around.
But in no way am I done training.
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