A little Christmas Faith

I spent some time with my 84 year old grandma this Thanksgiving Holiday. My plan was to get there a day in advance to assist her with any preparations for the big day. Trust me when I confide in you that my intentions were pure. However, after working all day Wednesday, making the 2 hour drive in pockets of rush hour/oops I forgot cranberry sauce traffic, I felt simply exhausted.

I wake up early everyday. I am out of the house by 6:15 in the morning. So you can imagine my surprise when I looked at the night stand alarm clock. 8:45 am, what the what? I forgot about the healing powers of this house, the fresh linens, home made food and a stress free atmosphere lull you into a state of uninterrupted bliss. I jumped out of bed, ran into the kitchen sure to find my early rising Nana. There she was in her robe and slippers, drying dishes. She smiles "good morning, Jodi"! I allow my words to tumble swiftly off my lips. "Oh Nana, sorry I overslept. I came here to help you. What do you need me to do"? She said "sweet potatoes and the dressing are already in the oven". True to form, she gets it done. Her body is slowing down a bit but, day after day, she rises with purpose and strength. She comforted me with words of wisdom reminding me that my body must have needed the rest. I agreed.

Faith Mckenzie

A few hours later, the family arrives to consume a delicious dinner. As we gathered around the television to watch football games, my 1 1/2 year old niece Faith, decided to exercise her legs. Relatively new to walking, she took great pride in circling the loop through the kitchen, into the living room, right past the television and back again. Obviously proud of herself and her talent, she just moved seeming aimless at times but on purpose nonetheless. We watched her fall and then instantly get back up. I absolutely could not count the number of times she fell. We dared not intervene as we all understood that she must develop these muscles on her own.
"Babies are amazing. We could all learn something from them. Look at how determined Faith is. It doesn't matter how many times she falls, she gets up and tries it again", my Nana shared.

Life can get weary, troublesome and overwhelming at times. It may even seem like God is far away and doesn't care. Know in those moments, that you are made for resilience, destined for victory and designed to withstand. I think God sometimes takes the position of doting grandmothers, aunts, parents, He doesn't always immediately intervene because He is allowing us to develop our Faith muscle. Think back to how you overcame insurmountable odds in the past. And then remember the times when you took advantage of a much needed rest in the midst of tribulation in order to rejuvenate. Be encouraged. Christmas is a time of hope. Wishing you peace and joy in all seasons.

"...knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing". 
~James 1:3-4

I leave you with this speech entitled Man in the Arena by Theodore Roosevelt

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Merry Christmas,
J~

Unleashing the greatness within

I'm in a transitional time in my life. I am the parent of a high school Senior. I have no other children. Soon I will no longer be tied to a school district or someone else's schedule. Gently yet swiftly, my life is unfolding right before my eyes. During this season, he and I both have the opportunity to spread our wings a bit further. When the Mama Eagle nudges her baby out of the nest, not only is she encouraging her offspring to fly, she has now liberated herself to take flight. She is free from carrying anyone else.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit it is a bit frightening. But, I do believe that it is the type of scary that naturally accompanies the most wonderful opportunities. I'm glad I'm learning that courage is not the absence of fear but rather, the moving in spite of. So, here I am walking towards an open door wondering where this part of my journey will take me yet, fully confident that life is about to get really good. What are my next steps? What is my plan? 

I woke up this morning from a very interesting dream. I was attending a conference, a sort of book club to discuss Daring Greatly with the author Brene Brown. All manner of craziness also took part in said dream like a child's broom, a reference to a garage door and a rather lively parade in New Orleans. I need more time to make sense of those things. Daring greatly however, speaks to me. I own the book and am currently about half way through. Busyness has caused me to put it down. Guess it's time to pick it back up.

I recently read that sometimes it's not so much what happens in a dream but the feelings we carry during its scenes. I felt hopeful, inspired, creative and on the brink of something really great. Aha, I felt like I was in the throws of Daring Greatly. I am in the arena of my life unsure of what success will come my way yet, inspired by the fact that I am relentlessly participating in the manifestation of my own joy as spoken of in Eat, Pray, Love. I am the Master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul as Hensley so eloquently states in Invictus. And thus I have no choice but to ponder Mary Oliver's poetic question "Tell me (Jodi, feel free to insert your name), what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”.

For today, only today, in this present moment, my answer is that I will dare to create my bliss, my joy, the life of my dreams. I will show up as my whole self even when my self feels broken and shattered. I will answer life's call with "here I am, choose me. I am willing to dare greatly". Sometimes daring greatly looks like taking my nieces to a tea party, reaching out to a hurting friend, showing up to that art class or dancing with total abandon. Daring greatly is a way to Thanks-live rather than just Thanks-give. Daring Greatly is simply being all of myself.

It means that I show up ready to do the work. Ready to love. Ready to spread joy. Ready to create peace. Daring greatly always begins within.

How will you dare greatly during this Holiday Season? How will you show up in your own life?

Peace and blessings,
J~