LOTS OF PEOPLE MOAN about the rat-race, complain about their busy lives, and feel deep regret over time they DON’T spend with their kids.
Very few, sadly, have the courage to do something about it. But I heard of one executive who quit his corporate job to become an at-home dad.
“I notice,” he says, “that when I pick Tommy up at school, or when we’re shopping on a weekday afternoon, I’m the only father there. The other dads are working and, I assume, earning much more money than I am.
“This makes me envious at times, but never for more than a few seconds. I mostly feel I’ve learned something others have missed:
“If you work hard you can usually make enough money to put bread on the table and keep a roof over your head. If you don’t get promoted this month, there’s always next month.
“But the few short years between five and 15, when your child is articulate, insightful and boundlessly affectionate, these years go by astonishingly fast.
“No billionaire can turn his surly 16-year-old into a devoted, hold-your-hand youngster. No corporate title can replace the times when your son leaned his head on your chest and fell asleep. No fancy car makes up for being there when your son is growing from a child into a young man.
“Time spent with Tommy isn’t a distraction from the main event. It IS the main event!”
Kids are a bottomless well of love and laughter and incredibly good feelings – don’t you reckon? And we boring old grown-ups need to drink from that well more often …
JOHN COONEY – FROM AN EARLY ‘GRAPEVINE’ MAGAZINE
WALK AWAY
Forgiveness means it finally becomes unimportant that you hit back. You’re done. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to have lunch with the person. But if you keep hitting back, you stay trapped in the nightmare …
ANNE LAMOTT – ‘FURTHER THOUGHTS ON FAITH’
HUG A BOD A DAY:
Hugging is an effective cure for the blues. Our skin-pores are places for messages of love.
- FOUR hugs a day are needed for survival …
- EIGHT hugs a day are needed for maintenance …
- TWELVE hugs a day are needed for growth.
So go on: hug somebody, and watch ‘em grow!
EVEN BEFORE COFFEE!
You are loved because God loves, period!
God loves you, and everyone, not because you believe in certain things, but because you’re a mess, and lonely, and His or Her child.
God loves you no matter how crazy you feel on the inside … no matter what a fake you are … always, even in your current condition … even before coffee.
God loves you crazily, like I love you … like a slightly overweight auntie, who sees only your marvelousness and need.
ANNE LAMOTT – ‘ALMOST EVERYTHING’
(NOTES ON HOPE)
JUST BE YOURSELF
You must learn that you
cannot be loved by all people.
You can be the finest apple in the world,
ripe,
juicy,
sweet,
succulent,
and offer yourself to everyone.
But you need to remember that
there’ll always be people who
don’t like apples.
You must understand that
if you’re to become the world’s
finest apple,
and someone you love
doesn’t like apples,
you can choose to become a
banana.
But be warned: if you
choose to become a banana,
you’ll be a second-rate banana.
However, you can always be
the finest apple.
You must also realise that
if you choose to be a
second-rate banana, there’ll be
people who don’t like bananas.
What it comes down to is this:
You can spend the rest of your life
trying to become the best banana –
which is impossible if you are an apple.
Or you can seek again to be the finest
apple.
(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)
DON’T WAIT – DO IT NOW!
The people you love won’t always be around. One day their laugh will only exist in a video, their favourite mug will sit untouched, and you’ll wish you had one more ordinary conversation. Don’t wait for loss to make you gentle. Tell people you love them now. Hug them longer. Be overly kind. You’ll never regret being softer with the people who made your life brighter.
SOURCE UNKNOWN
MY HEART’S GREATEST JOY
If one day I leave this world
without a chance to say goodbye,
I hope you already know this:
Thank you for letting me love
you … for the laughter, the chaos,
the late-night talks, and the
privilege of watching you grow.
You gave my life meaning in ways
I’ll never find words for … I hope
my love follows you in the choices
you make, the kindness you give,
and the courage you carry.
No matter where life takes you,
please remember – you were,
and always will be,
my heart’s greatest joy.
@QUIETMOMSEASON
MEMO TO SELF …
Life is short – live it.
Love is rare – grab it.
Anger is bad – dump it.
Fear is awful – face it.
Memories are sweet – cherish them.
LYNN R. DAVIS
HAND-OUT
Love
wasn’t
put
in
our
heart to stay.
Love
isn’t
love
until
you
give it away.
MICHAEL W SMITH
AHH, YES!
How
beautiful
it
is
to
do
nothing,
and
then
to
rest
afterwards.
SPANISH PROVERB
