If you'd asked me five years ago if this is the path I imagined, I'd have told you "no." If you had asked me to take this path, I would have declined. Because we've been prepared and seeds have been planted, we are here now. Sometimes life doesn't take you where you expect, but it's where you need to be.
Today I'm grateful for how the Lord has guided my family's path.
Today we feel like we are exactly where we need to be.
Showing posts with label The Path. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Path. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Path: What You Must Carry
After I wrote the first post, I've been thinking more and more about The Path. So, you'll be getting a series of posts, I'm afraid.
I believe we start on our paths when we are born. The ideal is that we are born with just our bodies to burden us for a while on the path. After all, we started in the pre-mortal life as spirits who were not used to bodies. The Lord knew we'd have enough on our plates learning to feel hunger, cold, pain, touch, etc. He gave us little bodies so we could grow into them, adjust to them. We'd be "adjusting" to them our entire lives, but it would be better to start small with the basic things before we had more burdens to carry.
That situation is the ideal. Most babies born only really have that to worry about because that's all they process. However, some babies are born with burdens already placed on their backs either because of another person's choices or because nature intervenes (of course, I really believe that it's not nature, but God who gives us some of these challenges). For example, some babies are born prematurely either by the choices the mother made while the baby was in utero, or because they just came (like Jackson -- there is no explanation for his early arrival). Other burdens that babies shouldn't have to bear are things like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, neglect, blindness, cerebral palsy, autism, congenital heart defects, and the list goes on and on. These are burdens that don't go away, they are ones that the babies will have to carry for the duration of their journey.
After a while, some may not even consider them burdens, but blessings. They even learn how to use their "burdens" to lift others. Have you seen this guy yet? (Make sure to watch other videos of him if you haven't. I just picked a clip.)
As a child grows, more burdens may be placed and others eased while others are just named. For example, Jackson had many burdens because of his prematurity, and many of those burdens were lifted due to therapy, medication, surgeries, etc. I believe he's always carried his PDD-NOS, but it wasn't until this year that it was finally named.
Other burdens placed on a person or picked up along the way can be adoption, abuse, addiction, diabetes, cancer, death of another, grief, infertility, financial ruin, etc. Many burdens, when first placed upon our backs are very debilitating, and we can not lift them on our own. I'm sure you're thinking right now of all of the burdens you've carried at some point in your life and perhaps some of the heaviest that you are carrying now.
Yes, I'm sure you've dumped out a bunch of your burdens when you wondered why you were carrying it any longer, and I'll bet some burdens that you've dumped, you've somehow picked back up again. For instance, I constantly seem to pick up the "you are what you weigh" burden. I keep trying to dump it, I promise.
Some of these burdens are lighter than others and some seem to lighten along the way. I would venture to say that they don't lighten, but you become stronger. Do you realize how strong you are? You, my friend, are amazing. Look how far you've come with what you've had to carry in your life! Does that mean it will get easier? Heck, no! But it does mean you can keep going because you've already come so far. Give yourself some credit. The burdens and trials will keep coming, they just will, but you can make it because you are strong and because you are not alone on this path for very long at a time. (More on that in a future post.)
What burdens are you carrying now? What has helped you the most in easing your burdens?
I believe we start on our paths when we are born. The ideal is that we are born with just our bodies to burden us for a while on the path. After all, we started in the pre-mortal life as spirits who were not used to bodies. The Lord knew we'd have enough on our plates learning to feel hunger, cold, pain, touch, etc. He gave us little bodies so we could grow into them, adjust to them. We'd be "adjusting" to them our entire lives, but it would be better to start small with the basic things before we had more burdens to carry.
That situation is the ideal. Most babies born only really have that to worry about because that's all they process. However, some babies are born with burdens already placed on their backs either because of another person's choices or because nature intervenes (of course, I really believe that it's not nature, but God who gives us some of these challenges). For example, some babies are born prematurely either by the choices the mother made while the baby was in utero, or because they just came (like Jackson -- there is no explanation for his early arrival). Other burdens that babies shouldn't have to bear are things like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, neglect, blindness, cerebral palsy, autism, congenital heart defects, and the list goes on and on. These are burdens that don't go away, they are ones that the babies will have to carry for the duration of their journey.
After a while, some may not even consider them burdens, but blessings. They even learn how to use their "burdens" to lift others. Have you seen this guy yet? (Make sure to watch other videos of him if you haven't. I just picked a clip.)
As a child grows, more burdens may be placed and others eased while others are just named. For example, Jackson had many burdens because of his prematurity, and many of those burdens were lifted due to therapy, medication, surgeries, etc. I believe he's always carried his PDD-NOS, but it wasn't until this year that it was finally named.
Other burdens placed on a person or picked up along the way can be adoption, abuse, addiction, diabetes, cancer, death of another, grief, infertility, financial ruin, etc. Many burdens, when first placed upon our backs are very debilitating, and we can not lift them on our own. I'm sure you're thinking right now of all of the burdens you've carried at some point in your life and perhaps some of the heaviest that you are carrying now.
Yes, I'm sure you've dumped out a bunch of your burdens when you wondered why you were carrying it any longer, and I'll bet some burdens that you've dumped, you've somehow picked back up again. For instance, I constantly seem to pick up the "you are what you weigh" burden. I keep trying to dump it, I promise.
Some of these burdens are lighter than others and some seem to lighten along the way. I would venture to say that they don't lighten, but you become stronger. Do you realize how strong you are? You, my friend, are amazing. Look how far you've come with what you've had to carry in your life! Does that mean it will get easier? Heck, no! But it does mean you can keep going because you've already come so far. Give yourself some credit. The burdens and trials will keep coming, they just will, but you can make it because you are strong and because you are not alone on this path for very long at a time. (More on that in a future post.)
What burdens are you carrying now? What has helped you the most in easing your burdens?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Paths
How did we meet? Do you remember? When did our paths first cross? Are our paths still one, or side by side or distant but within calling distance? Are we continually helping each other up along the way, or have we moved on that we don't really know what's going on with each other?
Or are you a "stalker"? Are you watching my life without being involved (aka reading my blog and I don't know it)? I know there are some people like that for me.
What do you remember about our time together on the path?
I've been doing a lot of thinking about life's journey, in particular mine and yours; well, at least how it relates to mine. I believe we each have a path with a destination, and I believe that many times our paths cross. Sometimes they cross just once, a quick intersection. Other times, our paths parallel each other for a long time. There have been times that my path has crossed another traveler's path more than once. Some of you I feel like I have made my path stick close to yours because once I found you, I refuse to lose sight of you. Many of you, if not most, I never expected to find or "run into" - you were a complete surprise, while others were just always there.
I've thought about you. Yes, you. I can bet that I can pick out where on my path that either we first met or when we last met. Each of you have helped me on my path, somehow. Perhaps you didn't think or realize you were helping, but somehow you helped me back to my destination.
So, what does my path look like? A lot like this:
Where are we going? That depends. Where do you want to go? I believe that the Lord has a specific destination in mind for us as well, but we get to choose how we get there and if we even end up there. Lately I'm finding out more and more that I always end back to where the Lord wants me to be.
Sometimes, it looks a lot like this:
A lot of forest, no path. Usually, I get to this point and realize I've made a wrong turn. Other times, I realize that the Lord is telling me that it's time for me to blaze my own path for a while. Once in a while, there's a ginormous boulder blocking the path. Sometimes I chip away with an ice pick, other times I have an army lifting and pushing it out of the way helping me. You are that army.
I've been wondering about my path lately. Once in a while I realize that I was meant to travel a path but not to the destination that I was expecting. My end goal is still the same but the pit stops along the way change. I admit that there are pit stops and road blocks that terrify me, that weary me, that frustrate me. Some days I sit and cry. However much I loathe these, they shape me.
Right now, I'm on a path that is blinded by the trees. I'm not exactly sure where I'm supposed to go, but I keep trudging. I pray to have an answer, and I stop and listen frequently lately. I do a lot of looking, peering around corners, wishing I had binoculars. Lately, I feel like someone is throwing rocks, trying to hold me back, making me angry, and losing focus. The rocks are sometimes large enough that I have to chuck them out of the way, or ice pick them to death.
Every day, though, I'm grateful for the company on my path. When I feel alone, all I have to do is holler, and I find someone near. Someone usually answers my call. Thank you, all of you, for helping me on my path. I only hope I can help you on yours the same way you've helped me.
Or are you a "stalker"? Are you watching my life without being involved (aka reading my blog and I don't know it)? I know there are some people like that for me.
What do you remember about our time together on the path?
I've been doing a lot of thinking about life's journey, in particular mine and yours; well, at least how it relates to mine. I believe we each have a path with a destination, and I believe that many times our paths cross. Sometimes they cross just once, a quick intersection. Other times, our paths parallel each other for a long time. There have been times that my path has crossed another traveler's path more than once. Some of you I feel like I have made my path stick close to yours because once I found you, I refuse to lose sight of you. Many of you, if not most, I never expected to find or "run into" - you were a complete surprise, while others were just always there.
I've thought about you. Yes, you. I can bet that I can pick out where on my path that either we first met or when we last met. Each of you have helped me on my path, somehow. Perhaps you didn't think or realize you were helping, but somehow you helped me back to my destination.
So, what does my path look like? A lot like this:
Where are we going? That depends. Where do you want to go? I believe that the Lord has a specific destination in mind for us as well, but we get to choose how we get there and if we even end up there. Lately I'm finding out more and more that I always end back to where the Lord wants me to be.
Sometimes, it looks a lot like this:
A lot of forest, no path. Usually, I get to this point and realize I've made a wrong turn. Other times, I realize that the Lord is telling me that it's time for me to blaze my own path for a while. Once in a while, there's a ginormous boulder blocking the path. Sometimes I chip away with an ice pick, other times I have an army lifting and pushing it out of the way helping me. You are that army.
I've been wondering about my path lately. Once in a while I realize that I was meant to travel a path but not to the destination that I was expecting. My end goal is still the same but the pit stops along the way change. I admit that there are pit stops and road blocks that terrify me, that weary me, that frustrate me. Some days I sit and cry. However much I loathe these, they shape me.
Right now, I'm on a path that is blinded by the trees. I'm not exactly sure where I'm supposed to go, but I keep trudging. I pray to have an answer, and I stop and listen frequently lately. I do a lot of looking, peering around corners, wishing I had binoculars. Lately, I feel like someone is throwing rocks, trying to hold me back, making me angry, and losing focus. The rocks are sometimes large enough that I have to chuck them out of the way, or ice pick them to death.
Every day, though, I'm grateful for the company on my path. When I feel alone, all I have to do is holler, and I find someone near. Someone usually answers my call. Thank you, all of you, for helping me on my path. I only hope I can help you on yours the same way you've helped me.
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