This morning, after taking my son Conor to the doctor to find out he has strep throat, I went to work. I decided to take my youngest daughter, Merci, with me. I love all my children and am amazed at how different each of them is from the other. I'm having a lot of fun getting to know my newest daughters, and Merci today surprised me and made me laugh out loud all at the same time.
We were in my little Ford Ranger truck and she was enjoying the fact that she could reach the controls of my radio. This resulted in her rapidly switching from various pre-set Christian music stations to various pre-set sports talk and soft rock stations. She finally landed on 98.1, on an old rock classic, "Dancing Queen" being sung by the infamous ABBA. I thought it strange to say the least. Guess what I found stranger still: She sang along with it... and knew EVERY SINGLE WORD!!!
I knew I'd learn new things about my daughters, but my six year old knowing, singing, and loving ABBA? Really?
This has got me considering something today. I think it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us".
As our family is dealing with some of the scars from our girls past, scars that have created behavioral patterns that are not something that we're used to - and as we look forward to a future that holds unimaginable joys and perhaps some difficulties - we are working hard to enjoy each and every moment in the present.
This might not seem hard, or like that big of a deal. However, as a visionary guy who is constantly thinking about the future, and as a guy who often helps others deal with wounds from the past - It can be extremely strange for me to really focus on the present. I am learning the importance of... pausing... waiting... enjoying.
Gang, there is much to be thankful for and happy about in this life. When we get so caught up in the hurts from the past and the unsureness of the future, we can often miss the subtle joys of the present. May today be a day where wherever we are, we are fully there. May today be a day where we take the time to enjoy all that the Master has blessed us with to the fullest.
Psalm 139:23
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;"
I love that she knew "Dancing Queen"! So precious.
ReplyDeleteI spent much of 2009 missing the joy of the present and instead dwelling on our infertility and what I "don't have". 2010 is a much different year for me already and it feels good to be loving the life I have been blessed with and making the most of it right NOW! :)
Hey...I wanted to pass along a resource that I think may be helpful to you guys. There is a blogger I follow that has 5 Haitian children and blogs about her struggles (and triumphs) with them. She has one daughter with RAD (which I'm sure you know is Reactive Attachment Disorder) and she blogs a lot about that. ANYWAY -- she posted a bunch of books that she recommends and I thought you might be interested in looking to see if maybe some of them would be helpful to you guys.
Here is the link: http://watchingthewaters.wordpress.com/radical-resources/
Praying for you guys every day...Chloe loves to pray for Merci. Oh, that reminds me...we went to the American Royal building this weekend to pack meals (rice) for Haiti and Chloe went to help. We talked to her about the conditions there and how Merci used to live there and she was *so* excited to be helping people who Merci used to live with. She makes me so proud.
Sorry for the novel!
Love you guys!
Ash