Last night we went to Chase’s football banquet to see him receive his first high school varsity letter for football. The banquet was really well done and we enjoyed sitting with Pauli, whom we consider Chase’s 2nd mom here locally…..for she has him at her home with her Josh very often!
This morning I thoroughly enjoyed my friend’s “aha” moment of recognition of personal growth in her ownership of a business. She is setting goals and achieving them, even when the grow is painful she continues through and its making a brilliantly “whole” person of her…..someone I have admired for a long time, now enjoying her success as she grows even further!
In a counseling moment as I was trying to define some behaviors that continue to repeat in my life as perhaps a negative thing, the person I was speaking to stopped me, someone I have had trust with for many years, and said “this thing you do with others, please do not try to reduce your helping other grow as a labeled behavior……..for its something so few people are able to do, own that you are indeed able to love them in such a way that it allows them to grow, and do it in such a way that they maintain ownership of their success….without guarantee or expectation of any return”
Food for thought….I had spent the last few months feeling as though in many ways I continue to set myself up to care for folks in a way that was not healthy for me……and had wanted affirmation or confirmation of the pieces of me that need to change….but the more I have thought on it, what he said was truly a kind compliment….and one I will allow to affirm myself that its okay to give without expectation of receiving, for I think teaching at its best success is just that…..helping the student out perform the teacher.
Growing is always about realigning our motives, comparing our behaviors to what God expects of us, and letting go of behavior that is not based in loved for others and for self. Big responsibilities we have to live our best life.
The Paper white flowers that Madison forced are blooming and the house smells of Christmas and sweetness…..today I will find some Christmas music and enjoy the moments as we work on school work then a few ornaments for our tree and for others.
God is good!
