My daughter Madison is moving back home.
Soon.
We have missed her presence, her laughter and her tidiness :)
Madison is everything I prayed for in a daughter over 20 years ago...and, so much more.
But, she didn't believe me when I told her this. And, I didn't always tell her in ways she could "hear".
Frankly, at times we "missed" eachother...
She moved out to "figure out her life", to "find herself", to seek peace and I admire that in her.
She found her wings a little earlier than her Dad and I had planned, but I have learned through my daughter to claim those prayers I prayed for her in her youth...I do so now.
I think she would allow me to tell you that some paths she has chosen are the cause of some pain for her and our family. As well, I can say the same..
And, I think she would allow me to tell you that she is not fully "there" yet....nor am I.
But, what I think she would want those who love her is to see her effort, her seeking and her desire to be on the path which God set for her 20 years ago...and, I think she will.
Some of us mature early and for some, it takes a little longer.
Some skate by on life with very little pain...in fact, a minister friend of mine once said from the podium....and, I will never forget this..
"I have had a pretty easy, happy go lucky life with very little pain or challenge to hurt me. I keep things simple and seem to live without the problems life can present"....
Not me. I can remember listening to him say that and thinking, "well, that explains why I cannot relate to you"...for his words cannot be said about my life...nor my daughters.
When I think of those who I feel a kinship for, it is those who have had challenge in their life, who have struggled, who has suffered and who have persevered. Even today, my closest friends are those who have lost children, divorced, battled cancer, left home to find themselves, battled mental illness, etc. They have the ability to touch my soul.....and, I am grateful for each of them. Through their pain, I have learned compassion...
I am glad Madison is coming home. I think she has grown and matured by living on her own in ways she would not have had she not done so.
I am proud that my daughter lives in truth with herself....and with others.
I am grateful she understands that you are ultimately responsible for yourself and your actions.
She "gets it"...and, while she would be the first to admit that she still has a long journey ahead of her...
For today, we are grateful that her jouney is leading her back home....
My challenge to you: Do you walk beside those who are finding their way or do you keep your distance b/c you do not know what to say? Do you reach out to someone who is taking a path of which you do not approve or or do you hold back in judgement?
I think Madison would tell you that those who love her unconditionally, reach out to her in faith, who do not judge but who do pray for her are the ones who have helped her most in life. Unconditional love is Godly love....and, isn't that what "home" is all about?
Blessings,
Lesa
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Home is your dog refusing to die...because she knows you need her to live
Jewel is our family dog.
Her full name is "Jewel a' la Champion"...Jewel comes from Madison's middle name and the rest was based on what we envisioned her to be...she did not disappoint.
She lives today because she knows we need her to live.
She is our friend, protector and guide.
She draws our compassion, our love and our hope for tomorrow right out of our soul.
Jewel should have been dead about a year ago, but she survives against the odds. She is a living miracle.
Jewel was diagnosed last year with sarcoma....soft tissue cancer which will eventually grow into every soft tissue she has in her body.
Madison, "how old do I have to be to get a dog?
We, "old enough to take care of it by yourself"
Madison, "well.....how old is that?
We,, "how old do you think?
Madison, "ten"
We, "ten it it"
So, her Daddy began the search around nine and one half for that special "McKenzie" dog...he eventually found just the one at the Human Society...
It was love at first sight
It was mange, and illness at second sight..
Jewel was a true family labor of love...she had not been well cared for and was frightened, sick and alone.
We all took turns feeding, watching and nurturing her back to good health and she has never once forgotten that...
She is the "best dog ever".
She has been with our family through many trials...and, many successes.
She has guarded two of our homes fearlessly, as she should.
She has celebrated our joys...even kindly wearing silly birthday hats, boas, and clothes which would look silly on anyone but her.
She has been patient during our "ball" years where we were absent from home more than we were there...
Jewel can hold her "needing to go potty" for hours at a time...patiently waiting until one of us gets there to let her out.
Jewel has weathered all types of storms...weather, broken hearts, lost ball games, and family crisis.
Jewel loves to travel...her favorite thing to do is stick her nose out the window of the car to receive the cool air on her face...she loves riding down the driveway in the wagon with the kids. She enjoys a good romp in the mud and the warm bath after.
Jewel is our family's one and only truly forever after through all circumstances, "Best Friend".
As things at our home changed this year, Jewel remained impartial. She did not take sides. She did not gossip with the neighbors, she did not judge.
What she DID do was love us. She lent her back to all of us to hug, she allowed each of us to support her during her surgery bringing out family compassion in a way no one else could. She greeted each of us with a smile on her face and a quick wag of her tail. She still does.
She barked when things got tense as if to day, "stop your silliness"....and, we most often did.
She barked when we would send her to the basement to sleep (her normal sleeping place) and insisted she sleep in the foyer in front of our door...she was protecting the kids and I.
Here, of late, she has taken to sleeping at the top of the stairs...woe to anyone who might attempt a stair climb at my home. She valiantly protects us each night as if her life depended on it...and, I think it does.
Her doctors said she should already have met her maker...tumors grow daily on places of her body which make it difficult to walk...she walks.
Tumors grow so large that the average human would give up...she does not.
The kids and I were discussing her miraculous ability to live and concluded...
She cannot die because she knows, perhaps even better than we do, that we need her to live.
And, she does.
And, we are grateful.
My challenge to you....and me: Do I take for granted the unconditional love of my family, friends and faithful dog? Let's don't.
Let's take time today to reach out to those who give to us selflessly so that we may have a better life....
To our precious Jewel...we are forever grateful...and, forever changed by your example.
Blessings,
Lesa
PS. Jewels lives b/c she is not in pain and has the desire to live. When that changes, we will love her enough to let her go....on that you can depend.
Her full name is "Jewel a' la Champion"...Jewel comes from Madison's middle name and the rest was based on what we envisioned her to be...she did not disappoint.
She lives today because she knows we need her to live.
She is our friend, protector and guide.
She draws our compassion, our love and our hope for tomorrow right out of our soul.
Jewel should have been dead about a year ago, but she survives against the odds. She is a living miracle.
Jewel was diagnosed last year with sarcoma....soft tissue cancer which will eventually grow into every soft tissue she has in her body.
Madison, "how old do I have to be to get a dog?
We, "old enough to take care of it by yourself"
Madison, "well.....how old is that?
We,, "how old do you think?
Madison, "ten"
We, "ten it it"
So, her Daddy began the search around nine and one half for that special "McKenzie" dog...he eventually found just the one at the Human Society...
It was love at first sight
It was mange, and illness at second sight..
Jewel was a true family labor of love...she had not been well cared for and was frightened, sick and alone.
We all took turns feeding, watching and nurturing her back to good health and she has never once forgotten that...
She is the "best dog ever".
She has been with our family through many trials...and, many successes.
She has guarded two of our homes fearlessly, as she should.
She has celebrated our joys...even kindly wearing silly birthday hats, boas, and clothes which would look silly on anyone but her.
She has been patient during our "ball" years where we were absent from home more than we were there...
Jewel can hold her "needing to go potty" for hours at a time...patiently waiting until one of us gets there to let her out.
Jewel has weathered all types of storms...weather, broken hearts, lost ball games, and family crisis.
Jewel loves to travel...her favorite thing to do is stick her nose out the window of the car to receive the cool air on her face...she loves riding down the driveway in the wagon with the kids. She enjoys a good romp in the mud and the warm bath after.
Jewel is our family's one and only truly forever after through all circumstances, "Best Friend".
As things at our home changed this year, Jewel remained impartial. She did not take sides. She did not gossip with the neighbors, she did not judge.
What she DID do was love us. She lent her back to all of us to hug, she allowed each of us to support her during her surgery bringing out family compassion in a way no one else could. She greeted each of us with a smile on her face and a quick wag of her tail. She still does.
She barked when things got tense as if to day, "stop your silliness"....and, we most often did.
She barked when we would send her to the basement to sleep (her normal sleeping place) and insisted she sleep in the foyer in front of our door...she was protecting the kids and I.
Here, of late, she has taken to sleeping at the top of the stairs...woe to anyone who might attempt a stair climb at my home. She valiantly protects us each night as if her life depended on it...and, I think it does.
Her doctors said she should already have met her maker...tumors grow daily on places of her body which make it difficult to walk...she walks.
Tumors grow so large that the average human would give up...she does not.
The kids and I were discussing her miraculous ability to live and concluded...
She cannot die because she knows, perhaps even better than we do, that we need her to live.
And, she does.
And, we are grateful.
My challenge to you....and me: Do I take for granted the unconditional love of my family, friends and faithful dog? Let's don't.
Let's take time today to reach out to those who give to us selflessly so that we may have a better life....
To our precious Jewel...we are forever grateful...and, forever changed by your example.
Blessings,
Lesa
PS. Jewels lives b/c she is not in pain and has the desire to live. When that changes, we will love her enough to let her go....on that you can depend.
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