September 2 – “Enjoyed?”

Simply stunned is much too mild a word to describe the emotion he felt.  Elation simply does not do it justice.  One does not just give away a wagon such as this.  Loan it perhaps.  But to give it as one would give a tree decoration.  Such an expression of love was more than the humbled man could bear alone.  He stumbled through words of thanksgiving, though none would ever be sufficient.  And he desperately searched the room for one pair of eyes.  One soul to share this with.  The Queen.  And as their eyes met she knew something had happened.  Gently offering thanks to those crowding near her, she made her way to her partner.  Suddenly it seemed as if they were the only two in the room.  He pulled her nearer to him, and opened the card in his trembling hands.  The Queen saw the key.  She saw the signature of the Giver and, with tears yet again brimming in her eyes, softly said only, "Yes," for she knew that family of Givers.  And loved them.   Once again I was forced to confront an emotion today.  I took some time to finish doing yard work that I never completed last time.  That meant weedeating the weeds and edging the lawn.  At least I didn't need to hop the fence and do the abandoned house yet.  When I finished Mom came in the room where I was giulping down glasses of water.  She asked, "Have you enjoyed yourself?"  I had an answer right away, "I don't think 'enjoyed' is the right word."  That satisfied her, but not me.   So what was the right word?  Why do I do something that I don't mind, but don't particularly like?  OK.  I had a quick answer for that one as well.  I do stuff like that because Chris likes it to look nice.  But wait.  Chris is not here.  She can't see any of this stuff I'm doing.    That gave me an idea.  Why not just wait to do any of the outside stuff until the day before she gets to come home.  It might get a bit unruly, but it would fit in with the forest next door and the wildflower and stickerbur haven across the street.    Then I might have some time to do some of the other stuff that I haven't even begun around the house.  Or maybe I could actually spend a decent amount of time preparing teachings.  Or not have to rush madly around to get Mom to her water therapy and pick her up.  Or even spend some time up at the school getting to know the kids.  Plenty of reasons.  So why keep doing it?   Well maybe it's not just about Chris, though she is certainly up there.  Maybe this outdoors work stuff, this mowing lawns and watering plants is starting to awaken in me a sense of appreciation that I confess I never had much before.  Appreciation for plants that I can't pronounce and grass that I can't eat, colors that I can't really see, and order that I never knew existed.  That pretty much places motivation higher even that Chris.  Now we're in the realm of admiration and thanks for God, Himself.  That's it.   Psalms 21:13 says, "Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might."   Father, that grass is yours.  The bushes are yours, the fact that they are alive and have color is because of you.  And the fact that Chris likes them makes for the icing on the cake.  Send us some rain for the plants.  Amen.