I propose we stop critiquing.
Correcting.
Debating.
About this journey's rightness or righteousness.
And that journey's imperfection.
About "should" or "could" or "doesn't".
What if we stop finding secret shadows of satisfaction
in our hunt for flaws and shortcomings and failures?
In ourselves –
in each other.
Life has tarnish and typos.
Mine and yours.
Dents and rips. Dirt and dust.
Let us see not flaws but beauty in the patina that each of us wears.
Forgiveness in our own reflection. Kindness around each corner.
I see you.
You have made mistakes.
You carry both regret and judgement in your arms, aching to lay them down.
You have struggled.
Stumbled.
Fallen.
Do you see me?
We're different, but not as different as you might think.
Because struggle and emotion are universal.
Everyone has moments of regret. Moments of judgement. And self-doubt.
Everyone makes mistakes.
And your God and my god need not be the same
for us to hold one another up when we stumble.
For us to see similarity in our differences.
For us to love one another completely.
And likewise our parenting need not be the same
for me to understand.
That you're doing your best with the tools that you have.
Just like me.
Just like all of us.
I don't need to change you.
I don't want to change you.
Because you're just right exactly as you are.
Different from me. And also the same.
It's an epic journey, no matter how we do it.
And I'm not keeping score of if you've taken each step on the same path as I.
Each of us trips.
Each of us falls.
No matter where our journey takes us.
And our paths are parallel in that we both struggle and seek and love.
We grieve and worry and forgive and wake the next day to do it again.
I once had a neighbor with a perfect house and a sprayed lawn.
Next door we were radical chaos,
overgrown garden exploding in dandelion fluff and two ragamuffin kids runing wild in the yard.
She had one God, we had none.
We had two kids, she had none.
Different, yes.
But not one better than another.
When she fell on the icy sidewalk we rushed to her side.
Helped her in. Brought her healing soup for days.
When Christmas came she brought us a card and a jar of local honey.
We shared our organic veggies from the garden.
She shared flowers from her beds.
She got us. She saw our hearts.
And we saw hers.
Different. Each of us.
But none better.
When we moved away we both cried.
Because there was love.
Christ's love. Buddah's love. Allah's love. Gaia's love.
Pure love. Simple love.
Just love.
Not arguing about rightness or righteousness.
Just love rising above difference and the inevitable judgement and irritation that come with it.
So today let us lead with that love.
Love for the sunrise, cloaked in mist.
Love for each other, however different we first may seem.
Love for ourselves and imperfection and the path we are on.
Love for the universal journey that we share.
The journey of this life.
Today.
Only love.
this really “spoke” to me today and I think its one of the best posts youve ever written! wishing you all the best for your easter/spring celebrations!
Thank you Tina! You as well.
You took it to another level with this one today and it is beautiful. A message that needs to be heard by everyone today and everyday.
I love the word “patina” and how you used it 🙂
Thank you Rachel! Tears in my eyes, and what a wish for everyone.
Such poetry! This is so special. Written with an injured finger to boot. Thanks for sharing your beautiful prose today!
Beautiful! Misty eyes over here!
So beautifully written, truly.
Rachel, I’ve been searching for a post I believe you wrote.. It was about how we are the mother that our children need, just as we are. I know you’ve spoken about this in various posts but it was one specifically pointing out how our kids need the version of us that we are, warts and all. Is that familiar? I can’t seem to find the post.
Thanks so much. Your words always move me.
Meg
Hi Meg. Is this what you are looking for? http://lusaorganics.typepad.com/clean/2013/06/are-you-enough.html
Thanks so much, Rachel! My memory doesn’t always serve me sometimes.. The post I thought I remembered had the phrase along the lines of ‘you are the parent that your child needs’.. But this post says it all so beautifully as well and I’m grateful you searched it for me:) Hugs.
Love this!!! 🙂
You are SUCH an amazing writer. Do
May I ask -do u have to edit or do you just write from your heart and just send it out? I’m envious of your writing style – so spot on. Love. XX ♡♡♡♡♡
Don’t know where the “Do” came from…oops! 🙂
If this is what your book will be like can I preorder now?! 🙂 Wonderful words Rachel.
Dear Rachel,
you are special…for you can speak to our hearts…I shared your post with my friends and my loved ones…thank you…from the heart…
Dhilma
Loved this. Love you!!
Beautiful
I’m shooting from the hip, Claudeen, and editing a bit as I go. (Less editing now since hurting my hand.) Thank you for your words.
So sweet.
Kindness. Thank you Dhilma.
Lovely Rachel. Misty eyes here too.
Well said and beautifully written. I find myself thinking about this topic a great deal lately, and you summed it all up and a wonderfully written post. Thank you.
Beautifully written.
This part,
“And your God and my god need not be the same for us to hold one another up when we stumble.For us to see similarity in our differences.For us to love one another completely.” I believe whole heartedly…I simply wish others did as well.
I have found it best to not mention my religious (or lack of) views as those who are Christian believers get upset. Being raised in a Christian home makes these differences challenging. It is not my business what someone believes, just like it is not their business that I connect better with nature and animals. I would like to know how others handle people talking religion to their children, when it is done so openly, and without permission and goes against your beliefs.
Yep, crying at work. Again.
I’ve got the same issues as Tamika. It seems so hard to be a “non-believer” when the Christian majority wears their beliefs so proudly on their sleeves (they seem to do it even more in today’s world of social media). But maybe I’m just reading judgement from them that isn’t really there? I can only hope that they believe in the same open Love you speak of Rachel. 🙂 I’ll do my best to do the same
Dear Rachel,
I usually read your posts soon after I receive them via email. Yesterday, I did not have time. However, after reading this just now, after a day filled with struggle almost exactly what you wrote of, these words filled my heart with the healing light I needed. I now know, it wasn’t because I didn’t have time yesterday, but because the Universe knew there would be a time I needed these words even more. So thank you, for these gentle words of love and understanding. Sending warm thoughts to you and your family, and thank you again for sharing with us.
Dear Rachel,
Perfection, thank you. What a beautiful sentiment, a work of art, a gift. I am so grateful to be lifted up, held and lovingly hugged by your words today. Love to you and yours.
Wow, just reading this for the first time, and it is so humbling. Really so much truth too. beautiful, honestly-
An example to support your message: My husband and I have some friends. We met while helping build someone a house. Then we helped each other. =) They are more “Christian” than most I’ve ever known (but do not believe in God). They claim they never met a “real” Christian until they met me. We love each other! We couldn’t be more opposite and we couldn’t be more the same. Love conquers all!
so glad to have been re-linked to this one.
Love.