Me with the kids at the hippo pond - Masai Mara August 2013
It has been a while since I have sat down to write anything on this blog. This past fall was horrifying and I couldn’t muster the mind space to write down my thoughts. I took two classes towards my master’s degree instead of the one I had the previous semester. This not only doubled the number of papers I needed to write, it also doubled the amount of time I had to observe in the classroom. I am very glad I took the classes since I am now just two classes away from my degree. I will be able to finish up this coming summer.
It was also a challenging fall because of the aftermath of
the Westgate attack. One thing that is
interesting about something like this is that the hurt lingers long after the TV
cameras are gone. It took months to feel
like things were back to normal and even then there are still things that will
never be the same. Tragedy of this sort
is hard to get over and changes those involved in it.
We also experience a family health emergency that added to
the stress this past fall. Things are OK
now on that front. However, during the
beginning, we felt powerless and weren’t sure what was going to happen. We wanted to help but were not in a place
that we could. I have never felt the
distance between us and our families more acutely than I did this past fall.
So here we are at the beginning of a new year. I hope that we have left behind some of the
heartbreak from the last year but I know that heartbreak is a part of
life. It never really leaves us. It is more acerbic at certain times but it is
always there in some form. That is one
of the most compelling reasons for gratitude.
If it weren’t for taking a moment to consciously think about what I am
grateful for, I think I would drown in a black pit of despair. This month I am grateful for:
1. Incredible
children. I can’t imagine not having
them as part of my life. When we were
first married, I didn’t want to have children.
I could think of scores of people that would be better mothers than me
and I thought that it would be better for everyone if I didn’t have any
children. I can’t explain in words how
wrong I was. I am not convinced that I
am a good mother but I know that having children has made me a better
person. I am more courageous, more
patient, and more loving because of them.
2. Blue skies, green plants, and
bright sunshine. One of the great
benefits of living in Nairobi is the weather.
The skies are often blue with the sun shining brightly over beautiful
green land. When I think about the
Garden of Eden, those things always play important parts.
3. The Gospel of Jesus
Christ. This is a troubled world where, “hate
is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.”* The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a guide during
these times. It helps ensure that I can
focus on the good in life and keeps my heart full of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment