In early April, I received an e-mail from a good friend. The final line was
this simple message: "You are not alone and never will be." He had no
idea how powerful those words would be to me, but I have repeated them
as a mantra nearly every day since.
I am at a point in my life
where I feel like I don't have a lot to give; I feel like all I can do
is stretch out my arms and receive love. So I have. And it has been
incredible. I have experienced daily, living, dynamic reminders of my
friend's message: I am not alone and never will be. I have received
texts, e-mails, cards, hugs, flowers, chocolate, care packages, stuffed
animals, books, cookies, phone calls, lunches, dinners, jokes, memes, shopping trips,
prayers, visits, referrals, help with my house, encouragement, and even
rocks with (potential) metaphysical healing properties. Each of these acts
of love has touched me and has made me understand the meaning of the
phrase "my cup overflows". It is honoring, and humbling, and moving, and unbelievable.
And
I don't deserve it. I am not owed any of this. Mark did not have to
let me come over in a state of shocked panic. Alicia and Rebecca were
not obligated to send me stuffed animals in the mail. Kara, Craig, Tom,
Nick, and Erin were not required to treat me to lunches and dinners.
Anne didn't have to make homemade cookies, and hand-deliver them to my
house. Stace and Dave did not need to supply me with a gift card to
Let's Dish to make sure that I have easy, healthy food available. Seth didn't have to teach me how to moisturize and properly apply make-up so that I could feel pretty. Erin
didn't have to hand-deliver a May Day package to my office, on her OWN
birthday. And the list goes on, and on, and on. I could call out by
name several dozen people who have made my life not only bearable, but
legitimately incredible. Every person in my life has responded in unique and beautiful and personally appropriate ways.
I know a multitude of people who are going through really tough situations. Maybe there is something in the water
here; I don't know. I have a friend adjusting to life after a break-up. One dealing with financial concerns.
Another with a serious illness. Another with some legal troubles. Another with a sudden death in the family. None of them, none of us, deserve the
pain we are facing.
But none of us are alone, and we never
will be. We were not created to experience life on our own, and we
don't have to. We were created for community. The past five weeks have
been some of the hardest I have ever
experienced. They have also been some of the most beautiful, because I
have been constantly reminded of these simple truths.
I fully
intend, when I'm able, to pay back and/or forward all of the kindnesses
that I have been shown recently. Who in your life has provided you with
an act love that you didn't deserve - a reminder that you, also, are
not alone? What simple acts of love can you participate in to remind
someone in your life of the same thing?
No matter what season of life you are finding yourself in, remember: You are not alone, and never will be.
I bet that if you keep those arms outstretched long after the dust has settled, you will have given way more than you realize, just by being open, by being you :) I think for many of us, to give, at least in your case, is itself a gift.
ReplyDeleteOH that is so sweet, Seth. Thank you. For masks/moisturizing/makeup, and so, so much more. I feel like anything I could possibly be giving back pales in comparison to all of the above that I have received, but it's good to remember that we never really know when we might be impacting someone unwittingly. :) SO MUCH LOVE to you!!
DeleteThis was such a lovely read, Kate. It put a smile on my face and gave me the warm fuzzies. Thank you for sharing. I find your strength amazing and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU so much, JD. Remember also that YOU are not alone!!
DeleteThis is an amazing blog. It sounds like something a pastor could use during a sermon...because of the hope and philosophy it offers. Even more amazing is the way you have been able to see the light during the dark...something we all need to be able to do. You will be changed forever by the kindnesses people have shown and by the sheer depth of your understanding and appreciation. I truly hope you keep writing because this is a very special gift; I believe it is a very powerful gift from God and enhanced by your own skills and by the people you know and the events, good and bad, that you have experienced. You have many reasons to live a full and rich life...and this writing/philosophy ability is one of them. I am privileged to be the first person who loved you..the first of many! Always, Mom
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