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Listen:
“And he took the children in his arms, placed his
hands on them and blessed them.”
—MARK 10:16 (NIV)
Reflect:
Imagine yourself when you were 6 years old. Do you remember what you were going through when you turned 10? Remember how you felt at 16? Do you remember your dreams at 21? All those versions of who you used to be are still inside of you. Your 7-year-old self still gets excited when you remember the joy of that day. Your 35-year-old self still wants to cry when remembering the pain of that year. Your 50-year-old self wonders where the time went. Your 65-year-old self may wonder where lots of things went, like some of your memory! Like a nesting doll, every version of you has been a part of you becoming who you are today. Some versions of you went through some terrible and painful experiences and some felt great joy. But all versions of you were held by God.
Like marks on a door frame, imagine how you looked from young to old. Who have you become? Who do you carry with you?
Blessing:
Is there any way to stretch your heart?
For when life is too many things
and it seems like there’s not enough room.
It may feel awful. Lovely. Full. Shockingly incomplete.
May you live with its absurdity,
sometimes life’s working out just fine,
AND sometimes it’s gone to hell in every hand basket.
Let today be an exercise of yes…and.
Yes, you have so much to be thankful for,
and this is not what you imagined.
Yes, there are moments of joy,
and you’ve lost more than you thought possible.
Yes, you want to make the most of today, and your body keeps breaking.
Yes, you are hopeful, and this is daunting.
Yes, you are trying to be brave,
and you are also quietly terrified.
So, blessed are you, living awkwardly between yes…and.
May you see this as life’s work.
Where it takes courage to live,
where grief strips you to the studs
and love can remake you again.
Where your heart can be shattered and still beating.
Never sorry to break at all.
Yes…and.
May you be capable of absurd joy, ridiculous love,
audacious risk, and even fear, as your heart stretches
to hold this gloriously messy yes…
and today along with it.
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