Today I don’t have a voice.
At least I don’t feel like I have one.
I’m not talking about a lack of vocal cords; my children can assure you
that my vocal cords are working…just fine.
But as I sit here in front of a blank screen trying to come up with
words that make sense and will be impactful to a reader out there, I have told
myself at least thirteen times,” You have nothing to say today.”
I know the reason: I’m
over my head in graduation preparation and I don’t want to take the time to
think about anything else. I don’t want
to slow my roll. I’m headed into the downhill slide and the progress that I’m
making is accelerating this journey and I can see the finish line. I don’t want to check Facebook, I don’t want
to cook dinner, I don’t want to contemplate one more thought about why I should
take a stand about the obvious value of a human life over that of a zoo animal.
My laundry room is waiting to be painted and there is a
sapling growing in the middle of a bush that is waiting to be yanked out. There
is mulch to put down, food to purchase, coolers to borrow and photos to print
off.
Yesterday I got rid of two full bags of old shoes and worn
out cleats, enough Walmart bags to put me in recycling jail, four pairs of show
whites that were now yellow with holes and several scraps of fabric from
various 4-H projects from 13 years ago that I was saving for I don’t know what.
The big question today is: Yellow or white for the laundry
room?
The bigger question I’ve been asked is this: Why are you so
worried about your laundry room when the open house is going to be held outside
in a tent? The answer: Because. (Can I
get a witness?)
I know I’m not the only one in these shoes today. I’m sure there are women all over the country getting ready for events in their
lives and so today my voice will tell you this: Be glad.
Last week I made a sign and posted it front and center in my
dining room where everyone could see it. It was a necessary revelation that has
helped me keep a healthy perspective about this last graduation open
house. It has served as a reminder to me
every time the stress tries to choke me and make me tap out.
It reads: “We thank God for Jake’s Open House because that
means we have a successful graduate!”
As you roll through your day today and look around to see
nothing but trouble or difficulty, take a moment and think about your
circumstances. If you need a perspective
change, re-evaluate and look at things through a different lens.
You see, seventeen years ago, on April 13th, this
graduate should have been dead, but in a few short days we will celebrate a
milestone in his life. And nothing can separate us from that joy.
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