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Be Glad

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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