I completely fell apart on Monday. It was a pretty bad scene. Poor Troy and Steven. I get so tired of having to say, "I'm sorry" for the horrible things I say and do when I'm full-blown manic.
I began to feel better on Tuesday. Especially after receiving a very, very simple, three-word comment from a dear friend of mine. "I love you."
That was like a ray of sunshine breaking through a cloud. Warmth on an icy patch of my soul. Water for my withering heart.
Those three simple words - and saying absolutely nothing else like the cliche, "Hang in there", "You'll be okay" or one of my personal favorites... "You just have to remember that things will get better" or "You just have to remember there are people living in far worse conditions than you."
I'd like to share a short story with you that kind of fits in here:
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.
The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.
The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.
Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?
"He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother couldrespond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!
~author unknown~
Thank you, Lorena. You are the ray of sunshine who warmed my soul when I needed it most. I guess you were God for me that day. :)
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