#12 Hittin' Home

It is in times of tragedy that we must connect with one another and renew faith in life and its greater purpose. With loss comes a deep necessity to support each other and lift spirits beyond the earthquake that is a challenged reality. Whether in times of celebration or grief, we must give comfort as a family would. Many times we think we are the ultimate teachers of those younger than ourselves, only to realize we are also learning simultaneously from them just as much. We avoid accepting certain lessons until we are forced to under drastic circumstances, forced to realize how much we took for granted before the lesson hit us so hard we have no other choice but to be grateful with hindsight. We doubt our faith and challenge our beliefs in order to make sense of what we know to be a natural order of life, questioning God's goodness and timing of darkened heartbreak, rather than fully submerging ourselves in the restorative waters of His divine power and light when we most need hope. We have to shift our perspective from staying focused on the spiral of night and remember the joy day brings, knowing there is a natural balance that must occur, yet is never absolute in one way or the other. Too often we see opportunity as some negative burden because we have allowed our perception to skew the positive reality right before our very eyes into something it truly is not. How selfish are we to sabotage our own thoughts and happiness when things happen differently than we were expecting? How often do we end up letting our "bad day" try to consume other people's good nature only so we can feel "right"? Is it better to be right or righteous? Seize the opportunities that sit in front of you today because you may not have the chance again tomorrow. Provide the profound experiences and make a positive impact on others you come in contact with in life. Comprehend the rippling effects you have on others when you act and communicate, especially to your children. Let them be free to be little, let them play with joyous hearts, let them remain innocent without your judgmental barking. Do the adult things you want to do and do it now, without constantly involving the children in the mess that is adulthood you have created and allowed for yourself. Better yet, go tell yourself how to grow up before you force them to do so and miss out on their own time to shine as kids.