I have found going through the last few years of a difficult season and now working through grief, that highlights are very important. In fact, if I don't have 'highlights' life can sometimes seem to stretch out in an endless sameness that can drain my energy and leave me feeling blah!!
Highlights come in all shapes and sizes, some are anticipated, some are unexpected, some leave you speechless, some are big, some are little things.....but the main thing is - they are all good!! As I sat in my special spot this morning gazing out to sea I thought back over this week and realized there had been some lovely highlights.............
Firstly, I got to spend more time than usual with my grandson Owen. He is 16 months old - a little bit angel and a little bit rascal - as most kids are at that age - and oh so cute! I love him to bits. We have lots of fun together and there's just nothing like hearing him giggle and laugh:)
We spent some time at a park in the sun running around and generally being goofy before he decided he needed to pick daisies for me......talk about melt my heart!
The third highlight this week was bumping into an old girl friend who I have only seen on rare occasions over the last few years. We literally bumped into each other in the doorway of a clothing shop and did the usual "oh my goodness, fancy seeing you here etc etc....." She was just on her way to try some things on in the fitting room, so the saleswoman kindly put the pieces in the fitting room for her. We stood in the doorway (more or less) and chatted for quite awhile when she had the bright idea to go for coffee! Perfect......we both had the time. She spoke to the saleswoman and said "we're just going for coffee, I'll come back later". I did a little grin as I think the poor lady was looking forward to a good sale and maybe now she had missed out....haha!
This friend was a girl I had grown up with in my home town of Te Puke - she along with her sisters. In fact, her parents and my parents were great mates so we knew each other pretty well back then. We had attended the same church, Sunday school, youth group - done crazy things together there, had even sung together.......so you get the idea.....there's quite a bit of history. I had spoken to her at Tony's funeral but of course that was pretty brief.
There was so much catching up that needed to be done. She is the mother of six and grandmother to one. So when we got through all of that, it was great to hear about her siblings and nieces and nephews too.
I was able to share a little about my journey of late and of course update her on my family and my precious grandson!
As we sat in the beautiful spring sun and sipped our coffee and nibbled on a date and orange scone, I realized how relaxed I felt. By the way......when you go into a cafe and SHARE something with someone because you don't feel like eating the whole thing yourself.....you know you're with a friend!! (hmmm... that might be a girl thing....haha!)
As I was saying, I felt relaxed. There was no pretense.....just honest sharing. As I've thought about that since I realize it's because she KNOWS WHO I AM. She knows my background, my heritage, my journey, she shares my faith......there's something so very comfortable in all of that.
Maybe this third highlight could also be described as a 'God moment'. The 'chance' of us bumping into each other in the door way of a shop in a town where neither of us live.....yeah I think so. God so knows our needs and for me that day, the need to connect with someone who knew me and was interested in how I was doing, was the tonic I needed........and I am grateful!
So we parted.......I think she did go and try on those clothes.......and I continued on my drive home, smiling and thinking.....'well that was the highlight of my day'!!
Till next time..............
