Day twenty-eight,
Road trips – Day 28 of 100 Beautiful Days found me squeezed in a car like sardines, flying down the interstate with all my people minus one but plus one of someone else’s. Going on a journey is one of my favorite things and this day, this very day, we headed out on a journey.
We sang songs, played I’m Going on a Picnic, chowed down on take out Mexican food (maybe not a good idea) played Who Am I and stopped for countless bathroom breaks. There has been rain, fog and a winter storm.
This morning started out tough. The skies were gray, rain was falling and news came that another precious lady went home to be with the Lord. February has been a hard month with four funerals in just a matter of weeks. I have friends awaiting test results, other friends are walking with their parents on their final journey home and my own loved ones are fighting a few battles of their own. There has been a heaviness this month and it has often settled in my spirit and weighed on my heart.
As I’ve traveled down the road today, amidst the joy and the fun I’ve been contemplative and reflective. Life is such a gift and some place such little value on it while others have it ripped away too soon. Some seem like they are on the fastest track possible to destruction while others work diligently to survive to no avail.
I will never have the answers to the why’s or how comes and if I think about it too much I just feel like stomping my feet and shaking my fist at the unfairness of it all. But thankfully I know the one who numbers our days, who holds the answers and I can trust him with those details. I also know that often the journey we find ourselves on is not the easiest or even because of the best circumstances. Sometimes we find ourselves picking up the pieces, dusting ourselves off and starting again. Sometimes we find ourselves helping someone else pick up the pieces and get back on their feet.
When this happens, and it will happen, I think it is pretty important to take a look around and count our blessings. Be thankful for the people that are committed to this journey with us and count it all joy when we can lend a helping hand. We should make the best of a bad situation, take nothing for granted and love as big as we possibly can. And in the middle of it all we should have fun, lots and lots of fun!
So tonight, as my road crew snuggles in to our hotel room tired from our travels, I’m looking around at them, reflecting back on the day, taking a long deep breath and being incredibly thankful. Thankful for the laughter, joy, good attitudes, laughter, good health, safe travels and oh, did I mention laughter? I’m counting my blessings, and just like that picnic game we played in the car, I’m naming them one by one.
We are all going on a journey, sometimes easy, sometimes hard, but we do get to decide what we take with us. Attitude, Belief, Compassion, Dedication, Empathy…So, as you work your way through to the end of the alphabet, choose wisely what you take with you on this journey of life – it can make all the difference in the world.
joyinyourjourney.net 