Rainy Night in Georgia

Well, I'm not sure whether it rained in Georgia last night or not, but it's raining today. I'm heading home to Georgia today, after spending three beautiful days celebrating my older daughter's birthday. As I pack up the car and search for the nearest Starbucks, I'm powerfully aware of how my heart--that is, my most intimate connections--resides in several places. My husband is traveling on business at the moment; one daughter lives on the west coast, one on the east coast; my stepson is in a rock band which is on the road (including Europe and Australia) most days of the year; my mother is in the southern Midwest; my sister is in Canada; my in-laws are in New England; and I have dear, dear friends who live in the Pacific Northwest, but who have been on a pilgrimage through India, Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan for the past couple of months.

Having my nearest and dearest scattered to the four corners of the earth can feel disconcerting at times. It's logistically impossible for all of us to gather together, even during the holidays. There are times when it would be easy to fall into despair about this. But that's so unproductive, doesn't solve the problem, and simply leaves me stuck with that frustration. So, for years now, I've decided that each opportunity to spend time (whether a week or a day) with my loved ones is a blessing and is to be honored as such. It's an opportunity to make new memories which can later be revisited during stressful or difficult times, memories which can soothe a temporarily troubled soul.

So, where does your heart reside? Do you gladly and joyfully give your heart to family and friends as they go about the business of their daily lives? I encourage you to give some thought to this today. As in so many areas of life, the more we give, the more we receive back. Can you find a way to give your loved ones your full blessing as they pursue their own lives and dreams? If so, you may be surprised at how this act of emotional generosity frees you up to pursue the life you are meant to live!