Precious…

Abuse surrounds us. From the highest, global levels down to individuals in horrible situations, abuse is part of our everyday. The world watches while one man cheats, lies, starts wars and puppets the minions around him. People are abused for their skin colour, religion, who they love and where they come from and their humanity is ignored. Those in authority turn a blind eye and deaf ear to abuses in their communities as they strive for more power. On an individual level? Children live in horrific situations where abuse is commonplace. There is also abuse that we don’t see as readily. Children who are seen as property, prizes in a competition or are ignored and left without love. There are too many abuses throughout the world.

Why would I talk about abuse in a blog titled, Precious? I don’t believe that we should ignore what’s going on in the world. I believe that’s how the Nazis gained and held power in Germany. Regular citizens ignored what was going on around them in an effort to stay out of the spotlight. By turning away from atrocities they remained safe for a little longer. By blaming a group for their ills they could turn the focus away from their own failings. I think we have to keep talking, speaking out, standing up, in order to fight back against the abuses. But that doesn’t answer my own question.

When life gets busy we may forget to slow down and appreciate the good, the joy, the love that is around. Those times are precious and by acknowledging them we build the strength to fight back against tyranny and hatred. As I mentioned in my last blog, I was taking a holiday. I didn’t go anywhere. [Truthfully in summer, I prefer to stay home for holidays - I have everything I need.] For a week and a half I had my twelve year old niece stay with me and we took holidays together. Each day contained laughter, swimming, the chance to relax and the chance to restore my spirit.

To be able to spend that time together was precious. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, precious means of great value; highly esteemed or cherished. Our time together was exactly that. We went places - shopping, dinner out, a movie, a visit to a farm and so on. We also spent lots of time at home - swimming, watching shows when thunderstorms erupted, playing cards. We laughed and loved.

Last summer my mom and I took my niece to visit my son out west. She had a lot of firsts on that trip and I know it’s given her memories that she’ll carry forever. That was exciting and liberating. This summer it was just her and I. Not so exciting. Not a lot of firsts. I know this, too, has given her some precious memories. There’s something about time spent with a special person that provides a loving foundation. As a child, I was blessed to have time over many summers with my aunt and uncle. I wanted to give that to my niece and I think I did.

After my niece went back home I was tidying the house and doing yard work that I’d put off and building this blog in my mind. I wanted to write about the importance of her visit. I wanted to explain how precious time is - not just to a child but to me as her aunt. Then something happened as I was working out the words. I realized there are so many precious moments with which I’ve been blessed recently.

My son is an avid soccer fan. I enjoy attending games with him when I can and certainly have a great time. There’s something about soccer fans that I don’t see anywhere else in sport in Canada. They are loud but I don’t find them obnoxious. They are passionate in a way that honours the sport. Now, there are some things about the game that I scoff at - the rolling around in agony when no one has touched them as they try to get a foul call is ridiculous to me. There are other things that are amazing - the athleticism required to cover the field for ninety minutes is incredible. The world support for this game is wondrous. In North America we have a tendency to think we’re the best in the world. This tournament is called the World Cup and it truly is global. The privilege our country was given to host in two of our cities has been precious. My son was able to attend a game on home soil. He was able to watch the top players in the world play the game that he loves - precious. Even though we are separated by thousands of kilometres and three time zones we have connected in a new way through the games taking place over the last month. I’m very close with my son and yet this was new. It’s been precious to me to learn and cheer on the sport that he loves.

I sent my book off to a few friends who offered to be early readers. My mother pointed out that I am blessed to have people who will be honest with me, who I can trust to tell me the truth. She’s right. My friends are precious to me. I got my first, “I’m almost done” message last week along with a “it’s really good” and I was overwhelmed. Why? Because of what my mom said. My friends will be honest with me. There will be feedback and ideas and changes to make but I know that the information I receive will not be sugar coated to make me feel good. Not everyone is lucky enough to have what I have in friendships.

Last week I saw a beautiful, big heron standing in the water. It never moved while I watched. It was stunning, precious. We are granted small and large opportunities to embrace beauty. A meal that brings the taste of a season while filling and fuelling us. A conversation with a friend. Meeting someone new who shares in your love of a place or a person or a sport or a book. Feeling the water slide over your skin like silk when you go for a swim. Watching a robin feed her young in the nest at your neighbour’s door. Small moments that are precious.

I got up this morning, got a load of laundry started (perfect day for drying on the line) and dove into my pool. What I have I’ve worked for. None of it came quickly or easily. I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Wasn’t always wise with money. Took wrong paths. Wasn’t always the best person. I was and continue to be human. What I recognize is how precious all of it was and is. I’ve come to a place on my journey where my chosen house is old and has issues and where the yard is uneven and has lots of weeds among the grass. I struggle to accomplish all that I want to improve. But I sat outside on my porch this morning after my early swim and listened to the birds crying out, watched two squirrels chase each other around a tree and heard the loud tapping of my resident woodpecker. My home is precious. It isn’t perfect - what is? It brings peace and sometimes stress, it brings beauty in the blooms of flowers, alongside the weeds and it is mine. It hasn’t been easy but I think when something is easy, it can be hard to appreciate. This is my home and it’s precious to me.

What I’m reading this week.

Our little village has a lovely bookshop called, The Merrickville Book Emporium. I stopped in a couple of weeks ago while I was out for a walk. One of the Canadian authors we studied in high school was Margaret Laurence. I found a first edition of her personal essays, “heart of a stranger”. I’m taking my time and reading one every so often. They are providing wonderful insight into an author I enjoyed as a student and I look forward to working my way through the book.

Published in 1976 - I can’t believe it’s fifty years old!

At this time of year, my focus is usually on my outdoor blooms. When I realized how beautiful the inside flowers are, I had to share.

Evening s’mores with my niece. It was a tasty treat.

A new addition to the flower bed beside my porch - hollyhocks and a hummingbird to keep an eye on their growth.

I don’t take a lot of sunset pictures but while out on a walk last night, I couldn’t resist.