I walked for hours along the water's edge this morning, watching the sun come up and surveying the shells washed ashore from the tide, displayed in an endless mosaic masterpiece, stooping occasionally to collect one that stood apart from the millions. As I walked I contemplated the last month, and the way I had been holding my breath.
In a month's time I had walked away from a job I hated and my only source of income, a destructive relationship with my father, helped care for and say goodbye to my dear friend Jo, held my faithful companion, Fisher as he passed away from Lymphoma AND started a new job! I finally exhaled...
I consider myself strong and yet today as I exhaled, I felt fragile. Several years ago, I experienced personal ruin and recognize that gnawing gut feeling that comes with loss and the urge to just runaway. But this leg of my journey is different, I am different! Although fragile, I resisted the urge to run, prayed hard for guidance, and was never without the support of uplifting and loving friends. I am truly grateful for such good friends and thankful they can recount my gifts and talents, beauty, work ethic and values, hold my hand and lift me up on the days I am too worn to travel.
This morning as I strolled, the shells told the story of my friendships, the women in my life. Like those seashells tossed ashore, we are all fragmented, worn, void of purpose, empty and fragile from the different seasons in our lives. I believe God's hand selects our placement, side by side, varying our differences, strengths and weaknesses, teaching us to reach outside ourselves in love and kindness to offer support to one another in this life. When we share our stories, we help ourselves by helping someone else, and we learn that everyone adds value, uniqueness and beauty to the whole mosaic. We are whole in HIM. We are his masterpiece.
