Gratitude Practice 2020 Day 289: The Caregivers and the Love Providers
This is flamingo. She is an important part of our family and bounces around every room in our home. A few days ago, my sweet girl was very concerned about Flamingos health and overall welfare and was mindful to create a little nest for her in the chair next to my home office. She carefully wrapped her up and tucked her into a favorite quilt and then gave me very clear and specific instructions as to how I was supposed to care for our pink fuzzy friend while she was at school. This single act says so much as to Sarah Kate's gentle (most of the time) caring (all of the time) way and demeanor.
Today, I am grateful for the medical workers and health care providers and first responders who are risking so much for the hope of health and wellness in our community and throughout our world. Grateful for the teachers...oh my, how I respect our brave, relenting, and resourceful teachers who continue to give and give and give inside such a conflicting setting. Grateful for our elected officials who are faced to make often paradoxical decisions with competing interests and fast approaching deadlines. Grateful for religious leaders of all faiths and for social advocates and community organizers who dedicate their time, talents and often entire lives to helping communities establish peace and prosperity.
Grateful for the caregivers...for those near and far who have so kindly looked after me, built me a series of safe nests and nets and to those who have tucked me into safe circles, safe work environments, and safe friend groups. Grateful for those who patiently listen as I rage and vent and wax philosophical and reflective. Grateful for those who overlook my numerous shortfalls, my mis-steps, my blunders, my over reaches and my moments of under performance and continually insensitivities. Grateful for those who guide and council and advise. Grateful for those who correct and re-direct and grateful for those who show up and simply hold space, hold me up, hold court and hold it together so I can lose it from time to time. Grateful for those willing to mourn and grieve with me when I have been desperate for companionship and consoling. And for those who may not be as close or respond so intimately but who continue to provide a series of quiet inspiring kindnesses. Grateful for those who consistently show up and show love.
Grateful that this year has provided extra time and stillness for me to think about what it really means to really practice loving and caring for others. Grateful for the endless opportunities I have to practice loving and caring for myself, for my tiny yet mighty family, for those easy to love and especially those who may require more effort and determination. Grateful for my five-year-old-live-in-master-teacher who is schooling me in caregiving business on the regular and hoping and trying each day to show up and show big juicy love in many big and little ways.
Grateful for the master caregivers and love providers who have loved and lifted and lighten my load.
