Gentle Heart
[CELEBRATE This Week No. 229]
I hear the bus pull away on Friday afternoon. I open the front door and call down the lane, “I’m so glad you’re home!”
All four of my kids look up and smile. “Mom! You’re feeling better!” They all start jogging up the lane.
“I have a treat for you,” I call.
They reach me, one by one, and hug me. Their smiles keep growing as they each comment about how I must be feeling better. (I had a fever for a week and slept more in those days than I have the entire rest of 2018!) I, too, am happy to be feeling better.
I picked up one of their favorite grocery store treats — Martin’s Muffins. We’re not much for store bought treats, but Martin’s still outdoes me in the muffin department. They all grab plates and sit together at the table. They pile strawberries and grapes next to their muffins.
I am reminded how important it is to be wanted.
I’m so glad you’re home!
These words changed the course of things. They reminded my kids that they are important and I like being around them.
It’s one thing to love someone.
It’s another thing to like someone.
Kids from hard places can be hard to love. They are transformed when they are loved and loved more. Once this transformation starts happening, then they need to be liked too.
My years as a momma are stacked with love and loving more and more hard love. I’m glad to celebrate a moment when the road might be turning and there will be more moments of not just loving, but liking too.
As our kids grow up and tackle the teenage years, I hope they become people who don’t just need love, but give love too. I hope they become people we like to be around. I hope they learn to live fully in the wake of healing.
This post is part of a weekly offering to celebrate in the middle of the muddle. I hope you join the celebration!
Let's Be Email Pals!
Teaching writers doesn't have to drown us.
Enter your information to receive my free eBook, plus weekly tips and encouragement for teaching writers.
I’m sorry you’ve been ill, Ruth. Imi’s had a fever up & down this week, too. Sleep appears to be the answer! And I love that phrase “stacked with love”. It was often one of my pieces of advice to young teachers. If they ensure that their students “and” the students’ parents know that you love them, all the rest will work out. Hope your weekend is a good one for final recovery!
Yes. . . we all want to be loved. . . I need to remember that loving a student is more important than the standards. . . they have to know you care before learning begins! Thank you Ruth for wise words, and I am glad you are feeling better. I am glad that you are here!
Beautiful moment together.
This is such a beautiful celebration Ruth.
Ruth, first of all, I am glad that you are feeling better. Your celebration of family was such a simple one but it was packed with so much love.
So glad you’re on the mend! And I smiled at that box of Martin’s Muffins. Isn’t that the place where some of us met together before heading to All Write? I remember having a tough time deciding on just one muffin. Love the hopes at the end of this post. Those teens will become young people who give love because they have a mama and daddy who do just that for them.
So sorry you were down with the flu! Sometimes it is hard to like those we love when they make poor choices, but in the end they know the love is deep.
It is a good thing and it is very beautiful. I feel the love of the family. It’s a party filled with love. The family should have each other.
g club