I saw this wonderful picture on Scrappy and Happy in Ohio’s blog. I was immediately moved by the truth it represented, as we seldom see ourselves as others see us.
I shared with a friend not long ago that I was in a clothing store and as I casually glanced in the direction of a full-length mirror I had to do a double take! I did not recognize the woman staring back at me. In the mirror was a woman that my friends and acquaintances must see everyday; a 56 year old, grossly overweight grandmother who obviously lives a very sedimentary lifestyle. What a surprise, ahhh shock is more the word, this experience was for me. First, I do not feel 56, or grossly overweight for that matter. I mean, I see old, grossly overweight people at the supermarket who ride around in those carts to get their groceries, and the ones who don’t, stand in the check-out line with sweat rolling off their brow. That is not me. Ok, Ok so sometimes it does aggravate me that I can’t wallpaper a room like I used to and I can’t stand the heat of the summer like I used to, but geez, come on, can that person in the mirror really be me?
I have spent much time since “the mirror incident” reflecting on what I saw and pondering over life choices I have made that allowed such a transformation to occur. I guess I should point out that I was the teenager who never gained an ounce regardless of what she ate. I weighed 99 pounds on my wedding day and I was 6 months pregnant at the time! So, to transform from a hip chick to a hippy old lady, well to say it is very dis-concerning is an understatement.
After I saw Phyl’s blog picture, I got an idea to begin a Reflections Tag. The rules are very basic. First, right click on the reflections picture to save to your picture file for uploading. Then after listing the rules, copy the following and paste in a post along with the picture on your blog (be sure to link my blog address to Cricket’s Hearth in the description), and tag 5 blogging friends to reflect on their lives:
Cricket’s Hearth has initiated a tag called Reflections. The goal is to look back on your life and list 5 negative things you never anticipated happening, followed by 5 positive things you never anticipated happening in your life. Take your time and truly reflect on the top five in each category. When finished, complete this statement: Considering the negatives and the positives in my life, _____________.
Reflections of Cricket’s Hearth
5 Negative Things I Never Anticipated Happening in My Life
1. I never dreamed my husband would molest our 11 year old daughter.
2. I never thought the American justice system would betray me the way it did.
3. I never thought my daughter would turn her back on me and choose to share her adult life with the father that destroyed our family.
4. Although I considered it many times, I never thought I would actually try to commit suicide.
5. I never thought anything would come between me and my best friend.
5 Positive Things I Never Anticipated Happening in My Life
1. For many years I denied the Lord existed and thought being “saved” was a theatrical performance of self-proclaimed Christians. I was wrong. Becoming saved was a life altering experience. I thank the Lord for sending the people he did at different times in my life to plant His seeds.
2. My first baby died shortly after birth and I had 3 more miscarriages before finally being able to have a daughter. I was blessed three years later, almost to the day, with a son. My son has been a rock in my life. He has so much common sense and compassion, I sometimes wonder if he was switched in the hospital.
3. My father was one of those “a man’s job is to work and put food on the table” type men who did not hug or kiss his children. He rarely even spoke to me as I was growing up. I never anticipated ever really getting to know him. We have lived together the past 10 years since my mother passed. It has been wonderful learning about his childhood with 12 brothers and sisters growing up poor on a small farm. I do understand why he was the kind of father he was, he was only repeating what he had learned.
4. I was a high school drop out due to an unplanned pregnancy followed by an unplanned marriage. I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to realize my childhood dream of going to college. When I was 42, in a self-pittying mood, I was complaining to my son about never being able to go to college. His response was a challenge, “why can’t you go now?’ My response was, “Because I’ll be 50 before I get a degree.” His reply, ” As I see it mom, you’re going to be 50 in eight years anyways, so you might as well be 50 with a degree as 50 without a degree.” Like I said, so much common sense! And so I went on to graduate 5 years later.
5. I always knew how important a grandmother is to their grandchildren, but I never realized how important grandchildren would be to me. I cherish each moment I get to spend with my grandchildren. They all are so different and it is so wonderful watching them grow. They give me hope for the future.
Considering the negatives and positives in my life, I clearly see how people have influenced my life and how I have allowed the negatives to outweigh the positives.
My 5 blogging friends I challenge for Reflection are:
greatfullivin Scrappy and Happy Jadey Hootin Anni To Know Him
