Yesterday I said I thought I had the answer, an answer to the disease of insecurity. I think, in part, it is simply GRATITUDE. Learning how to SEE your life, observe the graces. Of course, it is all the other things we’ve been talking about too- understanding how much we are loved by God and don’t have to hustle for any approval, how we can’t really let others love us if we are wearing a mask. But gratitude changes things. It weakens our desire for outside validation because we are simply full of thanks.
This summer we had the first annual Wentworth family vacation. We were supposed to have a big cabin on the Hood Canal with lots of rooms. Luckily, the owners double-booked and instead we got the tiny houses on the property. Good thing, because we were together. Like, really together. Kids and food and games everywhere. It was beautiful. And it was hard, as large family gatherings often are. We played and relaxed, we had tearful heart-to-hearts late at night and long conversations on beach walks. We had sunshine.
When I can really see my life, that it is not your life, that it is a life only I can live, I can be free to live it in all its abundance.
You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink. — G. K. Chesterton
You know what, I think you should invite me along on your next vacation so I can document your beautiful life. For reals.
Not too many words today. Enjoy the pictures
Read more of 31 days of conversation here:
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i love reading my friend Jessica’s blog posts… and great photography too! very thoughtful.