She and He

Amazing Abbie with equally amazing Chap

I never know what will inspire me to write, and it is in those small inspirations of life that sometimes I find my greatest voice.  We are deep in the throes of Christmas right now, scurrying about with the last-minute shopping, gift-wrapping, and grocery-buying that we hope proves to make Christmas as special as we can humanly make it and as perfect as is realistically possible.  And I find that during Christmas my heart is always filled with thoughts of family, close friends who mean so much, and those people in need -- most of whom I have never, nor will I ever, meet in my lifetime.  But I am comforted by the simple fact that goodwill is achieved by one small deed done by one to another and the tiniest of heartfelt intentions, if done in the spirit of pure love and the absence of self-gain, may just be the cumulative whole that changes the world.

So I am filled with love and wonder by my youngest daughter as she visits for Christmas with her boyfriend.  We didn't think he would be accompaning her this trip, but at the last minute he was able to do so, making Christmas that much more special.  Individually these two people are great persons.  But seeing them togther shows me that couple-ship can be quite magical if the person you are coupled with makes you a better person than you are alone.  And, at the risk of sounding like they are more special than any other couple that is divinely united, I wouldn't go that far because my firstborn daughter is one half of an amazing duo, now made even more fantastic by a curly-headed moppet whom together they parent.  Ditto for my one and only wonderful son, who might just be linked with one of the strongest, most beautiful women I know and who also parent two amazing offspring.  But Abbie is my youngest child...my baby girl and for whom I always dream to encounter happiness, to never be hurt, and to find her rightful place in this world.  If you know anything about her at all, you know that she has never done anything in life the easy way (ditto for my firstborn daughter as well). They have always seen a challenge as a way to prove to themselves that they are able with God's help to be the achiever, not the slacker; to be the inspiration, not the negative nay-sayer; and to be the leader, 
not the follower.

I see myself in Abbie so very much.  She always seems to be the one in our family who shakes things up a bit.  She doesn't do everything in the way expected of her.  She breaks the hold of the norm and reaches for things that would shake some to their core and, for this, she is so much braver than I.  She, unknowingly sometimes, takes the road less traveled, because it is in her soul to do so. She looks for ways to help the underdog because she has a passion for people and a heart of gold to go along with it.  She looks at people with her soul and not always her eyes, so that their inner person is really the one she gets to know.  She digs deep for the qualities in people that inspire her, make her better, and who can be her companions in life to conquer the mountains faced every day and the obstacles of life that might just destroy a person who stands alone.  I might also add that she has not always been this way.  It has taken years of growth, hardship, and traveling that very lonely road sometimes to find what it is she really wants in life and to, once and for all, get it right.  To the average person, this union might look a bit scary, even dangerous, for it definitely comes with its own set of challenges. They are not the conventional couple, not even remotely alike in some ways.  But isn't that the way it's supposed to be?  She rounds out his imperfections, and he fills in where she is lacking? The two of them individually are amazing human beings, but together they just might make big ol' gigantic waves as they strive to bring about change in this totally crazy world we inhabit. 

So this morning my inspiration is them.  I am not only inspired by the experience of just having them in my life, but by what they represent, strive for, and utterly refuse to compromise on.  Both are fiercely driven to move forward, to change critical thinking by the example they live, and to truly make a difference in this world.  I am totally and unapologetically inspired by this.  They live out the balance of what it means in this world to be the best you can possibly be and to use that amazing spirit to affect the change they so desperately want to see.  They are not your average couple by any definition of that expression.  Because, as most marry off their children to those who look and feel and act like the status quo, I find this young couple is -- sometimes to my discomfort -- anything but.  They live their lives to be present and intentional with all who surround them, inspiring others always to greatness, and to be for each other that one person in the world who helps you rise to live at the level of your personal best.  For that, I thank them from the bottom of my heart.  And because of that my life is made better and my heart is clothed in the inspiration that makes life not just bearable, but a fantastic journey.    

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