Step. Inhale. Step. Exhale. Step. Hold the leash. Step. Listen. Step. Slow. Notice.
Walking outside sooths my soul. I’ve spent lots of time on the treadmill. I’ve tried running. I’ve tried listening to music and audiobooks. It is all fine, in its season. But there is something simple and calming about a silent walk these days. Last week, I took one of these silent walks almost every day. The leash pulls me out the door. Fasbee, our crazy Boxer girl, loves her walks. As my eyes adjust to the bright of the morning or the muted sunshine of the evening, the array of green around our neighborhood often draws me to think in awe of God’s artistry. Right now, though, it isn’t the green that catches my eye, it is the purples.
I notice over and over the varying shades of purple flowers with each step and in so many flowerbeds. So many shades of purple. Barely purple, lilac, royal purple to electric.
We are like the purple flowers. To a casual describer, we are simply purple flowers along the walks of life. But to our Creator, to our family, to those that love us, care for us and treasure us, we are lilac, lavender, periwinkle and amethyst. We are plum, boysenberry and eggplant. Our personalities, our viewpoints, our experiences all shade our lives in such a way that we are distinctly perfect for our place in our garden.
A small peek at an example… my William, in order to function at maximum capacity, requires an almost daily peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It must be made on the right kind of whole wheat white bread. It must include a thick smear of creamy peanut butter from crust to crust on both pieces of bread and a smattering of homemade strawberry jelly. No crust allowed. The sandwich requirements have been identical since he was 4. At 12, his lunch still looks the same. Friends, thankfully, God blessed me with peanut butter and jelly sandwich making super power. According to William, I make the best ones in the universe. This tiny gift was perfectly instilled in me to fulfill what he needs from me as his mom.
Friends, you have these gifts! Look for them in your daily interactions with your kids, your spouse, your coworkers, partners and collaborators; embrace your shade of purple! Celebrate the story of your past that colored you vibrant magenta or lively violet. Rejoice in the personality traits that tint you pale iris or soft heather. Delight in the individual gifts that shade you deep plum or warm sangria.
Lift your faces to Christ as the flowers lift their unfurling purple petals. Soak in God’s love as the flowers feast on the sunshine. Drink from the Living Water as the roots soak up spring’s moisture.
For He created your innermost being, shaped your delicate outside and your intricate inside, He knit your together in your mother’s womb. Praise Him for making you mysteriously complex for knowing you so thoroughly.
Psalm 139:13-14 The Passion Translation
Love and Blessings, Bethany 🙂
PS – Two Final Thoughts:
A Note of Celebration: THANK YOU to those that helped me meet my goal of 42 new email subscribers by my 42nd birthday!! It was such a fantastic present! We had a few glitches with the confirmation emails tripping some friends up, but if you received my Wednesday morning email today (May 8th), you are confirmed! (If not, it’s not too late! Check your inbox or junk folder in case it went there, then hop on the confirmation train! Thankfully, we aren’t a site that just opens for membership once or twice a year. Hehe!) Thank you again! Your support and encouragement mean so much!
And finally, to those of you that are moms: Happy Mother’s Day! You are each uniquely gifted, colored if you will, to be just what your people need. May this weekend bring you rest, a few minutes to carve out time to do something you love, and most importantly the feeling of being remembered and cherished.