Beach: Solace and Peace

Why the beach?  Well, it holds happy memories for me.  I grew up within a few miles from the beach.  Being fair skinned, I never went to the beach to get a tan.  I went for specific reasons or occasions, ie a family reunion, hotdog/marsh mellow roast, or a jog along the coast.

Besides happy memories, the beach is the only place I know that encompasses all the senses:  hearing the waves, feeling the sand, tasting the water, seeing the sunset, and smelling the ocean air.  At first the beach is a place of solace, offering alleviation from stress and strain.  Stay long enough, the beach becomes a place of peace, transforming strife to serenity.

I also find my Creator here.  Although the beach is never silent, the natural sounds and beauty enable me to still my mind.  I find myself in awe of nature, its creation, always leading me to its Creator.

That is where the real journey begins.

Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.

Philippians 4:6-7

Worry. Anxiety. Concerns. Problems. To all of them I say, "Ick." Who needs them? Nevertheless, we get them, whether or not we have special needs kids.

I know we can decide to be happy or not, but always being an optimistic eludes me. Sometimes screaming just is easier. Or being totally silent.

There are a few biblical passages or famous sayings I have found that help me get through those moments when I am less than good ol' Pollyanna. I try to focus on one for a few minutes each day, usually in the morning before the chaos begins. That translates into "before the kids get up". I am not a morning person, so I'm only up a few minutes before the herd.

I have had several moms tell me that the above quote from Philippians hits home. It's part of my "email signature" right now. I don't know how many people actually read it. I do know that some have found inspiration from it, just like I did.

So for today, it is still one moment at a time, trusting Christ will see me through. Therein lies peace.

How To Enjoy Raindrops

Ryan could sit and stare at raindrops for hours. At the age of four, he was very content to sit and watch. He could not talk then, so I really had no idea what he was thinking.

I wonder if he remembers. I can only imagine that he was looking at the raindrops like most kids look at clouds. I remember looking at clouds and trying to imagine what those shapes could be... a hand, an elephant, a tree.

Maybe Ryan was playing the connect the dots in his mind, or maybe he simply just watched the drops to see where they went. Could he have imagined that those drops were mini-worlds?

I do know that those drops kept Ryan entertained for hours. He quietly observed. He dared to touch a few drops. He quickly dried his fingers. He listened to the rhythm as the rain dripped. Then he repeated the pattern with his own fingers on the ground.

Some people could call this obsessive-compulsive behavior. I would like to think he was learning about his environment.

At this point in my life, I would love to take the time to watch raindrops for longer than a few seconds. Maybe Ryan was onto something much bigger than just watching raindrops. Maybe he found a few moments of peace.

photo credit:tibchris