The big five three

I was born 53 years ago today.  On a Wednesday.  I was a kid.  And now you know.

Coming into this world is quite an ordeal, I will tell you… from my own up-close-personal experience.  Thrust from “the comfort, and the warmth, and the cozy,” and out into the bright and sterile.  Whapped on the butt.  Welcome to your life.

I am the youngest in our family.  There are seven of us, in all.

I often think about my childhood. As with anything in life, it had its ups and downs.  But I was extremely fortunate to have found the family that is mine.  I could have ended up anywhere, but this was the selection.  And for that I am grateful.

My Mom and Dad were like none other.  I guess that can be true of any of any one individual.  For the better or for the worse.  Thankfully, mine were for the better.  They were kind, and loving, and smart, and funny.  They were creative, and genial. There were so many things.  Mom and Dad cared for us more than anything in the world.  How lucky for me.

Every night… and I mean every night… my Dad would tuck all us kids into bed.  Then, he would stand out in the hallway, right at the top of our 2nd floor stairs, right underneath the hallway light.  Earnestly, he would begin to pray out loud.  When we were young, it was a formal prayer… the same one every night.  By the time I got to high school, it was always his own words.  But then after he prayed, he turned out the hallway light, and walked quietly to their bedroom.  The house fell completely silent, dark, and peaceful.  It was grace.

Sometimes I don’t think I have many memories about my childhood. But then, when I give it time, the recollections start to flood right in.

There is so much to be thankful for.  My siblings are no exception.  As I mentioned, there are seven of us. Truly, I have some really incredible & wonderful brothers and sisters.   The old saying is often true.  “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”  In many ways, I see bits and pieces of both Mom & Dad, showing up in each one of us.  In a good way, for the most of it.

There were many times, when we would be just sitting somewhere.  Like at the Dayton Airport, up on the observation deck, watching airplanes come and go.  Crunching on popcorn, and candy sticks from the General Store.  And one of my brothers or sisters would have their arm around me.  I felt protected, loved… one of the clan.  It was grace.

I was born 53 years ago today.  And in those 19,345 days, I’ve been given at least a thousand reasons each day, to be thankful.  That…. my friends…. is a LOT of incredible. That is a ton of remarkable.

That, is grace.

 

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“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
― Charles Dickens

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“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
― Henry James

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
― Plato

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“You were born a child of light’s wonderful secret— you return to the beauty you have always been.”
― Aberjhani

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“Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.”
― Confucius, The Analects

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