It’s January 1, 2022 and while I wrote this outside on my patio, I was barefoot, watching sun beams stream across my yard, 78 degrees with a gentle breeze and I look over to the potted tomato plants I planted far too late in the season, last September, and I was reminded of the fully ripe tomato the size of a golf ball, that was plucked on Christmas day. It is the only fruit the plant produced because I did not have the time to nurture the poor thing and it sits in too much shade, but the fact that it produced anything at all is almost a miracle. It’s winter and I broke a sweat taking down the Christmas tree today. That’s okay because in true Texas fashion, tonight the temperature will drop like a rocket down to 26. Yes, 52 degrees southbound.
If living here in the hill country teaches us anything, it’s that anything is possible.
My son turned the big “three – O” yesterday and went into mourning over the goals not yet achieved and time slipping out of reach and beyond control. I’d pay good money to see that number again but the soft reality is that today he turned just one day older. Just 2 days older than when he was 29. Every day we get a do over. Trust me, you really do.
When childhood turns to adulthood and the desires of our hearts become secondary to paying the bills, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to the dreamer in us all and forget that hope still wins. Make no mistake, you were made with a purpose in mind and the burden of wasting that gift should outweigh any hesitation of momentary dashed expectations.
Every day we get the opportunity to make amends that we left hanging on the light switch when we turned in for the night. You get the opportunity to show grace to someone who doesn’t deserve it. You get the opportunity to get up and try again, to look at the possibility that perhaps it’s the perspective that needs changing or the belief in something bigger than your limited inward scope. Even the sun rises only after a dark night.
Anything is possible. It’s time to dream again. Today is a new beginning, just like yesterday. We don’t yet know about tomorrow. This is permission to heartily laugh every day, sing out loud just because you can, dance a twirl with someone you love. Start over. Again. Let someone else do the same.
I believe in miracles. Love is one such example. Hope is another. Cheers to you and your dreams.
Elaine
