Today I did something I am embarrassed to say took me almost a year to do. I had promised one of my youth last April that I would take her to Barnes and Noble. I could come up with a bunch of good excuses why I didn't take her before today. But, the truth is that I should have. But, if I had taken her before, I might have missed the experiences of today. So, I'll start from that and go on.
As I was driving to get her this morning, something in my head told me it was a beautiful day and that I should go visit my "happy place" with her on our way to Barnes and Noble. I talk to my youth regularly about having a place of happiness- of peace and comfort. I believe everybody has one- even if they don't really realize it or call it that. If you don't, I encourage you to think about it and find one.
Anyway, by the time I picked her up, I had decided to take her there. So, we headed to Furnessville. It's a wonderful trip down memory lane for me- a time of love, family, and peace. But, I wasn't sure how a teen who had never been there to see it in all it's glory would feel about going to place in the woods where a house used to be. As we turned down the road, we got to the Schoolhouse Shop. I decided to stop there first and show her the wonders of the unique store filled with toys, art, antiques, and randomness. She loved it! On our way out, I talked to the man at the register. He remembered my grandma and me and some of the things they bought from her for the shop. He gave me some pictures and a history of the Schoolhouse shop brochure that they had just made. Then we went across the street. I wasn't sure how this would go. I wanted to check on the grave site. There is a blue glass bird that my cousin bought and I wanted to make sure it was still ok after the winter. It was! And there was a Christmas arrangement someone had left there, too. The pine had seen better days, but there were several decorations and ribbons that were still intact. She asked about my grandparents- what they were like. I shared with her how special they were to me and to everyone. She asked if they went to church. I loved that that was something she would think about.
Since it was a beautiful day, we decided to walk rather than drive the short distance to where the house used to be. We chatted along the way. I shared with her about the area, about things that used to be, and about my grandparents. She shared with me about her grandparents and about her family. Then, we got to their driveway. "Here was the driveway, here was the tree I always thought would fall, here was the living room!" We walked around as if the house and backyard were still there- although there were weeds and branches to deal with. After talking to an old neighbor who was visiting her old house, we headed back to the car. Along the way, she picked several flowers that were out already. "You'll see what I'm going to do with these in a minute", she said. When we got to the cemetery, she ran inside saying "follow me!" So, I ran after her. She got to my grandparents grave and gently laid 2 flowers down over my grandpa's name and 2 over my grandma's. "I didn't know them, but it was the least I could do. Afterall, you are you partly because of them." Then, she gave me a big hug. And then I knew. She saw what I saw. She understands what that place means to me. She knows what they meant to me. And, somehow she knew that they loved nature and flowers and would love to have those flowers. I know they were smiling in that moment.
One thing I wish is that my grandma would have still been alive when I started youth ministry. I wish she would have been alive to see what I am doing now and to share that joy with me. But, today I know she knows. Today, I know she was there and that I was able to share her with my youth. And, that means the world to me! I realize now that I have to share my place with them to help encourage them to find theirs- to give them a chance to find their place of happiness and peace.
Where was God today? He was the voice in my head telling me it was the right time to go and the right place to go.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Blessings,
Jennifer
As I was driving to get her this morning, something in my head told me it was a beautiful day and that I should go visit my "happy place" with her on our way to Barnes and Noble. I talk to my youth regularly about having a place of happiness- of peace and comfort. I believe everybody has one- even if they don't really realize it or call it that. If you don't, I encourage you to think about it and find one.
Anyway, by the time I picked her up, I had decided to take her there. So, we headed to Furnessville. It's a wonderful trip down memory lane for me- a time of love, family, and peace. But, I wasn't sure how a teen who had never been there to see it in all it's glory would feel about going to place in the woods where a house used to be. As we turned down the road, we got to the Schoolhouse Shop. I decided to stop there first and show her the wonders of the unique store filled with toys, art, antiques, and randomness. She loved it! On our way out, I talked to the man at the register. He remembered my grandma and me and some of the things they bought from her for the shop. He gave me some pictures and a history of the Schoolhouse shop brochure that they had just made. Then we went across the street. I wasn't sure how this would go. I wanted to check on the grave site. There is a blue glass bird that my cousin bought and I wanted to make sure it was still ok after the winter. It was! And there was a Christmas arrangement someone had left there, too. The pine had seen better days, but there were several decorations and ribbons that were still intact. She asked about my grandparents- what they were like. I shared with her how special they were to me and to everyone. She asked if they went to church. I loved that that was something she would think about.
Since it was a beautiful day, we decided to walk rather than drive the short distance to where the house used to be. We chatted along the way. I shared with her about the area, about things that used to be, and about my grandparents. She shared with me about her grandparents and about her family. Then, we got to their driveway. "Here was the driveway, here was the tree I always thought would fall, here was the living room!" We walked around as if the house and backyard were still there- although there were weeds and branches to deal with. After talking to an old neighbor who was visiting her old house, we headed back to the car. Along the way, she picked several flowers that were out already. "You'll see what I'm going to do with these in a minute", she said. When we got to the cemetery, she ran inside saying "follow me!" So, I ran after her. She got to my grandparents grave and gently laid 2 flowers down over my grandpa's name and 2 over my grandma's. "I didn't know them, but it was the least I could do. Afterall, you are you partly because of them." Then, she gave me a big hug. And then I knew. She saw what I saw. She understands what that place means to me. She knows what they meant to me. And, somehow she knew that they loved nature and flowers and would love to have those flowers. I know they were smiling in that moment.
One thing I wish is that my grandma would have still been alive when I started youth ministry. I wish she would have been alive to see what I am doing now and to share that joy with me. But, today I know she knows. Today, I know she was there and that I was able to share her with my youth. And, that means the world to me! I realize now that I have to share my place with them to help encourage them to find theirs- to give them a chance to find their place of happiness and peace.
Where was God today? He was the voice in my head telling me it was the right time to go and the right place to go.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Blessings,
Jennifer
No comments:
Post a Comment