While enjoying lunch with a great friend, our discussion led back to a childhood memory that wasn’t great in my family timeline.  As usual, my friend had a snappy quip that brought me right back from those dark memories, to the polar opposite of the present moment which was filled with laughter, understanding and acceptance.  I speak of some of those moments, not from questioning, but of the reality of life’s messy moments and how much has changed since being a child. My friend and I had very different upbringings. One was a safe childhood with two parents in a single family home in a kid friendly neighborhood where lots of games of hide- n-seek and kick- the-can and many friendships formed.  The other childhood was unstable, chaotic, sometimes quite unsafe, and definitely not rooted. Fast forward to today, while reflecting on events as an adult, my friend remarked jokingly on her life and said “great good it did me though!” Admittedly, as an adult making her own choices, she’s had a few ups and downs but she is certainly grounded, stable and she is well aware of where her strength comes from and thanks Him every day.  Her setbacks are only temporary.

Far away from the tutelage of childhood desperation, I am living the life God has intended for me and for Him.  I see His glory everyday when I look at what He has afforded me in my adulthood with faith, health, family, friends, and a zeal for knowledge.  He brings comfort out of pain as He’s done for thousands of years. He raises each of us from the mire to heights not conceived. I can honestly say, dreaming big or small was not a luxury back then, but as the years have gone by, a few dreams have emerged, some have even become reality, but the best ones are the ones I never knew I could have even dreamed.

Pax,

Paula