We took the dog for a walk around a couple blocks and I just listened to her talk and process through her day. I did take time to share what I was excited for her in the future.When we got home she finished homework, snuggled and she went to bed. Simple!
Later that night it hit me...that is what my mom used to do...take me for a walk when life felt crazy. My mom was a busy lady when I was a young girl. She was working 3 jobs and starting her life over after a brutal divorce.
I remember many times she took me for a walk to share bad news so I could ask questions without my siblings interfering. Times she took me for a walk so I could cry about boys, friends or school. I always treasured time she was able to carve out for me, and now I see these walks shaped my teen life!
My mom was not perfect, yet she was pretty close! She taught me to give myself time away from other to process my emotions and to take time to listen. I can remember many nights after her 13 hours of work she would sit in my room and not leave till I had "talked" out whatever drama I had in my life. She listened to me cry over boys, feeling stupid in school and why girls can be so mean.
I look back as a mom and stand in awe that she never made my problems feel small although looking at her life crumpling around her it would have been easy for her to compare her problems to mine and ignore my "problem". Her world really had come to an end after 19 years of marriage, the 2 weeks of dating "the boy of my dreams" was never minimized.
She always left me hopeful and looking for better the next time. She gave me hope when she must have been struggling to find some for her our future.
I am grateful to her for holding me up. This season of mom, I first want to thank her for being more than a mom to me, she was an inspiration! Second, I want you to take time to thank those in your lives that have stood beside you through thick and thin. Finally, third, inspire the next generation. You may not have children but you can pass on your knowledge to someone else. We all have time to take a quick walk to just listen!
We can change the world one walk at a time!
