Homeschool Diva

I have been thinking about this a bit as I roll into my 34th birthday and reminisce about all the people over the years who have made me who I am today. As you see on my tag line, building relationships is very important for Mike and I. There are a few ways we go about this delicate task of offering a bit of our lives to people and accepting the portion of their lives they offer to us. Never taking more than they give, always offering ourselves in return. Throwing parties, having people over for dinner, inviting people in. Even blogging is a way for us to let people into our story.

For Mike and I, this is how we connect with others. We ask them about their lives and they ask us about ours. From there, you can ether go really deep or stay surface and it really depends on those conversations where relationships go. Some go deep in a short amount of time, and others, take years and years, non the less, all of them are valuable.

Even those relationships that in the beginning seem draining to you….If you just wait long enough, and continue to be available and willing to walk with people, into their story to understand why they are the way they are, you end up with a magnificent gift. It is like a secret garden of flowers that all are beautiful in their own time. They all have different roles to play, you just have to wait around long enough for them to bloom.

We’ve learned over the years that less is more in regards to “calling people” out on “issues” in their lives. We believe the Holy Spirit is big enough and alive enough to guide and direct his people, and that at the right time, He will initiate a way to talk about whatever thing there is in a way that is helpful, meaningful and transformational. Let’s just say when I was younger, I did too much “calling out” in very well meaning ways but always ended in a relational train wreck and little helpfulness to show for it. I burnt my fingers on that stove one too many times.

So, for my fast approaching 34th year, I am committing to radically accepting people where they are at, loving them in the midst of sometimes painful process, not giving them answers to questions that should only be given by God and not one persons idea of what is right, and being open to “opening my mouth” only when prompted to by the Holy Spirit and quietly praying the rest of the time. I do this with no strings attached. I offer my friendship and loyalty with the full assumption that people will hurt me, (it is unfortunate that we do that to each other) and that in the process Jesus will teach me more about myself and who I was made to be.

So people, you have full permission to hold me to it this year!

Today I tried an experiment.

I spontaneously took the kids to an Art Gallery to see what piece of art they liked the most.

We all survived and so did the gallery.

I gave the children instructions on how to behave and that they should not run, or shout. The woman briefly scanned us as we entered.

Hudson liked a textured piece painted with a knife. He was desperate to touch this very expensive piece of art sitting right at his level. I practically had his hand in a vice grip to which he was non to pleased. Chloe liked the bright bold pieces, very modern, of flowers. Probably because it had hot pink and flowers in them. Honestly, it was my favorite piece too. And Jackson didn’t really have a favorite he liked them all, which to me, was code for, I am not very “in” to this Mom but I will humor you because I can see this is terribly important to you.

So, for the first time….we did OK. It was only about 8 minutes, but we did it and plan to do it again.