Welcome back to BlessingsBarb! I am looking forward to getting back to writing, and hope that I can offer some encouragement to those who need a little lift. If we have learned anything in the past two years, it is that we need to be connected with other people. Isolation is devastating to the spirit, and we need to reach out and help each another.
Since retiring at the end of June, I have spent some time getting reorganized. I think of myself as being organized, but I have to confess that the last couple of years required all my personal projects to be put on hold! Running a school through the pandemic was the greatest challenge of my professional life, and required my full attention. Those of you who know me understand that this is an understatement. During the pandemic, we had to deal with my sister's battle with cancer (holding strong!), my fractured kneecap which required over a year of rehab, and the tragic loss of my eldest, my son Kevin. Life can be tragic, but we can always see the goodness of God in the midst of these moments. We had so many blessings during this time, too. My daughter's intimate family-only wedding is a precious memory. I hope that you will stay with me as we just talk -- about our blessings and our challenges that come to us every day.
Our school opened in August 2020 and remained open all year. In a great moment of irony, I slipped on a little drip of hand sanitizer in the school hallway, fell directly on my right knee and cracked the kneecap in two -- just 3 weeks after school started! My favorite phrase, "No, I'm okay" had to leave my vocabulary for quite a while. It was so humbling to be helpless. My sisters, children, colleagues, parents at school, and friends pitched in to help me with all the basics. It's amazing how much help you need when you can't bend your knee. I will be forever grateful to them all.
I hadn't fully realized how much the world is built for those who are mobile. A small challenge like stepping up onto a curb can keep someone from leaving the house. The insecurity of not being stable can be terrifying. I was fortunate that I had some very faithful people to support me. What do people who are truly alone do? I just hate to ask for help, don't you? My experience was that people seemed very willing to help. I am hoping that when one of them needs me, they are comfortable asking for my help!
I'll leave you with a Thought for the Day:
"It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish." (Samwise Gamgee in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings)
Blessings,
Barb
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