It's amazing how much easier things are in life when you face them with other people who care about you and support you. Sometimes that means sharing tears together. Sometimes it's all about multiple people problem solving together for a solution to a challenge. Sometimes it can be as simple as sharing joyful moments with others and helping us to feel happy that day. Today was one of those joyful days because we spent time together. Right now our family is small with only one daughter at home while our son is in Mexico serving an LDS mission. However, we had the pleasure of watching two of our friends' children for a couple of days, and it reminded us how much fun we can have together. We worked on the garden, had airsoft wars, played games, snapped each other in kitchen towel fights, popped popcorn, and ate chocolate cake. I think the statement "The family that plays together, stays together" is pretty accurate. The Family: A Proclamation to the World in 1995 put it this way. "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." Today was definitely one of those days in which we participated in "wholesome recreational activities".
The beautiful aspect about thriving together is that when one person may be feeling a little down or grumpy, others in the family may be able to cheer that person up and soon all are thriving together. "You life me and I"ll lift thee, and we'll ascend together."
While on this topic of thriving together, let me take just a moment to express our gratitude for our family members and friends who have offered incredible support and love to us over the almost 17 years since Laurent's accident. Without them, this journey would have been much darker, lonelier, and definitely more discouraging than it has been. If I were to name every act of kindness or every encouraging comment, this post would go on for pages and pages. Even then, I would risk missing someone and something important. Each and every single one of them have lightened our load and lifted our souls. Throughout the years, they have woven a web of interconnecting actions and relationships that never leave us completely alone, and that is a tender mercy. In my opinion then, whichever side of the coin we're on today, we can connect with someone else and help all involved to thrive. If today is your day to be up and filled with optimism or strength, reach out to someone whose tank is just a little low and fill it up. If, however, you are feeling a little discouraged and weary, again reach out to others and let them lift you up. In either case, we need not live in an isolated little bubble, but instead can reach out our hands, clasp them in friendship and love, and thrive together.
The beautiful aspect about thriving together is that when one person may be feeling a little down or grumpy, others in the family may be able to cheer that person up and soon all are thriving together. "You life me and I"ll lift thee, and we'll ascend together."
While on this topic of thriving together, let me take just a moment to express our gratitude for our family members and friends who have offered incredible support and love to us over the almost 17 years since Laurent's accident. Without them, this journey would have been much darker, lonelier, and definitely more discouraging than it has been. If I were to name every act of kindness or every encouraging comment, this post would go on for pages and pages. Even then, I would risk missing someone and something important. Each and every single one of them have lightened our load and lifted our souls. Throughout the years, they have woven a web of interconnecting actions and relationships that never leave us completely alone, and that is a tender mercy. In my opinion then, whichever side of the coin we're on today, we can connect with someone else and help all involved to thrive. If today is your day to be up and filled with optimism or strength, reach out to someone whose tank is just a little low and fill it up. If, however, you are feeling a little discouraged and weary, again reach out to others and let them lift you up. In either case, we need not live in an isolated little bubble, but instead can reach out our hands, clasp them in friendship and love, and thrive together.