The first article on my new blog site. How do you like it?
Oh? You love it. Bless you. I knew you would. (If you hate it, just keep it to yourself please, just keep it to yourself. Remember love covers a multitude of sins and just about everything else.)
(Btw, there is one small issue that needs to be fixed, but I decided to wait no more. The time is now. I must write on my new space. If you find said error, overlook it, and perhaps consider a career in I Spy or Finding Waldo. But, don’t fret, we’re working on it.)
So, onto the topic of the day, written on my new blog.
I debated mightily on the debut article. I considered waxing thoughtfully about my hellebores, especially ‘Purple Galaxy.’ Contemplated a discussion on the weird ways of roses, but why I think you absolutely should plant Lady of Shalott (David Austin) in your garden (so many good reasons!), or how my primrose collection is going (fabulous). But then I had an epiphany. (Don’t you love it when that happens?) So more weighty things will appear here today, and later we’ll get back to the gentle ways of the garden, and the ‘Black and Blue’ saliva I plan to plant along the picket fence (pure triumph).
This blog post concerns the college son, who had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad semester. And, I considered moving to Australia. But, some semesters of life are just like that, even in Australia. So instead, we plowed through. (I say we because as THE MOTHER I wanted to kill him and myself and the everyone associated with what we’ll just call the ‘Incident’.) The semester finishes up next week (Thank you Jesus!). So, we did a brief review today. Here’s what we know.
1. The consequences for some not-so-stellar-choices are proving harsh.
2. The consequences will be long term.
3. The consequences could bring shame if we let them.
4. The consequences are sweet revenge for some who were hurt in the “Incident.’ (It is far better to be in the hands of the Lord than of men. Can I hear Amen?)
5. Blessings are sweeter in the midst of rough consequences.
That last one kills me. Just like days off are sweeter after a long week of work, blessings are more obvious when life is kicking your butt. I’m sure its all a yin-yang thing, but what I know is, that if left up to me, life would be one long cruise in sunny weather with calm waters. I am not made for battle. I am made for flip flops, long lazy beach days, tea in the garden, good books, interesting conversation, naps, and leisurely walks, but not deep-in-the-trenches-battle. I never liked the song Onward Christian Soldiers. I preferred In the Garden.
But, my children are teaching me what battle looks like and what victory is. I include my Bonus Daughter who showed what tough stuff she’s made of living in Juneau, Alaska for a year, alone, as a single mother. (I could not be a single mother if had a thousand nannies, household help and a Jacuzzi.) Here’s my take-away from the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad semester:
Victory is not the absence of failure.
Victory is what you do with failure.
The College Son did some pretty amazing things with his failure, which ended with an incredible poem that blew my mind and his English teacher’s. I watched his failure become his triumph. I will say that is an awesome thing to see.
I view a few of my own failures differently now, not letting the voice of shame win the day, but instead saying, wow, you survived that? I am curious, even. What if my failures can be my victories? It’s a start, I suppose, to learning how to fight. The battle may be lost from time to time, but the war is not over, and victory is not the spoils of my enemies, but the attitude of my heart.
Transplanted (and still) Blooming.