The View from Here

 
They say that with age comes wisdom,

And I’m realizing perhaps that is true. 

I have thought so much lately about those times of trial in my life,

And how those moments have turned out to be the most precious to me of all with the passing of time,

Those times when I felt beaten down by the weight of my human frailty, decisions made that changed my course in an instant. 

Through them I have discovered my strength,

My true friends,

My courage,

My vulnerability. 

They have taught me to leave the judgemental tendencies of youth behind and embrace the religion of empathy and understanding. 

My mother’s words ring clearly now, There but by the grace of God go I.

And I finally truly understand. 

With the passing years, I am starting to see that I don’t have to be perfect- I cannot be perfect. That’s not what life is supposed to be about. 

It is about making those mistakes, the small ones with easy fixes and the big life-shattering ones that rock our foundations. 

The trials are there to teach us lessons, sometimes painful ones,

They help us grow toward our potential as compassionate human beings, able to reach out a hand to another in understanding, to lift them up in love. 

 I have been there, too. It will get better- I promise.

The gift of letting a fellow mistake-maker know that they are not alone in their suffering, there is always hope…

As we remind ourselves again, as well.