I'm in a good, but complicated pocket of time. While there is the joy of celebrating a new book, the loveliness and hope in my grandgirlies' eyes, spring blooming all around me, and a run of good health for hubby and myself, there is also a lot of hard stuff happening to many whom I love. Things are so good for me right now, but wowie, all the hurt....

And so life goes. Sometimes we're up; other times we're lost to trials and tribulations. Ebb and flow. Good and bad. Rise and shine, sink or paddle.

Just this morning, I spent hours online and on the telephone, researching and networking to find information that might be helpful to pass along to several loved ones in crisis. Prayer and information. Sometimes it seems that's all we've got. But thankfully, there is more, and we carry it with us:  We have the long view--behind us. The lessons learned. The knowledge that even "that", too, did pass.

I remember well those times my trolley slipped off the track. How could I ever forget when three people I dearly loved and needed died within three weeks of each other. When I burnt myself out and didn't speak to anyone for weeks on end. When sensible parenting skills eluded me. When I'd done or said such terrible things that made me ask myself, Who ARE you, Charlene. When others behaved with such careless cruelty I felt gutted.

And yet, these experiences--these moments, these regrets and horrors and growing spurts--remind me, here in my current shiny time, that life is more than the good. But so too, life is more than the bad. Life is often the dubious. 

But always, life itself is grace.

In my current mix of chaos and goodness, I am reminded how much we really do need each other. To lift and hug. To comfort, encourage and sometimes scold. To share with each other our ridiculously small golden moments, bountiful bouts of laughter, quiet dreams, and especially our past's long-view perspective.

Life's circumstances slam-dunk is into moments of clarity. It's all we can do to hold on and concentrate on one thing at a time, take one teensy step forward. Focus on the brave achievement, the next lung-clearing, shoulder-dropping exhale. 

But it is often while reverently beholding the long road behind us that peace and hope begin to settle, ease us back into the cradle of all we have survived, the hearty stock of which we're made. Reminders of our very own grittiness and survival can rekindle our energy enough to propel us forward one more minute, one more minute, one more. We moan our prayers, and then we remember, I am not alone. Ever.

In life's bright pockets, it's good to celebrate. To gather or call or write friends and neighbors and say, "I have something wonderful to share!" Our uplifting news is a reminder to those in a dark valley that there is more, that the song of life still sings, even though we feel deaf to its rhythm.

So today, Dear Twinklegrammers, I encourage you to take stock. Whether you're up or down or sideways, take some time to consider the long behind-you view. To let its truths, our God and your grittiness usher forth glitters of grace. For with these lovely things, together we march on, giving what we have to give, reaping what we need to reap, sowing what we need to sow. Living one day at a time, asking for what we need and giving thanks for second chances.

Grace, amen.

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