Words fascinate me

Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all. - Winston Churchill

Awhile back I set out to write 300 words a day and to publish a blog once a week. Well, that didn't happen. But I really want to write! This morning I wrote out two blog posts I decided not to publish because I realized though I have a lot I want to say, these are meditations that right now I need to keep chewing on.

I enjoy looking up words in ancient Hebrew. I know. I'm strange. Its just fascinating to me. Words mean things. Often their meanings are different than we believe. We get used to hearing words spoken in a certain context and we loose the real meaning.

Love, for instance.

As I was walking into Sprouts this morning to pick up my favorite apples (Fuji) and a few veggies I was reliving a short conversation I had yesterday with a close family member. We hadn't talked in a long time and so, because there is so much to say, we said very little. But before we hung up "I love yous" were exchanged. I was thinking this morning, we should really be saying, "I'm endeared to you." Or, "I care about you." But not really "I love you." I know, its just a salutation we so often use (especially in my family), like "Good Morning!" and "How are you?" But the word love is so rich with meaning. I often lament that we don't use it rightly.

"I love you" means I lay down my life for you. It means, I am patient with you. It means I am kind to you, I don't envy you, I never give up on you, I am not self-seeking in my relationship to you...etc.

Love is something. It does something. It really isn't just affectionate feelings toward another. Affectionate feelings are just that- feelings of endearment to another. But love is what one does when the affectionate feelings are absent. I love a perfect stranger when I pick up the bottle they dropped in the store, or open the door so they can get through, or don't yell at them when they cut me off, or patiently teach them daily though they whine.

I thought all that in about 10 seconds. See why I have a hard time sitting down to write 300 hundred words a day?

I journaled at home today and then ran errands and heard a guy on the radio declare that no one writes in a journal anymore. "I do." I muttered back at the speakers. Are there any other endangered journal writers like me out there who still enjoy the feeling of pen to paper?

I looked back through my journal today and saw clearly how patient God is with me. And was reminded that I am where He wants me to be. That's one reason I like to keep a written journal.

I ate lunch with my 2nd and 3rd graders today, and yesterday. My 3rd grader isn't so happy to have mom show up at his lunch table where sweaty 8 year old friends of his planned on mulling over the highlights of the playground kickball game they just finished. Makes me sad. I'm entering a new phase with him. Not sure how to do this. I'm thinking I should stand my ground and show up for lunch whether he sulks or not. One day he'll be glad I was there.

OK. I'm pretty sure that's WAY more than 300 words.

I'll wrap up with, I LOVE fall. I mean, I thoroughly enjoy the beauty of fall. There aren't many fall colors in the Phoenix valley in mid October when its a high of 98 degrees. But Fuji apples and pumpkins around the house are enough to make me smile.

Quieted,

Sheila