The Power of a Moment

Yesterday was a big family day for us.  Our oldest daughter had a birthday party for 5 of her 7 children (yes, you read that correctly).  It had been planned for months and the entire family was invited and had indicated that they would be there.

The party started at 11:30 and our precious youngest boy was a no show.  

12:00 still not there

12:30 hadn’t shown up and not answering the text I sent him reminding him of the party and that his pappa was in town as well.

1:00 nearing the end of the party I finally get a text from him apologizing for not being there because he overslept and that he was on his way.

Now, at that point I had two choices when he walked in the door late to the party.

I could examine his eyes.  I could listen closely to his words to see how clearly he was speaking.  I could watch his behavior closely (and suspiciously I might add).  And I could hit him with a verbal onslaught of questions about why he was late, why he was so tired, etc. etc.  I could live in the past, thinking “Oh crap, this is what his past behaviors were like.  He always does this.  I’m tired of him not taking his commitments seriously.”  Or I could let my thinking spiral to  the future “Oh crap, here we go again.  He’s going to lose everything if this goes bad” (as I start planning his funeral). Yes, I COULD have done all of those things.

OR I could choose to be mindful in that moment.  I could chosoe gratitude because my son got up and made the effort to come see his nieces, nephews and grandparents.  When he walked in I could smile and say “hey son, glad to see you!” Because I was.  And I could simply accept what was in the here and now, enjoying the laughter in the room, appreciating the funny interactions between the family and marvel at life in the room.

I chose the later.  Love told me to choose the later.  And love never fails.

And it was a beautiful afternoon.

Had I chose the first option, I can assure you that the moments of joy would not have happened.  Things would have been tense.  Negative attitudes would have ruled the day.  And the memories that I would carry with me would have haunted me, rather than bringing me peace.

The power of living in the moment.  Life, love and laughter.

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