LOVE WINS - FRIDAY DECEMBER 4TH, 2020

A celebration of women today!!

Recently, I’ve been reading (okay, listening) to a lot of women-oriented books.  I’ve also met and have fantastic women friends.  As part of my LOVE WINS Friday series I wanted to talk about some wonderful women and in particular one woman who is taking this day as a celebration, ceremony, and retreat.  

First, AP.  Anne dropped out of college in her freshman year because of mono (mononucleosis).  I remember other friends having mono in the past and how it really affected them.  (She says she was once very shy!!!) She eventually graduated from college and has been a living example of ‘LOVE WINS’.  Anne has shown me what friendship really is (even to playing detective!!).  It is much deeper than saying “I’ll pray for you” and walking away!!!  And, if I need her - any time, all I have to do is call 512-236-0000!! 

Then Mary and Rita.  I got to know these women through my volunteering at Faith in Action-Georgetown - which gives rides to seniors who don’t drive any longer.  Mary is such a sweet friend - with an awesome smile.  Rita likes to make me dinner.  She is such an example of persevering.  

And, of course, there are many others. Lynette and Dorrine - you are amazing; Lynn, Nancy, Barb, and more.   Colleagues at QU and DSU.  So many great friends in Texas - Nancy, Sherry, Shirley, Emily, Vickie, Helen, Nana Blanche, Linda, Pat, Cindy, Carol, Deanna, Tamra, Bonnie, Aura, Jayne(and others - by-the-way, I’m realizing that I can’t really name all the awesome women that I know!!!).  Plus my medical friends - Emily F, Megan, Marcy, Jennifer, Allison, Karen V.

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But, today, I want to highlight another friend because of something she is doing today.

At times we all run down a little. Like the old wind-up clocks, we need somebody/something to tighten our springs.  We all have ways this happens.  I have music that refreshes me.  Some go to a church and spend time there, others can go to some isolated place for meditation.  Others give of themselves through volunteering.  

Today my friend KW is having a ‘ceremony’  - by herself.  Think of this as a mini-retreat day for her.  She is withdrawing for a day to celebrate herself and her life.  I am thinking this might be like a lady spending a few days contemplating joining a religious order.

Without enough details, KW has fought a lot of battles from childhood abuse and a boat-load of hurts, bruises, and pains. 

On her mini-retreat / celebration/ceremony, I envision KW spending time with God as she understands Him or Her.  The infinite - the Alpha and Omega.  She and I have spent hours debating God - realizing that man (aka ‘humankind’) is finite - time means so much to us, while God is infinite - all-powerful, all-knowing, all present.  

She asked me and others for words for her to meditate on today.  I suggested the following for her (and for all of us - men and women)

-, Overcome - there are hurdles and roadblocks in life that we must go around, through, over, under, or just avoid.  How do you overcome these issues in life? 

-. Persevere - it can be hard to continue fighting when it seems like nothing good is ever going to come from it.  I’m reminded of the saying, ‘it is better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness’.  We have to keep going.

-. Warrior - warriors are those people who do persevere, who do overcome the evils in life!!

-. Scarred - but all of us - and warriors come away from the battles with scars.  Sometimes those scars remind us of what battles we were in.  (When I look in the mirror and see my scar from my major aorta surgery, it helps me realize who I am and where I am going)

- Survivor - some battles are too much - but warriors frequently do overcome and persevere and survive.  As I write this today, I think of RS - a Connecticut friend who was released from the hospital after deadly acute COVID-19 systems - including a fairly long stay in the ICU (intensive care unit).

-. Amazon - this is from KW.  Last weekend we watched Wonder Woman on Hulu.  Men, all (almost all) women are Wonder Woman.  I never had the “pleasure” of having monthly menstrual periods - with cramps, mood swings, and PMS; of going through nine months of pregnancy; then through the painful delivery of a child.  I was there for the birth of our children, the screams, the pain, and the joy of new birth.  

So today as my friend KW has her mini-retreat, ceremony, celebration; I want to be there in spirit as well.  

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So what do you say?

Shouldn’t all of us periodically go through some self-analysis, some self-seeking, some growth, and then celebrate who we are with a ceremony of some nature?  Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”  Today my friend is doing that examination in her particular way.  (Aside - I ‘need’ to go through my particular self-analysis in what Catholics call confession or reconciliation with God during this advent season.)

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So, yes, LOVE DOES WIN - and at times we need some reflection time, some course corrections, and celebrations.  

HUGS!!!

Karen

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Karen White

http://karens2019.blogspot.com