Thank you for this thread.

I was inspired today by my eight-month-old grandson's eyes...deeply looking into mine, searching and drawing comfort, strength, something from my very soul. I've never known a baby with such wise eyes that literally looks deeply into the soul.

Little does he realize that while he's searching and finding, I'm finding.

I'm finding beauty, innocence, grace, strength, an open and giving spirit, desire, happiness...pure unhindered happiness.

Tears immediately sprung to my eyes...feeling more than I could ever put into words.

Also, a few days ago a young woman came across the street to say hi to her old "mentor". I'd not seen her but once in a couple of years.

She'd had a very difficult childhood, and many times she spent at my house seeking many things...a mother, a friend, an auntie, a safe and warm bed, a protector even.

When she was able to get away, she did just that. She fell into the "wrong crowd" and had two children, a divorce and got into some drugs.

I was lying down when she came and was very angry at my husband for coming to get me. I'd been sleep-deprived and was exhausted. I wanted to cry, but I dragged myself out the my comfortable bed and went to say, "Hi."

She asked me to come outside, that she had something to say to me. I was barely tolerating this...I was just so exhausted.

We got outside and she hugged me tight again and said that she'd cleaned herself up and was actually in college to become a drug and alcohol counselor. She said she's taking some classes right now that have her really doing alot of soul-searching and she just kept coming back to "Kim". Everything she went through, there was Kim as the bright spot, comfort zone, counselor or protector.

******************** Possibly triggering ********************



We laughed at some of the sillier things and she reminded me when she came over one specific night...running for her life to get to me. I could barely get what was going on out of her, and here came the person who'd hurt her...her father.

I had hubby meet him at the door, and though he was a friend from childhood, I wouldn't allow him in. She said no one had ever chosen her over anybody. I cried. She reminded me of the two times that I'd gone over to protect her from her then husband when she went from the frying pan into the fire with that man and marriage.

I won't share here how I handled both of those times because I wouldn't want y'all to know me in that "light". It was for the right reasons, though, right?

She said she had to let me know that she wouldn't be alive if it weren't for me, and she certainly wouldn't be where she is.

I, in turn, explained that where she is is ALL on her, and explained how proud I was of her. She said that wasn't true, that I didn't have to be there all those times, even for the silly teenaged dramas. I laughed because there was plenty of that too!

I wasn't tired anymore. I was grateful, rejuvenated, excited, thankful. Blessings come when we least expect them, and can't see them coming.

This is the second such recent event where I'm being blessed with seeing that what I attempt does matter. What an inspiration.

Please never think that your words go unheard, your actions unseen...good and bad. Please know that, even when we're not aware of it, we've touched someone, somewhere, in some way...sometimes never knowing, but always touching.

It's made me evaluate what kinds of seeds I've sewn lately. Have I sewn much that would be fruitful? What an inspiration to know that it matters...it truly matters!

Moreover, imagine the inspiration and blessing I would have missed had I not gotten out of bed that day?

I thanked her for listening to her heart and telling me, because she, in turn, gifted me...HUGELY.

KD