The Weekend Collective – Tidbits For Your Soul
Happy Weekend! Time to slow down. Each Saturday, in this corner of the world you will find links, stories, and tidbits guaranteed to make you smile, hope and believe all over again in the goodness of your fellow man and the redemptive grace of God!
Are you ready to smile?
Watch and listen to this 93-year-old (young) woman. Her laugh is infectious. I so want to be her when I am 93. Love her!
Little Ninja Warrior
On the other end of the age bracket, a little one who looks to be training for America’s Ninja Warrior! This is one creative dad building this backyard obstacle course for his daughter. Way to burn off some steam!
Wisdom to Learn From
My hubby and I have been staying with my mom this winter. While she does well for someone who just turned 90, she realizes a bit more help and support is needed. We drive her crazy with our comings and goings ( I think) and well, sometimes some of her antics test my patience (in a good way) too.
I have come to respect the process of aging in a new way. It is not for sissies. She is brave but somewhat afraid of is ahead. It is an inevitable process for all of us and I believe we would do well to slow down and learn from those who walk just ahead of us.
My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.
When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?
When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way … remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.
If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.
And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you … my darling daughter.
Original text in Spanish and photo by Guillermo Peña.
Translation to English by Sergio Cadena
These words… Lord, grant us patience to love well the seniors in our life.
- What are you up to this weekend?
- Plans?
- A nap?
We are going to visit some friends several hours north of town. Looking forward to being lazy together, laughing, drinking buckets of coffee and eating good food.
Whatever is ahead, I encourage you to carve out a little space to rest and restore your soul. Life is busy, but you don’t always need to be.
Blessings-
