Simply Overwhelmed

I haven't been writing much lately as I have been too overwhelmed to sit and put my thoughts into coherent words. I realize there are many people who thrive on stress; I am not one of them. Too much stress has the opposite effect on me...I simply shut down. That has been the last few weeks of my life. All the hoopla of getting the house on the market and beginning a search for a new home has made it difficult for me to function. When it gets to be too much a nap seems the best solution to me. Bipolar and Anxiety Disorders tend to go hand in hand...and it is not a happy partnership.

So today I am just reaching out for a little help from my friends. If you have a moment to spare, please say a little prayer for me. I would really like to have this entire move behind me and perhaps begin to function a little better again.

~Marla

Friendship

Friendship used to be easily defined... before Facebook. Now friendship is a little more complicated. I have over 500 friends on Facebook. Am I really friends with all these people? Of course not. Most are simply acquaintances, some are relatives, a few are people I have never even met, and some are relatives I have never met!

So what defines a true friend? Well, I looked at several definitions and decided that indeed, there are different kinds of friends. I have three female friends who I consider my best friends. They are the ones who get to see my soul naked. I don't hide any of the ugliness from them, and they love me anyway. They know my deep dark secrets, and don't think less of me for it. I hope they know who they are before reading this, but I will share a little about them. 

The first is older than me, in fact she has a daughter almost my age. She is a year or two older than my brother, so no, she isn't a mother figure to me. She has been there for me during some rough times. We don't see each other as often as we should. But when we do it is as if no time has passed at all. I love her dearly, and I swear she is ageless. We have argued and been mad at each other...and none of that has ever mattered. We worked side by side in an office for 3 years and managed not to kill each other! That alone speaks of the depth of our friendship.

The second is about my age. She is a friend I see frequently. She keeps me on track, calls me out if I need it. And I will do the same for her. If I stumble, she is the one to tell me to get back up. We have laughed together and cried together. We have traveled together! We have known each other for over 20 years, but the closeness of our friendship is somewhat more recent. God's timing is ever perfect, and I think we became close friends by His design.

The third is young enough to be my daughter...and I have known her every second of her life. From the ages of 10 through 17, if you had told me she would one day be my very best friend, I would have laughed. This girl who shared my personality drove me crazy when she was a child. But then something amazing happened...she grew up, and became my rock. She knows me better than anyone has ever known me. More than that...she understands me...which I am sure my husband, even after 35 years as a couple, does not!  I loved my own mother dearly, but never did we have this particular kind of relationship. 


I found the following definition of a friend in the Urban Dictionary. I thought it fit exactly how I feel about these three, very special, women.

A friend is someone you love and who loves you, someone you respect and who respects you, someone whom you trust and who trusts you. A friend is honest and makes you want to be honest, too. A friend is loyal. A friend is someone who is happy to spend time with you doing absolutely nothing at all; someone who doesn't mind driving you on stupid errands, who will get up at midnight just because you want to go on an adventure, and who doesn't have to talk to communicate with you. A friend is someone who not only doesn't care if you're ugly or boring, but doesn't even think about it; someone who forgives you no matter what you do, and someone who tries to help you even when they don't know how. A friend is someone who tells you if you're being stupid, but who doesn't make you feel stupid. A friend is someone who would sacrifice their life and happiness for you. A friend is someone who will come with you when you have to do boring things like watch bad recitals, go to stuffy parties, or wait in boring lobbies. You don't even think about who's talking or who's listening in a conversation with a friend. A friend is someone for whom you're willing to change your opinions. A friend is someone you look forward to seeing and who looks forward to seeing you: someone you like so much, it doesn't matter if you share interests or traits. A friend is someone you like so much, you start to like the things they like. A friend is a partner, not a leader or a follower. God bless these wonderful women! ~Marla

Finding Serenity

Serenity. In our family Serenity is a place. My brother and sister-in-law bought a retirement home a year and a half ago. A home that feels as if it is miles away from any other people, though in reality it sits on the edge of a small Kansas town. They named their new home Serenity, a name that suits it perfectly. Every time I visit, serenity does indeed envelope me. I can be stressed when I arrive, but after a few minutes of quietly sitting and looking out over the property, my tensions ease and disappear. It truly seems almost a magical place. 




But according to the definition of serenity, it is not a place at all, but a state of mind.


serenity: The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled: "an oasis of serenity".


So as much as I enjoy visiting Serenity, it is not a necessity in the quest for serenity itself. I can find that anywhere, if I allow myself to.
These are places I find serenity.

In the joy of the children in our family.

In gathering with family and friends.

In watching the birds feed at my feeders.

In simply relaxing with a good cup of coffee.

In taking time to garden and enjoy the flowers.

In the stillness and beauty of God's word.


Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I carry is light” Matthew 11:29-30


Here is wishing the blessing of serenity for each and every one of you.
God Bless ~Marla