It’s been a week filled with beauty, love, and plenty of challenges.  Like most weeks, basically.  Ella’s had a wicked chest cold for about two weeks, which wakes her in the night coughing (which wakes me int he night to comfort her).  I did manage to sneak in a bit of crafting while a babysitter was here (finishing a striped raglan for Ella and a Stella pixie hat – thank goodness I started them both long ago).  And I do think she’s almost better – at last.  I seem to have a re-occuring pattern that sickness lingers (in myself or my daughter) until I stop to ask myself what lesson this illness might have to offer.  Not just a complaining “Why me?” questioning, but a true wondering what the gift could be.

Today, I did not want to show up for work (meaning, life).  But I happened to reread Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa’s section in this article (it’s posted in my sewing room), and I thought, Of course.  I closed my eyes and asked to be shown how I could be of service.  I opened my eyes and there was a sick four year old, with all of her quirks and needs.  There was a husband with arms sore from erecting a huge hoophouse, who really needed a quick massage.  There were many chances to make extra cups of tea when I went to make on for myself, and endless chances to truly listen to someone talking to me, to offer a kind word, to ignore any unkindness.  I found myself singing This little light of mine, and tonight we lit two candles on our menorah.  I was so glad that I had truly been here today.

Wishing you wonderful holidays, and that the light we are all searching for finds you, wherever you are.  Blessings on you and yours.