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Joyful Dragon

I've been thinking about many things since the beginning of the year. First off I was thinking of how this year will probably be amazing because it's 2014 and 14 is my favorite number. Deep thought, I know. But it lead me to another thought: I better have a good year this year because this is the only year with a 14 in it I'll be living. Also, deep, I know. Hang in there. That lead me to another chain of thoughts which is, hopefully, worth sharing.

It's crazy to me that we humans know we have a limited amount of time on earth. There's a variable to the number of years of course, but a rough estimate is possible, and we make it and live around it. That's a large weight to carry around every day if you stop to think about it. It's hard to know that you'll be gone by a certain time. For example, I know I won't be around in 2114 - which would be my next possible year with a 14 in it. 

Even more amazing is the fact that, in the midst of knowing our start date and a very possible finish date of life, we can experience good things! Despite the knowledge that one day we'll be gone, we can experience joy, love, hope. We can laugh and tell stories and climb mountains and enjoy all of that even though we're operating on a countdown. I find that astounding. It seems more likely to me that little humans would be utterly incapacitated all the time by our eventual end. Sometimes I have struggled greatly with the idea of mortality. I am not saying that we are always able to take this knowledge in stride. But the fact that we are often able to is nothing less than an amazing gift.

It is a gift that I would be able to enjoy moments like these with my sweet baby, Piper Joy, when Auntie Cuz brought her a dragon suit. She came in with just the hat on as proud as could be and I laughed my head off. Every time I see her in this costume, I'll think of her as my joyful dragon.







I encourage you to identify an image or memory that makes you laugh. Think of it throughout the week as a reminder of the gift we have been given!

Comments

  1. KateJanuary 12, 2014 at 2:34 PM

    This is so very dear. See to it that Piper fits in that costume next Halloween: I will dress Jake up as a knight and there will be no bloodshed and lots of pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  2. J. CarsonJanuary 13, 2014 at 11:36 AM

    Man, I wish I had a dragon outfit like that. Maybe for my birthday in March?

    Dad

    ReplyDelete

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