I've had some interesting encounters that have brought me to a week full of reflection. There were three specific moments I've been thinking about all week and it's brought me to wonder about how much I take for granted in my life.
Moment 1: I have a coworker that has shared tidbits of her life with me and I got even more insight on it this week. She confessed that once as a teenager she tried to take her life by a drug overdose. There are other times when she told me about her childhood, how she at one time lived with someone else other than her parents while her father was sent by the military to go to war before going to live with her mother and grandmother in Germany for a few years. I know she had a sibling, but there was such an age difference that she was basically an only child. By the sound of it she'd been passed around a few times...and then there was her marriage which was not a happy one. I finally realized that this poor woman has not had a lot of love in her life and may be the cause of her cynicism with many people. Despite this, she still has a heart that she'll share with those who have gained her trust.
Moment 2: I happened to encounter a discussion between two girls who were both trying to overcome their drug addictions. One girl was just beginning the journey, only four weeks in progress, but the other had gone several months without taking drugs. The latter girl was very upbeat and lively...and I admit I was not in the mood at first--wanting some quiet--but her energy and enthusiasm caught my attention. She had a husband in jail struggling with the same problem I believe, but she was as positive as I've ever heard from a recovering addict. She was giving words of encouragement to the other. I felt so impressed by this girl. I hope for continued success for this girl.
Moment 3: I was witness to a beautiful moment as I watch a woman with tears of gratitude thanking people who were involved in helping her get surgery to improve her eyesight. She thanked multiple people over and over again for helping. One of the ladies she hugged said in a jocular tone that it almost made her feel like she was the one who performed the surgery. To think about that woman's gratitude even began to bring me to tears. That was truly beautiful.
I am left at the end of this week reflecting on the struggles these have gone through and especially with that last example thinking about how many things I have taken for granted in my own life. Life is beautiful in all its variations.
