“OK, Bethany! Can you read all these vocabulary words and use them in a sentence?
“Sure, Mommy!”
Beth was doing a great job until we got to a very “simple” word. It was the word- brag.
Bethany read it and stared blankly at me.
“Can you use it in a sentence? It means to talk big. I said my best “braggy” voice- like “I can do that better than you” – or “Look at me- I am so great at that!“
Her almond eyes grew round. “Oh no, brag is not good.”
“Yes, you’re right, it’s not good to brag about yourself but can you use it in a sentence?”
“No, thank you, Mommy.”
🙂
I had to laugh because my girl Bethie, tells me all the time she’s good at things but she is more “celebrating” than “bragging”. She lives a full but “simple” life. No verbal posturing, no ability to craft words or be disingenuous or complicated. No girly cattiness. She loves all her friends at school and church. Everybody is wonderful!
She’s authentic and uncomplicated. If she’s upset, she tells you. If she’s sad, you don’t have to guess. It is her simplicity that is the biggest barrier to depth in friendships: she just can’t get “up to speed” with the conversations and flying thoughts whirling around her. But it is also her simplicity that gives her a huge capacity to have faith and love.
Her world is uncomplicated, humble, some might say lowly in comparison to the lofty goals of most. But her forte is
“Connecting with a capital C”!
She calls her siblings every day to talk with them and asks, “Hi. This is Beth. What you doing? When you commin to see me?” LOL
She asks Jeff every day “Daddy, can you stay home from work today?” I’m with her the majority of her day and yet every time I leave she reminds me, “Mommy- I need you. Hurry back to me.”
Her biggest frustration seems to be when she can’t be with whomever she has decided she needs to be with. 🙂 She struggles to understand the 100 mph life everyone lives around her while her speedometer is maxed out at 40 mph.
[Tweet “#Rushing through #life cheats us of #enjoying the #simple pleasures.”]
The truth is: Bethany won’t ever be able to live the 100 mph life.
I couldn’t even admit that until this year. That used to make me sad if I contemplated it…it still can make me sad if I focus on all the “levels of life” she’s missing. But I’m asking myself, “Does it matter what “speed” I live life or is about how well I live it? Does it matter “how much” I cram into my day or should I be measuring how much I’ve shown love each day? Does it matter in the grand scheme of things how much money I make (or don’t lol) or how many degrees I’ve earned?
Is my main goal in life, “Connection with a capital C” to my Father
and the presence of the ones He’s so graciously blessed me with?
Bethany is a constant reminder to me:
[Tweet ” God delights in WHO are – not what we achieve. #identity”]
So, at least for today, partly in thanks to Bethany, I evaluate my stressful, chaotic, 100 mph life and I choose to say “YES” to simple. I choose to lay down my frantic busyness and simply
SIMPLIFY.
SURPRISING TREASURES: Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish, simple, and humble, in order to shame those who think they are wise and educated. And He chose things that are powerless and weak to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world,[h] things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”I Corinthians 1:27-31
Cindy~
I am so glad that I have found the blog you talk about on our visits and I can read it for hours!! I <3 it !!! It feels me with hope, spirit, and so much love for Beth and your family!!! Thank you for sharing your life and hers with me:) The simple things are truly what life is about and sometimes it takes Beth to remind us that life doesn't have to be so complicated and complex and to enjoy each other:)
Thanks Dawn- I’m glad you found my blog too! It encourages me to keep writing and putting down my thoughts and little nuggets I’m gleaning while walking this path of life. I think you said it- the key is we need to enjoy each other- life can be so hard sometimes but if we focus on God and each other- things get back in perspective. hugs
That was supposed to be fills me…and I feel so much joy reading all of your thoughts and insights!!!
my simple reply….absolutely wonderful 🙂
🙂 Thanks Andi hugs
meant to add I think you’re absolutely wonderful 🙂
Martha was busy and fretting about many things, while Jesus said that Mary chose the “better part” – comes to mind as I read this. Bethie is such a precious girl, and I like the pace of her life – part of the joy of being retired, I’m finding, is being free to slow down! (I tell folks that once upon a time I could “keep 12 planes in the air; now I can’t get one off the ground” 😉 – or so it seems as we run out of steam.) I wonder if we weren’t designed for living at that slower pace, taking time for those most important relationships.
Thank you for writing these glimpses of life with Bethany. She is so blessed to have you for her mommy. And you are blessed to have such a delightful and thoughtful little girl. Hugs and love to you both from your big fan!
I was smiling the whole time I read your response- You need to write a book Edy- you have so many great insights! I love the plane one 🙂 Last night, we were looking at the stars and paused long enough have the “wonder of God” begin to spread through our minds and heart. I thought- back in the day, before electric lights, before we “controlled” how long our days were, before there was TV to fill our evenings, people were “limited” to a simple life of wonder and reflection. Maybe we all need to s l o w down and enjoy life and each other more. Thanks for always being so encouraging- you keep me writing 🙂 hugs
You captured Beth’s very essence. I may be Beth’s daddy, but in so many ways I want to be just like her when I grow up! :-)). My heart sometimes breaks for the things she misses, but I am equally as glad about some of the things she will miss. Beth’s life urges me to rearrange my priorities away from things and back to people. Away from doing and more to being.
I love you husband and I’m glad we’re partners in our crazy, hazy journey through life- holding His hand and seeking His ways! hugs
What a beautiful portrait of an amazing young woman..wise beyond her years.
Thanks Amy- I think what’s beautiful about simple is- it isn’t complicated. LOL- I mean life can seem so complicated but at it’s essence, it really is simple. Trust God, love Him, love others, ask for help, give help- Sometimes, I think my life is complicated because I’ve allowed too much into it to complicate it. Simplify! hugs
I think Beth has the shortcut version..she has cut through all the malarky that so many think is important to the truly valuable stuff…it’s like she has a radar for truth and beauty..honesty and a pure heart…
“Like” 🙂
Thanks Amy- what a great way to look at it! She’s cut through the malarky 🙂 She does have radar for truth and beauty- that has the makings of a blog :)! hugs
Well Cindy…Once again you reached me in the depths of my heart and spirit …and it is through a little girl that we have all grown hopefully to be more mature Christians. Beth is so delightful in that she is real…I know so many people that are not real…the pretense that some of us portray because we have been conditioned to be a certain way. With Beth…she is real and so refreshing in this world of chaos. She teaches us every day if we but listen. Her child like faith is what we are all supposed to have. You go Bethy!!!
Real-authentic-without pretense- that is a blessing I have to keep focused on. Maybe that is part of the reason God allows disabilities and limitations into our lives- so that we can be a Living testimony and a light that shines in the darkness. 🙂 I know that she is such a gift to us!
Awesome! I love hearing about how well Beth understands the world around her, and I think it’s so cool that she didn’t even want to participate in boasting by using the word in a sentence. How great!
Thanks Jen- she’s definitely not perfect-lol- I could tell some stories that would raise a few eyebrows – but for the majority of life- she is our “simple glory” wrapped in Bethany packaging. 🙂
How beautiful to see the “simplicity” in all that Bethany does. Sometimes I feel our kids have things figured out more than we do because we tend to over complicate things and to see it through our children’s eyes is often times refreshing. You have surrounded your children with such love and acceptance and they are lucky to have you for their mother. Hugs to you dear friend.
Simplicity has its own beauty! We do tend to make things complicated, cluttered, and it consumes us! We’re blessed to be Mama’s to such treasure :). Give Justin a high five from me! hugs
Cindy ~ I am always blessed by your uplifting positivity in your daily life with your “Treasures” . The Lord has surely blessed you in this life! ~ and in return has blessed others in your writings of faith and encouragement! God bless you in your journey and your wonderful work! Blessings! Had to share this one on my Fb!
thanks so much Kathy! What’s exciting to me is this- in my own self- I get so overwhelmed and overcome by the sadness of situations- but God!!! He is building me- transforming my spiritual eyes to see His perspective and giving me a new heart- one that is trusting in my Father’s love. What I am helpless to do- He does out of His love!
From glory to glory He’s changing us! So grateful for His Love ~ HIs love that could never fill the oceans ~
Blessings my friend!