resilience

God has been teaching me resilience for a number of years now, particularly as a single parent - this has been the key way that he has been able to strengthen my character in this respect....

more recently my son, Santana, has become my teacher in respect of this word. i was feeling a bit sorry for myself on tuesday morning following burying my dad's ashes. thinking about how tough it was having to go to work amidst all the sorrow.... as we got into the car to take the children to school it was pouring with rain. My daughter, Ophir, remarked 'mummy it was terrible that time someone smashed into our car and we had to walk all the way to the police station and back.' 'yes,' interjected Santana, 'we had to walk four miles, and it was pouring with rain, but we kept going and kept going didn't we mummy.... that's resilience.'

'Wow, that's right Santana,' I say startled, 'where did you learn that word ?'
'In assembley, Miss Murray was talking about resilience.'
'What does it mean Santana?'
'It means keeping going and going until you reach your goal.'
'Well done, Santana. You have used that word brilliantly, in context.'

Little did he know that this was the key message i needed to hear that day. Out of the mouths of babes indeed! i really love it when my children correct me, teach me and reframe my thinking. they are such amazing little people who have such insight at times.

later that day i got an e-mail from a teaching colleague whose father had died the day before mine. i had sent an e-mail the week before to say 'thinking of you, hope you're ok.' their e-mail listed members of family who had been rushed into hospital and suffered horrendous illness in the aftermath of her father's death and it didn't sound like she'd had a moment to stop.... or even take breath. it certainly put everything into perspective for me. other than having to sort out a birthday party for 25 children, everything else has run smoothly for us. the children have been well for the most part and god has held me tight in a bubble of protection.

and looking forward.... things can only get better on saturday when chelsea win the FA cup final!! mind you... based on their most recent performances, it may be just another chance to show some resilience the next day...!