Perspective

Today I am thankful for so much, but the concept that is framing life right now is perspective.

Yesterday our hot water heater broke.  Because our hot water heater broke, though, we went to a neighbor for hot baths and sat down and spent time and conversation with them.  Paul got to play on their piano and I realized that he might just have piano lessons in his future.  Claire got to read a story about Dora the Explorer to the elderly man.  Because our hot water heater broke, Adam and I consulted several friends and had conversations with some we haven't in a while.  Because our hot water heater is broken, tomorrow won't be a day of running around but staying at home and helping Adam replace the darn thing.

Last night the kids and I went to church to help serve dinner (and provide crazy entertainment) to homeless women spending the night at our church.  I was exhausted after a long day working, helping Claire with homework, and doing crisis management with Adam on the hot water heater, but I wanted to make sure we didn't miss this opportunity.  It was like having a family reunion.  "Look how much those kids have grown!  How are they doing in school?"  I didn't garner any new perspectives there other than one lady remembered that a year ago I referred to her as a piece of furniture and she still considers it a compliment.  (Furniture as in comfortable to be with and always around.  I'm a piece of furniture, too, for the record.)

Then we went and looked at Christmas lights on the church bus.  Rev. Nancy had already organized a field trip for the senior adults to do that, but I think we had more homeless ladies on the bus than seniors.  One of our guests was driving everyone nuts.  She was singing Christmas carols off key at the top of her lungs, rolling down the window and shouting Merry Christmas to strangers, and acting as a tour guide for every Christmas light we passed.  "Hey everyone, hey hey, look to your right!  Oooooh!"  "Hey now, look to your left, your left, your left!!!!!!"  I didn't mind it so much because I, too, get excited about Christmas lights, but by the end of our field trip, my enthusiasm was wearing thin.  Then the lady said, "I am so glad we did this.  I haven't been able to do this since I was a little kid."  Boom.  There was the perspective.  No wonder she was acting just like a little kid.  She also thanked me for bringing my children because they reminded her of her son, who died a few years ago.

So today I am thankful for perspective and the moments in life that give it to me.