You know, getting lost isn't as bad as most think. Actually....in this case...it was perfect.
Imagine Snow White. Up Cedar Mountain...without black hair, flowy dress and seven trailing dwarfs. And just replace the singing birds with little frogs....and there you will have the place. A stream...small cabin....sheep and deer in the distance...little frogs hopping everywhere.. It was like something stamped out of a book.
So naturally, I had to catch a few. And just in case you were wondering....climbing a fence while holding a wiggling frog is much more difficult then one would imagine....
This little guy enjoyed his picture being taken much more then the other little frog. At one point...there was a fish....but believe it or not....fish are even harder to hold one handed and take a picture simultaneously.
At places like this...there isn't much room for worry. It took an afternoon spent with slimy little frogs and splashing in the stream to remind me what really matters....and you know what? It was perfect.
To top it off....I came home to a room mate who let me warm up my water frozen feet under her while sitting on the couch. (In case you needed to check....you know someone cares if they let you stick your half frostbitten feet on them....ok...frostbite may have been an exaggeration...)
If you're a little amused envisioning my story...that's great.. Or possibly..if you were worried...no frogs were harmed in the taking of these pictures. They were all safely returned to their little frog families. Most of all, I was thankful. Thankful for a day of perfect little moments....even if they were moments of simple happiness, comfort, and slight silliness.
The past few months, I've been thinking about a simple question that most of you will think is a little silly. I've been trying to figure out what makes people want to do hard things. I mean, granted...we all tend to be faced with trials and hard times whether we choose them or not...yet...
How do people do it....get through grueling school programs, handle loss, disappointment, hurt....or overcome challenges like surgeries, broken arms, family problems or even learning disabilities? And even more....what makes us, as people, want to go through them?
I mean, many of the hard things we face are a result of our own choice. For example, a choice to pursue further education isn't exactly going to be like a nice day at the beach. Or choosing to move to a new place, buy a house or a car, travel, raise a family, learn a new instrument....
All of those things pose some level of challenge. There comes a point with each....that one might have the sudden overwhelming desire to hide under the blankets for an extended period of time with a spoon and a bucket of ice cream...(Or maybe that's just me).
Can you see why I've had this on my mind for a while? I mean, I wasn't so blind as to not see the immediate answers...personal growth...becoming more, finding a greater purpose, furthering our talents...
But I felt there was more.
And lucky for me, I'm blessed to have so many incredible people in my life....people who were able to answer my question without even know it...simply by the way they live their lives. To top it off, the simple answer from a great friend...
"Sometimes, it's through the hard things that we feel our hearts and souls stretching the most.....but as a result....He allows us to feel that much greater happiness and joy."
The best part about it...is that no matter what we are facing....no matter how hard our burdens may be, even if it may simply be in learning a talent....There is someone to help us carry that burden. To help us through those hard times whenever it is that we may face them.
Even more amazing....is that when we do face those hard things, we begin to see ourselves in terms of forever. And after all... that's part of the point of this life....right? So of course it's going to be hard...maybe at times, even a little scary. Yet, it never fails to be worth it, and in the end....those moments that once seemed so hard....will allow far greater moments of true happiness.
This video....goes along perfectly. I've loved it so much that I may or may not have watched it 6 times...this morning.
I know this is likely common knowledge for most people. I just thought I'd share my a portion of my thoughts...since I haven't been so great at the blogging business as of late.
So for me...it means....to not have a fear of those things to come. To be prepared to enjoy the journey of it. A journey which I'm sure still includes days of blanket hiding and ice cream.
But that's okay....because I'm prepared....and will have an emergency spoon for those moments.
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