All The Small Things

Evening all,

I've been a bit quiet of late because I am on a 'working' holiday with one of 'my boys' and his Mum and Dad. We have been blessed with wonderful weather and have been having a great time. We have also eaten far too much as you do when you're on holiday...well, I do anyway!

We are attending Spring Harvest which I have never been to before. I would describe it as a gathering for Christians. There is lots to do for all ages throughout the day and it's been really interesting to see the wide range of folk who are attending this event which is spread over 3 weeks. There are families, couples, old people, youngsters and people on their own.
There are a variety of stalls selling all sorts of things...books, CD's, cards, jewellery, sweets and so on plus various Christian based charities promoting themselves. There is even a stall where you can buy a toilet! Well, actually I think you sponsor a toilet or twin it with your own or something. It's all quite impressive.

I have found it interesting to listen to the young people talking about their belief. Talking about it with joy and passion. I tend to associate churches as being full of older people and the lonely so it has been refreshing to hear the voices of the youngsters.

I have also, obviously, spent a lot of time with 'my' young man who I have worked on and off with for about 10 years or so. He is 18 years old next month so I have been in his life for some time. Poor lad! We have quite  a bond, he and I, and I am really grateful for that.

I saw something today that I thought I should make a note of (or put as a note on my phone!) It was the phrase 'simple joys of life'.
This week I have realised quite how I take the 'simple joys of life' for granted. I suspect most of us do. Due to his disability, 'my' lad will never be able to speak, feed himself, walk or talk and yet he is one of the happiest, smiliest people I know. He and I have been for a walk along the seafront every evening this week and he has really loved it and so have I. Now, I have always loved the seaside but to hear a young man who has never walked on the sand laugh with pleasure just because he was being pushed along in his wheelchair by me has lifted my heart.
Sometimes my work as a carer can push me to extremes in many ways but when I have such positive experiences it always reminds me of why I do this work and why I probably always will....until someone needs to do it for me!

I used to think that my life was fraught and stressful but I have never felt hard done by. My experiences as a parent, despite there being quite a catalogue of medical emergencies and dramas, have been nothing compared to what some parents have had to cope with. Many of the families that I have worked with or for have had their whole lives turned upside down by one error or one faulty gene that they didn't know they carried. They probably, like me, assumed that their longed for baby would arrive into this world and all would be well. It's quite a shock when things don't go quite according to plan.

I think that those parents learned the hard way, like me, never to take anything for granted and that can change the way that you think about almost everything. It becomes second nature to look for the difficulty in any situation, to look for illness when there isn't one, to feel the need to fight for every single thing that ought to be a right and not a fight. It's very hard then to think clearly let alone appreciate the simple things in life.
Sometimes a sunny day, a favourite cake, an old movie or a walk along a seafront with a very happy, laughing vocal young man is all it takes to make you smile. Well, that's how it is for me and I hope that you all find something to make you smile and lift your spirits today.

Much love

xxxxxxx