The Little Things

Dear Darling,

Everyday on my way to work I pass by this house. There's nothing really special about this house, except for an old, fat, lazy-looking Dalmatian who sleeps on the porch. For the first few days I saw him, I always thought to myself, 'That dog needs some exercise!' And I noticed that over the days every time I turned down that road, I would sort of be looking forward to pass that house so I could see this Dalmatian. Sometimes I would even panic, 'Have I missed the house already??' and then I would be calmer once we actually did pass the house and I would see the sleepy doggy lazily lounged on the porch. Today I realized how much excitement it brought me to pass that house!

I was thinking to myself, 'What is wrong with me?!' Have I become so lame that a random dog in a random house excites me? Ha.

But I realized, THIS is life. People wait their whole life for big things to happen. Big adventures. Big surprises. Big gestures. Big jobs. Big parties. Big money. Big everything. And we miss the small, tiny things that pass by us everyday. I guess that's why a lot of people are unhappy or unsatisfied.

That dog is not even my dog, but he brings me joy. In fact, I don't even know if he is a boy. Nevertheless, I shall call him Pumba and he shall be my Pumba. *smirk*

I encourage you, look around you for the little, simple things that can change your life, bring you joy and make everyday less monotonous. Purposely find little things to be grateful for.

 

Here is a list of little things I am grateful for today:

1. I managed to open my water bottle without spilling it's entire contents on myself
2. Today when I got to work I didn't have to stand outside the gate for 20min, like I usually do because unlike other days, the dude who opens the gate, came before me. Yay.
3. Daddy & I successfully finished our little Bible reading plan on marriage
4. The Sun. Anyone who has lived in Finland, will relate.
5. My boss appears to be in a good mood. He even smiled.
6. I'm having a good hair day. Sort of.
7. I'm blessed to have a wonderful husband, family and a crazy bunch of friends!
8. I am not a duck.

So again, "enjoy the little things in life for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things"

Love you muchly,
Mummy 

'Get Over It, Kid'

Dear baby girl,

There are those days that you wake up and the first word on your lips is ‘Why?’ Or those moments you want to ‘facepalm’ everyone around you. A polite way of speaking, if I may. There are days when feeling unappreciated or undervalued is an understatement. Or those moments when the constant conflict and chaos around you tend to wear you out. There are days when there is not enough love, not enough joy and not enough warmth around you to refuel your broken spirit. There are days when you are well and truly stuck with no hope of escape or deliverance. There are moments of pure loneliness that no earthly being could fix. 

And on those days you know what I do?

I pat myself on the head and tell myself ‘Get over it, kid’

‘Cos life is too wonderful. Life is too short. Life is too precious.

Sooo...

Love,

Mummy   

"But You're So Young!"

Hello my darling,

Your father and I have been married for 1½ years now. I was 21 and he was 20 when we got married. And even up to now, I still have people who say to me, 'Why would you get married so young? Why don't you enjoy your life first?'

Even before your father and I started dating, we talked about marriage. I think we both knew that we didn't want to date for the sake of dating. If I was going to date someone, I wanted it to be my future husband. So after a lot of prayer and thought, we started dating and in 9 months we announced our engagement. I can count on my hands the number of people who were supportive of our decision. In other words, there were very few. Some people even had the audacity to ask me if I'm pregnant. As if that was the only sane reason as to why a person should get married. Then others brought up the famous statement, 'You should first enjoy your youth before you get married' As if getting married somehow caused you to age faster and robbed you of your hair and every joy you may ever have.

It made me think a little and I realized what a warped and strange idea people had of marriage. The world has portrayed marriage to appear as some sort of cage. Some form of imprisonment or punishment. Very few people said to me, 'You're getting married?? You mean you are going to spend the rest of your life with an amazing man, sharing and enjoying your youth and future with him??' It was more like, 'You're getting married?? You mean you are going to be stuck with the same man for the rest of your life??'

And it saddened me. Because I have not enjoyed my life as much as I have with your father. It hasn't been all sunshine and ponies, let me tell you that. But I would not trade this life for anything else. For all the 'freedom' in the world. For with him, I am completely free. Free to be myself, free to dream, free to hope, free to be sad and free to be happy. I wake up in the morning to the same person and yes, that is wonderful. Because it reminds me that there is a man on this earth who loves me so much and whether it be good or bad days, he has chosen and promised to be by my side. And all those things that people thought I would miss out on? Not only have I not missed out on anything, I've even had my bestfriend with me to laugh and cry through it all. It doesn't get any better than that.

So why am I writing this? Simply to say, don't underestimate the beauty and power of marriage. Today people very rarely give marriage a thought. Just living together will do. Marriage has become equivalent to a wedding. Getting married means having the perfect wedding. But marriage is so much more than a wedding. The promises and the commitment your father and I made to each other before God keep us going through the tough times. I can't and I won't just walk out one day 'cos I feel like I'm not in love today. We are not roommates, we are husband and wife.

So in an age when divorce is fashinonable and relationships only last for as long as a mudcake would in my fridge, treasure marriage. Respect it and honour it. It's not and it shouldn't be a prison. It's most certainly not easy and you will face MANY challenges, but enjoy it. When marriage is approached with the right attitude, it's one of the most magnificent experiences you could have. It's a place you can grow tremendously and it can chisel and polish you until you shine bright as ever.

I pray that oneday you will find a wonderful husband who brings out the absolute best in you, like your father does in me.

Much love,

Mummy