crumbs!

A funny moment for me this week was when waiting for an event to get started. We'd done the briefest of introductions as I'd not met any of the people before. I could sense frustration in the room so said well who wants a shoulder massage whilst we're waiting? The woman next to me leapt at the chance. I had explained I'm not trained or anything and it was only a few seconds in that I realized that as a physiotherapist, she was indeed trained in what I was offering her. This both amused and worried me, but she was very appreciative of my novice efforts. I've often found that enthusiasm can carry me to places even if my skill level doesn't match, I'm sure it's what got me through my French oral exams.
I like to be appreciated and the physio was delighted by my attempt, so I'm pleased that I didn't let that feeling of her being so much better at it stop me in my tracks. I think we sometimes hold back, worried that our meagre offerings don't compare. And they don't compare, cos I'm not comparing!!

I was reminded of this again last night when a woman who came to messy church for the first time said she knew me from a course where I'd taken her some beetroot soup as she kept coming each week without lunch as she dashed straight from work. I'd totally forgotten this which is good, I don't want to be keeping a tally of acts of kindness, but she clearly remembered and I know the kindness shown to me by others does matter muchly. I was pleased to be reminded cos I know I'm not a great chef. What I do have, like in the example from this week too, is an awareness of what might be welcomed in a situation, and a willingness to fill that need despite not being especially good at it. People don't need perfection, we just need each other with our humble offerings of care.

So today I will try not to be cross with myself for my far from perfect parenting. I've been feeling frustrated that I don't have more than just brief time with those I love. I do today however get a whole day with my kids where we have no deadlines and that is a good thing. We need to get the pool down, and then of course other things have to happen too - clothes still need to be washed, we have no bread in, etc. But hopefully there mainly will be chilling.