A Really Good Day

Day 10 (February 13, 2019)

Hey Jesus,

            Two things happened today that really made me feel good. First, Dane walked home halfway through the day and spent an extra-long lunch with me. You know that meant so much since he is on his 10^th straight day of work and has, at least, eight more days of work before a possible day off is even in sight. (Got to love movie wrap up schedules.) I think the hardest part about the scheduling is that it has an open time frame for getting off. He must stay at the studio until all the shots are complete which means he could be home anywhere between 8pm and 4am.

            So, it just filled my heart with so much thankfulness that he would put in the effort to find a small snippet of time, in his crazy schedule, to make quality time for his wife. I was so excited all morning knowing that I was going to get at least an hour with him when it wasn’t dark, or well into the evening. Ha, I always tell him I hope I do not smother him. (I just can’t help it. He is not only my lover, but best friend.) But he is kind and always tells me he wants to be with me just as much. (I am glad that after 12 years together, he still likes me a little.)

            Sitting on the couch—all toasty and warm— watching one of our favorite shows just felt so good, especially since Dane walked home through the snow and ice. (Dane’s cheeks were extra rosy when he got home.) Honestly, God, I thought that the brownies brought me joy yesterday, but it is nothing compared to the joy I got from just being in the same room with my man. Ha, I do not care if I am being too sappy. You created him so technically it is all your fault, Lord. Maybe you should not have made him so wonderful. (Just kidding!!) Well, lunch went by way to fast and, before I knew it, he was all bundled up, again, and headed back to work. After he left, I sat down on the couch for a little while and was texting my dad when the second thing, that made me feel good, happened.

            I could hear a loud whirring sound coming from outside and instantly knew exactly what was going on. Someone outside was having trouble getting their car to move on the ice and snow. I looked out the front door window and, sure enough, a delivery truck was not getting any traction. The van’s left front tire was on top of the curb which left the left back tire awkwardly jammed into a pile of slick slush on the side of the road. Try as he may, the driver could not get the back tire to grip any surface. A girl walking by kindly tried to help the man figure out how to remove the ice and snow around the back tire, but it was tough since they did not have a shovel. (But I did!) Can I be honest, God? My OCD was telling me not to help them because they would see I had no eyelashes, but I pushed past those scared feelings because I could not leave someone in need, especially since I knew I had something that would greatly benefit them.

            So, instead of hiding away within the warm confines of the condo, I quickly got my snow coat, beanie, and boots on, and swooped out the door. I grabbed our red snow shovel, to the left of the front door, and offered it to the two of them. The girl grabbed it from me and gave it to the driver, who instantly went to work on the slush around his left back tire. As he was working, the girl smiled and struck up a conversation with me. It was so tough to talk to her because I could not get myself to make direct eye contact with her, for more than a second or two, for fear that she would see me. (Like really see me.) But she was so friendly, so I did my best to chat right along with her.

            Our conversation was cut short as the driver handed us back the shovel and jumped back into the front seat of the van. It took quite a few tries—really rocking the back carriage of the van back and forth to give the large vehicle enough momentum to propel itself out of the slushy hole it had found itself in—but eventually the van’s tires gripped the road and it moved right along. The driver hung out of the side of the van and thanked us a bunch before heading off on the rest of his delivery rounds. With our mission complete, us girls then turned back towards my porch and chatted a bit more before she continued on down the sidewalk towards the end of the townhome complex. Inside my OCD was telling me that she must find me so completely awkward, and weird, since I could not get myself to look at her for more than a few seconds. But, honestly, anytime I was able to actually look into her eyes, she had a sweet smile on her face and was never looking at me with anything close to surprise or revulsion.

            Though I still had many doubts—and even though I had to talk it out with Dane over the phone—it felt good to push past my insecurities and help someone I did not know. It did my heart good to know that, even though I knew these people would be able to see my oddities, I could be brave enough to put that fear aside in order to show someone kindness. (And, Lord, you know how much kindness means to me.) Jesus, I hope I showed a little piece of you to that driver today. (I know that nice girl sure did. Please bless her.) Honestly, it just felt so good to be helpful even if all I did was hand someone a shovel. And who knows, maybe our kindness will be paid forward if that driver sees anyone else stranded in the snow.

            So, Jesus, thank you for the chance to show myself, today, that not everyone will look at me like I am some weird person because I have no eyelashes but, instead, will be able to see the person I really am through my actions; thank you for my husband, too, who showed me such a kindness today through his loving effort to spend time with me; and thank you that these two different occasions allowed for my day to be filled with so much positivity that there was absolutely no room for pulling. All these things are appreciated more than you know, Lord. (Oh wait, you do know lol.) Ha, well, love you to the ends of the universe, Jesus. For you truly are the Kindest One.

Always,

Your Daughter Kaitlan

P.S. Lord, please allow positive occasions to arise within other peoples’ days, especially since such positive interactions can be so good for the soul that has been hurting. Show each person, who is struggling with hair pulling, that they are stronger than their fears and that they can leave the confines of their house if they so choose. Please let them see that, when they go outdoors, not everyone will look upon their war-torn face and see weirdness and ugliness but, instead, will see a face marked with bravery and perseverance. (Plus, there are many that won’t even notice anything is amiss at all. So, there is that too!) Thank you for your help, Jesus. We love you!

Thank you for reading! If you are new, this is a chronological blog series. It is best read in order. CLICK HERE for the intro.