finding your peace

When we visited my parents at half term i had the veritable treat of meeting one of my oldest friends for a coffee and wonder around a local retail outlet. I took wee jemimah to meet her and we spent a fantastic couple of hours…just…um…chatting…

Helen is one of those friends where in terms of our relationship, time has stood still, the circumstances have changed quite a bit. I met Helen when i was unmarried, living down south and refusing to cook anything that necessitated me using 'flour' ….all facts that have now changed…but those changing facts, the years passing, the distance that now stands between us…seems to never change the fact that getting together seems like just an extension of the last conversation we had….much like one of us got distracted mid flow to pour a drink, answer a call or tend to the requests of a small child..and come back and pick up the thread. She is one of my all time favourite people. 

We were talking about kids and raising them and the different challenges that they present at different times…'cos lets face it, raising kids doesn't get harder it just gets different….and what struck me about Helen's reaction to the various things that may be concerning her was just how much peace she had about the future for her tribe. Im not talking 'peace' from a spiritual point of view, although that may be it, but to me it was more the attitude of 'well, yeah…its going to be okay though..'

just a relaxedness…and a belief that 'yep bad times are going to probably come and yep they are probably going to hurt and when they do its tough…but you'll walk through it, might be slowly, but you'll be okay'

That sort of steadfastness and gentle strength of belief in the better outcome gives faith to stand and stare resolutely down the tunnel and look onwards past the dark and see the light at the end. 

I hope to catch up with her again soon…but then it doesn't matter if i don't…'cos some things just don't change…

 

teamjames