A Mother's Journal ~ A Bit of Birdsong

I’ve laughed at it quietly in my own mind of late:  when the two sisters Eliza and Jane Bennet leave home on travels at the same time, their poor father, Mr. Bennet, says to Eliza, “Til you or your sister Jane return, I shall not hear two words of sense spoken together.”

We know he speaks of his three extremely silly, younger daughters and his sometimes-ridiculous wife whom he shall be left solely in the company of until his older, wiser daughters return. 

Hmmm.  Two words of sense. 

For some reason, when I come to my desk to post something here lately, I simply cannot string together two words of sense worth posting.  I think of Mr. Bennet.  Oh there is plenty of stuff rambling through my mind, but can I find two words of sense worth saying?

I don’t have anything profound to say these days, and not that I ever did, mind you.  It’s simply that life is busy with school and work and groceries and cleaning, and I feel very fortunate to have days of health and rest and enough to eat. 

And lately my mind is filled with the pushing of myself onward to do one more thing.  One more thing.  There have been appointments of late.  There have been extra work-days of late.  And meetings for work.  And long phone calls with a dear friend who needed an ear.  And several nice trips out of town.

Honestly, I just see more of the same on the horizon.  There’s not much to say about it, except that every day I am humbled by the peace that I have and the gratitude that I have that we do have enough to eat and that I am able to work and that we do live in a very beautiful and free country.

My prayers throughout the day are for the safety and well being of my children and family.  I like to hum while I work.  Taking joy, I find, is an art, that takes practice and dedication.  Keeping a song in your heart is no less something to be learned than how to play a pretty song on any instrument.

My son Joseph and I are truly easing slowly into his Rosetta Stone Japanese.  We still have not found our groove, though it’s been nearly two weeks since we should have officially started school.  I’ve been around the block enough to know, though, that it will be okay.

He’ll make it and so will I. 

There is a little Japanese proverb that I like:

Fall seven times,
stand up eight.

It applies to all of life… 

• Have the house in a big upsidedown mess seven times, clean it up eight. 
• Clean off the kitchen table seven times, set it for a meal eight.
• Forgive your spouse seven times, love him eight.
• Be forgiven seven times, blunder again eight.

It goes on and on.

The garden exists at a great crescendo now as fall approaches.  Many plants are at their largest.  Some are at their prettiest.  It seems that all of nature is trying to get in just a little more activity before nature goes to sleep.

I personally wanted to get so much more done this gardening season.  Wanted to put more up.  Wanted to learn more.  Wanted to dig more, plant more, clean up more.  I did all I could. 

Hopefully, there’ll be another gardening season next year, and gladly there’s a little time left even now before winter sets in, to stock the pantry a little fuller, make sure we have enough blankets, sweaters, hats, and coats, and to take some autumn walks with a heart full of happiness at all we have, in every way.

From Henry David Thoreau: 

“It is not enough if you are busy.  The question is, What are you busy about?”

It’s a question I would do well to ask myself every morning.

Lynn