Why Fingerprints?

 

A few years ago when I had three little boys running around most of the day my house never seemed to be clean and I have to tell you it drove me crazy!  I ran in circles picking up after them constantly.  Then one day I decided that enough was enough!  I would let the house be messy, and wait until the end of the day to clean up... one time!!  Needless to say, I was much calmer and had more time to spend with them and do fun things.  That I will never regret!  Well, while I was "letting go" of the perfection- someone in my family came over - and said, "You know, you really should clean these fingerprints off your walls."  To be honest, I didn't really notice them before this moment.   As I examined them,  I thought to myself, "Clean them? No way!  I want them to be there forever.. to remind me of my little ones and the great times we had together."  From that moment on, I looked at the fingerprints on my walls [that came to my waist],  as little gifts.  Needless to say, I didn't clean off the fingerprints,  and yes, slowly they have disappeared from my walls and have been replaced by other little dainty fingerprints of  two little girls  and fingerprints that are getting to be at my eye level as my boys are growing up.  I love seeing them.  It reminds me of the little hands and big hands that surround me and the amazing responsibility I have to take these hands into mine and teach them about life, about doing things with their own hands to help others, to be creative, to love, to serve, to work.... etc.  Fingerprints on my walls reminds me that my life is very imperfect but through the imperfection we learn.  We learn to patient.  We learn to let the little things go.  We learn to focus on what really matters.  Yes, if I didn't have all these fingerprints around me, my life wouldn't be so messy.  My life would be less complicated, easier, and less dramatic.  But in turn, I wouldn't be surrounded by so much joy and love.  One day, I won't have these beautiful fingerprints constantly surrounding me. These fingerprints will move on and create their own little fingerprints in their own homes.  Hopefully when I visit them, I will be able to remind them how precious these little fingerprints are and how quickly they disappear.  I will miss the constant commotion, the messiness of my life, and the little hands that I will hold into mine anytime I want.  These fingerprints symbolize the memories of my little ones and the importance of relationships.  Needless to say;           I love fingerprints on my walls!!

Transparency...

 Why is it that as humans we want others to see us only at our best?  Do we think that showing others our struggles that we are showing them that we are weak?  I don't think so.  I think if we are not able to share with others our weaknesses and our struggles than we don't have any true friends or real connections with others.  I also believe that if we aren't able to share with others what we have gone through and how we have triumphed we are not contributing to humanity.  Perhaps it is uncomfortable and distressing to hear the truth.  But we can all relate to each other in some way if we share with others our true stories.  I just attended an event that was put together for a woman who has breast cancer.  She has three young children and a loving husband.  She is a beautiful person inside and out.  It was amazing to see many many friends, neighbors, old college friends, people from the community, come together to help this beautiful family raise money so that they will be able to fight for their cause; her precious life.  I am sure that if you asked each person who put in hours of service, donated goods and services, and attended this event-  each one would say that they felt it an honor to be able and help in some way- large or small.  Just imagine if this woman with cancer kept her struggles a secret.  If she decided that it was just to much to share or if it would be embarrassing to admit that they couldn't do it alone.  That they wanted to do everything they could to fight, but wouldn't be able to pay for what lay ahead.  She wouldn't have given hundreds of people the opportunity to serve and help her and her family- and we wouldn't feel the joy that comes from helping others and learning that in spite of our trials, we do the best we can.  When we help others - our lives become more meaningful and less mundane.  We are able to appreciate the simple things in life. We need each other.  We need to learn from each other.  It is important and valuable to know our stories- to share our stories with those around us.  When I know the stories- the real stories of those around me... I love them more.