It had been a couple of incredibly busy weeks. For the first time in my life, I was director of our church’s Vacation Bible School. The week before was hectic with last minute decorating and finalizing those last minute details. The week of VBS was full of early mornings, go go go, and figuring out the forgotten house work of the previous week.
The week after VBS began with Chick-Fil-A deliveries and working the ATA desk. With only a hour or so between jobs (both of which I truly enjoy), I leaned heavily on my guys for laundry, dinner, and other housework. The end of the week finished in a three day trip to Virginia and back for my wonderful husband’s company picnic at King’s Dominion amusement park. Six plus hours in the car. Twelve plus hours walking through the park on day 2. Day three was another 6+ hours in the car on the return home. I’m so glad we did it, but I did pay a price.
On Sunday, I couldn’t sit down without pain shooting through my hip and calf. Standing wasn’t easy either. I only found comfort laying down on my side until past noon. Finally I was able to move around once my muscle relaxed a little. This morning, the stiffness set back in but passed much quicker.
This evening I am feeling overwhelmed. Calf and hip are achy. Boys are prepping to leave for a youth group trip. I have deliveries in the mornings and appointments in the afternoons. Then it started to rain.
I’m not talking about a summer sprinkle. The down pour started and lasted for at least an hour. I listened as the rain hit the roof and ran down the gutters. Needing a little fresh air, I stepped out onto our covered deck to hear the rain more clearly.
It was dark. The light from the house making the yard appear even darker. I could just make out the outline of the trees that surround our house. The rain continued to pour down. Then I saw them. In the midst of the rain and the darkness, or maybe because of them, I spotted the lightening bugs. Fireflies among the leaves, protected from the rain, still blinking and signaling to each other. If it hadn’t been raining and dark, I wouldn’t have been as surprised to see them. But because it was dark, the blinking lights stood out. Because of the the pouring rain, the intermittent sparks were unexpected. Bright spots in a gloomy evening.
Those lightening bugs reminded me that even in the darkest and maybe because of the darkest times, there are moments we can grab on to that bring sparks of joy that during ordinary times we may overlook.
During these past hectic weeks, I grabbed my bright spots. The week of VBS, a very thoughtful friend gave me a small encouragement gift each day. The same week as VBS was our 21st wedding anniversary. My fabulous husband brought home beautiful red roses. My oldest turned 17 this weekend and as a family we celebrated with an escape room (we made it out with 10 minutes to spare!). The way we pull together and support each other as a family is one of the brightest spots I can always cling to when nothing else seems to be going right.
My pace is easing back to “normal”. I have climbed and conquered the pile of laundry and dinner is being planned ahead of time once more. While my ducks may never be in a row, I’ve at least got them all on the same pond. When life gets frantic again, and I know it will, I’ll remember my bright spots and look for the new ones, hiding safely amongst the leaves in the dark rain.
