The Honeymoon
If you read my last post, you might have seen this one coming. I think my honeymoon with Washington is, sadly, coming to an end. We're not leaving, and I'm really okay. I just think I'm at the point where I have to work a little harder to love Washington, because life here is beginning to present its challenges--and it's not just about the traffic.
I won't go into the details of the issues that have surfaced over the past few weeks. I will say that they involve almost every area of our lives--work, school, church, and home--and they affect every member of our family in one way or another. I've felt confusion, frustration, and disappointment. And of course I ask myself questions like Would this be happening if we were in Oklahoma? and Wouldn't things be easier/better/less stressful there?
I know these questions are unproductive, so I take them to God and I pray for trust and contentment, which I know I can and should have in Christ. And I know that thankfulness goes a long way in curing discontent, so I want to write about a few moments I've had lately that help me remember why I do love living in this city.
Judah and I have had recent outings to the National Arboretum, the Lincoln Memorial, and Georgetown. At the Arboretum, we wandered the paths through the trees and flowers to see the old Capitol columns, then visited the children's garden to have lunch and hug a tree.
At the Lincoln, Judah and her buddy Owen rode their bike and scooter around the grounds while Owen's mom and I chatted as we followed behind. We had lunch on the Memorial steps, enjoying the view of the reflecting pool, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol.
In Georgetown we had coffee and snacks with the same friends at Baked and Wired, then walked the cobbled sidewalks to the neighborhood park and playground.
Last week Harvey and I attended the Angels in Adoption Gala, which honored adoptive families from around the country, emceed by Willie and Korie Robertson.
Finally, at Tabitha's first soccer game, I met and talked with a mom who's from Eritrea (whose son's best friend's father is from Oklahoma--what do you know?).
God has shown his grace to me in DC in many ways, big and small. Not the least of these is his keeping me free of accidents in all my daily afternoon drives. And not once have I had to parallel park. There always seems to be a spot I can pull into head-first. Thank goodness.
More important, my children are healthy. My husband has a job that allows him to provide for us; we have a comfortable home and plenty to eat. So I don't need to be on a permanent honeymoon with this city. After the honeymoon is when you really discover what it means to love. You realize things aren't going to be perfect, but if you're in it for the long haul, you weather the bad and make the most of the good. Washington, that's what I intend to do with you.
I won't go into the details of the issues that have surfaced over the past few weeks. I will say that they involve almost every area of our lives--work, school, church, and home--and they affect every member of our family in one way or another. I've felt confusion, frustration, and disappointment. And of course I ask myself questions like Would this be happening if we were in Oklahoma? and Wouldn't things be easier/better/less stressful there?
I know these questions are unproductive, so I take them to God and I pray for trust and contentment, which I know I can and should have in Christ. And I know that thankfulness goes a long way in curing discontent, so I want to write about a few moments I've had lately that help me remember why I do love living in this city.
Judah and I have had recent outings to the National Arboretum, the Lincoln Memorial, and Georgetown. At the Arboretum, we wandered the paths through the trees and flowers to see the old Capitol columns, then visited the children's garden to have lunch and hug a tree.
 |
| I think these columns fascinated me more then they did Judah. |
 |
| I wouldn't normally call us tree-huggers, but on this day we were. |
 |
| Our view as we ate lunch on the steps of the Lincoln |
 |
| This photo is courtesy of Judah. Her friend Owen is the blond looking up at Lincoln. |
In Georgetown we had coffee and snacks with the same friends at Baked and Wired, then walked the cobbled sidewalks to the neighborhood park and playground.
 |
| "Mom, they have Cracker Jacks!" |
 |
| Admiring the canal in Georgetown |
 |
| Those Robertsons! |
Finally, at Tabitha's first soccer game, I met and talked with a mom who's from Eritrea (whose son's best friend's father is from Oklahoma--what do you know?).
God has shown his grace to me in DC in many ways, big and small. Not the least of these is his keeping me free of accidents in all my daily afternoon drives. And not once have I had to parallel park. There always seems to be a spot I can pull into head-first. Thank goodness.
More important, my children are healthy. My husband has a job that allows him to provide for us; we have a comfortable home and plenty to eat. So I don't need to be on a permanent honeymoon with this city. After the honeymoon is when you really discover what it means to love. You realize things aren't going to be perfect, but if you're in it for the long haul, you weather the bad and make the most of the good. Washington, that's what I intend to do with you.
Comments
Post a Comment