What I said Yes to

Yesterday I went on a "moms" retreat and one of the talks was on "when we say Yes to motherhood, what are we saying yes to?" - it had a profound effect on me to write down what it is exactly .... whilst sitting in silence next to a beautiful water feature, by myself, with only my head and my heart as my companions. 

Having written that, I last night started to wonder about other things ....or contemplating as Francis told us ... which is it seems "looking at with love".... I was looking at (with love) what we say Yes to when we say yes to marriage ... and what are we saying Yes to when we say yes to a choice of career / job / work. 

Motherhood's yes was very easy ... I filled 5 pages of the notebook yesterday ... I said Yes to - a job you cannot resign from, a job with no leave, the first step, the first tooth, the first school day, the first heartbreak, first all kinds of things.  I said Yes to rolling eyes, slamming doors, laundry with no end, loving hugs, homework that you cannot assist with as you just do not get Maths.  Also Yes to job decisions, matric exams all over again, sports matches, advice, shouting and driving 4583 kms a year fetching and carrying.  I said yes to carrying my heart outside my body forever and I have loved every moment. 

Which led to the other things I thought of last night, outside of the retreat ... 

When I said Yes to marriage I said Yes to a lifetime with one person, our own private jokes, someone who knows how you like your coffee, arguments, rolling eyes, slamming doors, someone who makes the school sarmies, someone with the most amazing general knowledge ... I said Yes to, someone who cannot understand how another person can a) read so much and b) love tv so much .... Yes to a lifetime with a Liverpool supporter, someone who hangs his clothes over my towel, a fun person to play against in 30 seconds, someone who has the ability to overwhelm our kids with love and attention.  I said Yes to snoring, blanket sharing and someone who is tenacious and handles life's blows without complaining.  I said Yes to someone who always knows where the matches are during loadshedding, drains the pool for us annually, runs an informal soccer club every Sunday without every say no to our son .... the list is 28 years endless. 

Which led to work ... I said Yes to learning more about my religion in 2 years than I have in the last 47.  I said Yes to crazy days and crazier days, births and deaths and babies being baptised, learning how a radio show works, great office cappuccino, a boss who answers my 3234 questions a day and laughs because I walk into his office and take up on a conversation we were having 3 weeks previously (without any preamble or warning).  I said Yes to meeting tons of people, become entrenched in the daily life of the parish, I said Yes to days of great laughter and days of great frustration.  Yes to a happy place to spend my working life - yes to insight into the calling of Priesthood, to meeting dozens of Priests and knowing Archbishops and a Cardinal.  It was a very good Yes. 

What have you said Yes to? 

Till soon 

K xx