Caleb has a journal that he writes in almost every day at school. Normally, they also draw a picture. Most days, he uses his pencil and then colors the picture. He brought home his first semester journal right before Christmas. He had written about many different topics and know, these things are all written and spelled according to his limited spelling and phonics abilities. Some of them are quite comical but back in September, he recorded two important life events that were not comical.
9-21-2015 I wate to the frunrl home. My dads dad.
Then, on 9-28-2015, I went to the plas that thay barey papel.
For those of you who can't read and decipher second grade phonics, let me translate.
I went to the funeral home. My dad's dad.
I went to the place that they bury people.
These are sad little entries but what I found really sad was the pictures he drew to go with them. They were all in pencil - no color - just white paper with gray pencil marks and hard lines.
When I told my friend Lisa about his drawings, she said, "On those days there is no color...just sadness." This brings me to the point of this little mini blog post - why I hate January and how I plan to overcome it.
In northeast Texas, when we start to decorate for Christmas, the trees are usually still wearing their leaves. Lights and trees and decorations go up and I am surrounded by brightness and sparkles and color and are so busy we can barely breathe. Then sometime while we are enjoying the fifth playing of the Grinch or Christmas Vacation, the trees let go of their leaves and seem to turn a grayish color. After Christmas, the lights come down, the momentum stops and to me it feels like the whole world has turned gray. I feel like Caleb's pictures. By January, the cold weather has set in and that, the lack of sunshine, and the gray trees leave me incredibly down. This year, I have resolved that things will be different.
"Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
This January, I will chose to focus on what is good. I will look for things to be thankful for and things I can do to help others be thankful. I believe that what we focus on is what becomes largest in our lives. I will get through January by focusing on joy where ever I can find it.
