My Easter Nuggets

Someone I used to know once referred to those moments in life that teach you something as nuggets. Golden bits of truth, clarity, and resulting wisdom. I think Oprah calls them Ah-ha moments.

I try to discover one every day. I figure life probably has plenty of lessons to teach. So each day I try to turn experiences inside out and lift the foggy veil of mysterious reasons why things happen the way they do. I try my hardest to find those little golden treasures when life is especially confusing, dissappointing, or just plain crappy.

This past Easter Sunday had quite a few.

First of all, I didn't have my children this Easter, they were with their dad. Its a painful experience that I don't wish upon any parent, not having your young children next to you on a holiday. It's like trying to put a shoe on a phantom limb. Nothing but air and emptiness.

But I tried to make the best of it. I went home with a girlfriend. And she is one of 14 children. I met her mom. She's 80. She looked really tired. I tried to just stand next to her and syphon off some of the incredible strength this woman must have had (has?) to have had that many kids and still be standing.

Nugget number one. Women have come a long way in the past 50 years. I didn't spend my life working on a dairy farm and having a baby every other year. Granted her family is awesome, I still gave quiet thanks that I live in a world where now if chidren outnumber parents seven to one TLC follows you around with video cameras.

My second nugget showed up while visiting with one of the family members about what we do for a living. I work from home and do IT sales. I talk on the phone, send emails, and go for mind clearing and energizing runs over my lunch break. She works in a factory and has to be there by 6:30am. She is also divorced but doesn't have custody of her children.

Nugget number two. At the end of the Easter weekend, my children come back to me. And I don't have to go to work on an assembly line at the crack of dawn. My work days starts in my cozy kitchen with a cup of coffee and a laptop. A hard day for me is an early morning conference call. From my couch.

My last nugget was harder to find. I accompanied my friend's mega family to church that morning and sang in the choir with some of the family members. After the first song the choir director marched over to me and told me to quit singing so loud and so well because I am not a member of this church. Holy small town ego attack.

I felt my nose do that burning thing and I tried not to cry. I am a member of my own church choir and obviously I would rather be there right now with my children smiling at me from the front row. Instead, I sucked down the tears and sang softer in an unfamiliar place with unwelcoming strangers.

Nuggest number three. I am not a crabby old choir directing fat lady who is mean to others on Easter.

So, it wasn't the best Easter ever but instead of dyed eggs I hunted a few nuggets instead. Mainly, I found myself giving thanks for MY life.

It may not be perfect. But its mine.

And there are some pretty darn good golden sparkly parts to it that are easy to find.

If I just look hard enough.
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Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to comment lately! It always amazes me when I get comments, it reminds me "Oh yeah, people really do read this..." I am eternally humbled and honored. :-) Look for your own nuggets today, I assure you they are there. For even on our gloomiest days, the sun isn't gone, it's just behind the clouds.
~Audra