Monday, May 23, 2011

Perspective

Yesterday was not a good day. I cried a lot; I felt despair come surging my way.

In the evening, Lyndsay had a meeting at the Stake Center, so I drove her down, and being all puffy-eyed, I sat in the car for the hour and a half and did my menu plan and grocery list for the week. I moved to the backseat of the van so nobody would see me in there. I just wanted some time alone.

Every now and then, I looked up from my list making to watch people arriving in their cars and walking through the parking lot towards the church. Some I recognized, others I did not. At one point, my attention was drawn to a woman, head bent down, walking ever so slowly. She was older than I am, but I didn't think she was old enough to be walking with such trouble. I felt sorry for her as I watched her. She was in the parking lot aisle over from me, so I couldn't see all of her, just her waist up, but she looked like she'd been pretty in her youth, and continued to take good care of herself. I wondered if her hips hurt, or her back, or what it was that compromised her mobility, and I thought how frustrating it must be for her to get anything done during the day at such a snail's pace. I went back to my menu.

About an hour later, that same woman came walking back through the parking lot, this time in the same row I was parked in. She was still walking with care, head bent down, one slow step at a time. But this time, I could see all of her.

Attached to her hand was another hand, a little tiny one, maybe that of an 18 month old, or two year old child. She was walking with a little child, slowing her steps to allow the toddler to take her own. Her head was bent down to watch over the child as she took each careful beginning step. I think she was a grandma.

And seeing the whole picture changed my entire perspective. Likewise, there must be so much to my picture that I just can't see, and I must trust that someone is holding my hand.

7 comments:

Misty said...

LOVED this!

Luisa Perkins said...

What a lovely image. I'll hang onto that one.

Missy said...

Thank you for that.

Melissa said...

If only that woman could read this perspective from a woman hiding inside a car. It is quite an amazing thing to imagine seeing this. I bet it sparked a lot of thought. Love this story!

Hannah said...

That's beautiful Jenna.

Andrea said...

Thanks for the reminder that my perspective is not the only or "real" one.

Turleygirl said...

That was really beautiful Jenna, thanks for sharing that beautiful new perspective outlook on life. Loved it!