A post script to Wednesday's post...
Whatever my personal feelings are about my life accomplishments, I do know solidly that caring for my foster/adoptive son is an extremely personal, total commitment to bettering the world.
This isn't about the wondrous things he brings to our lives; that would deserve it's own focus.
It's about what having him in our family gives to the world.
Hopefully...
It will spare a child from feelings of despair and frustration, and replace that with feelings of love and wonder with the world around him.
It will keep a mother from dreading the arrival of morning, one more day to wonder how she'll make it through, replaced with knowing she made a supreme sacrifice to better a life. (I have met J's mother several times; I believe she is a good person with more challenges in her life than I've known.)
It will keep one citizen from the temptation of crime and unproductiveness, replaced with, who knows? A vet, a composer, an Olympic athlete, a future President...
And what he will nurture, children like him and whomever he will lead and mentor into realizing their visions.
I understand that the diapers I change today are a part of all these hopes. It doesn't lessen my ache for other achievements, but it certainly is a solid something I know I'm living now.
Abigail would do the same if she had my options.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
...I feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy, or democracy, or whatever is to take place.~Abigail Adams
Full quote:
...I feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy, or democracy, or whatever is to take place. I soon get lost in a labyrinth of perplexities; but, whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.
What a wise woman she seems to have been. It is often noted that John Adams was most successful and at his best when Abigail was at his side, or when he heeded her advise. Even General Washington commented to her on how John looked to her for guidance.
She often spoke out for the rights of women. I believe that stemmed from her love of learning, and how her own education was not encouraged. She conversed on the classics and on current events with a wisdom that surprised the most learned men of the time. She longed to do do great things, I believe. She wanted to make a difference.
But what HBO serialized was the life of John Adams. (Great series, BTW.) Understandably so; he was the second president of the United States and pivotal in the development of us as a nation.
And so I feel a bit like Abigail Adams; capable of so much more.
She had the limits of the times that stopped her. I have much less of that. Nothing insurmountable. And so I wonder what is stopping me.
At first glance, it may be that I have no goal. Aristotle knew he wanted to be a philosopher and spent his life pursuing that goal. Jefferson knew he wanted to be a man of learning and was just that. Einstein's love was science and his life was immersed in it.
I love too much, perhaps. I love philosophy, literature, computers, management, business. I love art and music. I love gardening and creating a home environment. I love being a mother and love being with my children.
Anyone can easily see that no one (short of the Da Vinci's in our universe) can master all interests. And so I subject myself to the role of Abigail. I live in a time that needs leadership, guidance, wisdom, and can see visions of greatness for our land and world. What I do with my days is change diapers, vacuum (and consider myself lucky for finding the time to do so), search for grocery sales and clip coupons. I drive to doctor appointments, soccer games, karate practices. I clean up after the dog, and pet the cats when they cuddle as I feed the baby.
Nothing bad, by any means. Necessary functioning that I've chosen. I chose to be a wife, a mother, a keeper of urban zoos. But I know all to well that the vision of greatness gathers more dust than my bookshelves.
...I feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy, or democracy, or whatever is to take place. I soon get lost in a labyrinth of perplexities; but, whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.
What a wise woman she seems to have been. It is often noted that John Adams was most successful and at his best when Abigail was at his side, or when he heeded her advise. Even General Washington commented to her on how John looked to her for guidance.
She often spoke out for the rights of women. I believe that stemmed from her love of learning, and how her own education was not encouraged. She conversed on the classics and on current events with a wisdom that surprised the most learned men of the time. She longed to do do great things, I believe. She wanted to make a difference.
But what HBO serialized was the life of John Adams. (Great series, BTW.) Understandably so; he was the second president of the United States and pivotal in the development of us as a nation.
And so I feel a bit like Abigail Adams; capable of so much more.
She had the limits of the times that stopped her. I have much less of that. Nothing insurmountable. And so I wonder what is stopping me.
At first glance, it may be that I have no goal. Aristotle knew he wanted to be a philosopher and spent his life pursuing that goal. Jefferson knew he wanted to be a man of learning and was just that. Einstein's love was science and his life was immersed in it.
I love too much, perhaps. I love philosophy, literature, computers, management, business. I love art and music. I love gardening and creating a home environment. I love being a mother and love being with my children.
Anyone can easily see that no one (short of the Da Vinci's in our universe) can master all interests. And so I subject myself to the role of Abigail. I live in a time that needs leadership, guidance, wisdom, and can see visions of greatness for our land and world. What I do with my days is change diapers, vacuum (and consider myself lucky for finding the time to do so), search for grocery sales and clip coupons. I drive to doctor appointments, soccer games, karate practices. I clean up after the dog, and pet the cats when they cuddle as I feed the baby.
Nothing bad, by any means. Necessary functioning that I've chosen. I chose to be a wife, a mother, a keeper of urban zoos. But I know all to well that the vision of greatness gathers more dust than my bookshelves.
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