Through Windows
This is the view from here, every morning at 7:55 a.m., at the end of our dusty country lane.
“Mommy! Mommy!” — she always says it like it’s an emergency, while she scurries out the back seat –“Roll down your window, hurry! The bus is almost here, and I want to hold your hand one more time.”
She stands on the other side, nose just above the window frame. And right … there …. I can see straight into the part of her that loves me most. I hope she can see it in me, too.
I stretch across the seat. Fingers meet and lock. And it’s always a string of I-love-yous, and have-a-great-day, and Mommy-don’t-forget-to-take-care-of-the-Polly-Pockets-because-they’ll-be-hungry-at-lunchtime.
As I drove back up the driveway this morning, I thought about you, dear heart. You, who come here three times a week, or once a month, or maybe this is just the first and only time you’ll be here.
I thought about you.
I thought about how you and I open the windows of each others’ lives and souls, and we stretch across digital spaces to be real to each other.
I see you.
I wanted you to know that. I see you, and you’re real to me.
And I thank you for being here — for the ways you’ve encouraged, the ways you’ve been real in my life. I thank you for the way you prayed when I hurt, for the ways you laughed with me, and for the way you trusted me with your heart. This is what is means to Get Down With Jesus — when we get down to Truth and get real.
I pray that my words have real meaning in your life. This is my heart’s desire when I put words down in this place.
Some say this big ol’ World Wide Web isn’t real — this gigantic world made smaller somehow by IP addresses, Facebook statuses, emails. I used to be one of those people, who felt like cyberspace took away from “real” life.
But then I met you.
This counts as real. We stretch across open spaces to lock fingers.
And I don’t tell you this nearly often enough, but I’ll tell you now: I’m a better me because of you.
Have a spectactularly real weekend, my friend.
Writing with the Five-Minute Friday community today, where Lisa-Jo encourages us to just… write. No backtracking, no overthinking. Just write real and true. This week’s prompt: Real Life.
Isn’t it incredible that God has designed a vehicle for Christians to join hands together? What an amazing opportunity for the Holy Spirit to help us learn from each other and touch our spirits and souls. I think that Heaven must be a little like that!
I think so, too, Cindy.
Say .. let’s get the party started, shall we? This life on Earth, after all, is just a dress rehearsal for the Real Deal.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Reaching across my screen, a window to you and others, is a great way to connect.
Thanks for your heart sister!
I am grateful for your heart, too. And I can’t wait to see The High Calling crew in a few weeks!
I feel the same way as you, but I know I couldn’t express it as well. Squeeze! ~Jessica
Squee-eeeeeze, backatchya. 🙂
This post made me think of Anne of Green Gables and Katie, Anne’s window friend. I’m so thankful my window friends are really real–so thankful for you, Jennifer. Happy weekend to you.
Can’t wait to LITERALLY reach through that window in a few weeks. Looking forward to sitting across a table from you at Laity. Yay!
Wow, I love this post!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, Michelle. You have a splendid weekend!
What a joy to come here and be known!
Jennifer!
Just…love.
For my entire life, I saw it everywhere. On the news. In pictures. In movies. But, I could hardly wait to see it in real life. The one, the only Washington, DC.
The moment I reached the top of the escalator after my first ever subway ride, I was surrounded by all of the landmarks I had seen, but never really experienced. On all sides of me. The White House. The Washington Monument. The Capitol. The Lincoln Memorial. All of it was there in real life.
That whole trip was so surreal. Getting to see all of the things that I had only dreaming of seeing. The Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. The dome inside the US Capitol. Pennsylvania Avenue. The inside of the White House!
Now, when I watch the news and see Washington DC, I can say, “I’ve been there in real life, and I hope to take my kids there one day.”
Oh, this is lovely Jennifer. Thank you for reaching out to me and connecting. To tell you the truth, sometimes living out here in Arizona where I feel like I’m on the edge of the world, this Internet world feels very dear and important to me. I love getting real with you and getting down with Jesus.
First of all, your daughter is beautiful! I love the country setting.
Your words were magnificent. I am truly lifted up, thank you.
I’m a better me because of you.
I love this line. I need to use it with my own daughters.
Love the beautiful pictures in this post. I only met you a week ago and I’m much better for it. Thank you.
real and true
Whoever thought we could love so much, that real could happen just in an email. I hope you had a blessed weekend, Jennifer.
“This counts as real.”…yes it does, and here we go reaching out to grasp each other’s hands…