“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
of late
// watching the weather turn from cold to warm all in one week, the cracking of a new journal spine, tear stained cheeks, birthday wishes, re-living memories all over again, multiple cups of creamed tea, antiquing, tying gifts in pumpkin-colored strings, stringing dainty purple cosmos into a wreath, lessons in learning to let go, savoring every bit of pomegranate goodness that one can come by, brown paper packages arriving at my doorstep, afternoon readings, and packing my suit case full of memories once more.
>>--------->
i suppose, I was reminded yet again of the lessons of imperfection that life, no matter how much one might want to make perfect, life plainly just isn't...and won't be for a very very long time still {that is of course, if Romney doesn't get elected in November. *gasp* did I just loose a follower by saying that? :P} . how over-thinking is most definitely never the best solution, and how growing up isn't as everyone romanticizes it to be. and yet, it amazes me how much love, everyone can extend from every corner of the world, just because I celebrated my sixteen year...just one undeserving little goose {this special girl will explain this nickname} celebrating a bittersweet sixteen.
I do indeed believe life starts all over again when another year goes by. how fresh starts become either a gift or a curse, and only the person presented with the gift, can make the decision to be such. I choose this year to be a blessing, a cherished gift that can only be given so many times.
con tanto amour,
the sixteen-year-old girl in the garden.
the sixteen-year-old girl in the garden.
Such beauty. Your words throw me into a very deep pit of nostalgia and comfort that I have no intention of climbing out of.
ReplyDelete<3
Oh my dear Grace I would say happy birthday but I understand why it should be bittersweet. when I turned 16 I too cried, feeling that life was getting away from me. That somehow I was helpless to stop it no matter how hard I tried. That was when I realized how short life is and decided to not waste another second. I do not know what it is that makes this birthday bittersweet for you but I sincerely hope and pray that God will gently guide you through this. It seems that growing up doesn't come without pain.
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well. Happy Birthday
Blessings ~ Rachel Hope
happy birthday, Grace. yes, life isn't perfect, but it wasn't meant to be. We're all waiting for heaven for the perfect life. I've actually been feeling kinda similarly...growing up is disappointing, but there's also some amazing things about it, that I'm sure we don't know now, so keep going, and head high. :)
ReplyDelete-Carli
Lovely post, Grace! :) May you continue to grow in our Lord in the coming years. Happy belated 16th Birthday, btw! ;)
ReplyDeleteGrace, you are seriously one of the wisest and kindest people that I know. I'm really blessed to have known you and your blog. I hope that you will continue to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord and that you stay the lovely, amazing girl that you are. Happy (belated) birthday. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely post Grace!
ReplyDeleteLove ~*Chantelle*~
Grace...you never cease to amaze and inspire me.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Emily.
There many words to describe you Grace, but I will only name five: Beautiful, (inside, out, and with words) clever, (in every possible way) Godly, (SO thankful that your my sister in Christ!) respectful, (of others feelings and situations as well as your own!) and last but not least, inspirational. You inspire me to write-love-and be humble just as you are :) happy belated birthday, I apologize for the lateness of my congrats on your 16th, and hope God continues to bless you an your family! I LOVE YOU.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Sophie
Happy Birthday Grace!
ReplyDeletelovely post. you have an ecceptional talent for words. i just turned sixteen too -- and although in some ways it is bittersweet (and sad that my "childhood" days are coming too a close) it is also exciting to see what the future holds! and although life IS full of dissopointments its also full of adventure & sunshine!:-)
ReplyDeleteanyhow happy sixteeneth birthday!
blessings~
rachel susan.
p.s. just curious -- do you like romney? i do support him to a certain extent, however due to some of his weak stands on certain vital issues i could never be a "full" supporter...:-)
Happy sweet sixteen! And yes, this is embarrassingly late but I plan on making up for it until (at least) November 25th! See, birthdays really ought to be a whole month's event. I love you dear and thank you so much for your beautiful love and self... you dear goosey you!
ReplyDelete--
Yes, I guess every new year is kind of like a new beginning. Hope this chapter of your life proves to be even more awesome than the previous ones! Happy belated sweet sixteen Grace! :)
ReplyDeleteI always hate it when October ends. But then again, change is necessary & does us good. Hope you are well, my dear, and that you had a wonderful b-day! Love you!
ReplyDelete~Camille