Sunday Sentiments

 

I'm sitting here on a Saturday night, writing to you while talented men and women show their skills on the Olympic stage half a world away. I'm in awe of their dedication to their craft and find myself celebrating and aching with them as appropriate for their wins and their literal falls.

And across the couch from me are two of my three at-home heroes. Ryan is taking a well-deserved nap. He has worked tirelessly this week. He's shoveled gazillions of snowflakes off the sidewalks. He's walked behind the heavy snowblower to clear our parking lot multiple times. He's cleared cars to move them and clean underneath them before moving them back. He's shampooed salt-stained carpets in the foyers. He's had hard and deep conversations with tenants. He's taken the morning shifts with Lexi when she gets up early and has energy to burn. He's worked on training with her.

Speaking of Lexi, she's napping on the floor beside him. She's been a hard worker this week too. She's been learning to entertain herself sometimes. She's been doing so great at her potty training and leash walking. She's been learning her new crate and doing a wonderful job with it. She's been meeting new people of all ages and doing her very best to not over-love them. She's been learning to walk through town with all its sights, sounds, and smells and try hard things. She's been navigating snowbanks with bravery and has managed to listen to commands in some very distracting situations. She's working so hard and we are so proud of her.

And though she's not in here this minute, we are so proud of Braeya for working on her own bravery this week. We're taking cues from her and she's courageously pushing out of her own little comfort zone to do more than I think even she thinks she can do. 

I live with heroes who do hard things all day every day, and I am proud of them. I think we are quick to excuse at-home bravery, preferring to reserve it for those who are on Olympic platforms and other such "big" situations. 

But bravery is in the small, too. I am proud of Ryan for all the hard work he puts into each day, even when I know his heart and mind are exhausted. I am proud of Lexi for showing up to learn things that some full-grown dogs don't even know how to do. I am proud of Braeya for accepting a new sister and figuring out how to coexist with her while she gets to know her. Those are big things!

I'm proud of one of our tenants for choosing to honor his word and follow through with a commitment today even though he desperately wanted to forget he ever made the promise. I told him I thought following through would show great leadership to our other tenants and would be a tangible representation of what it means to be a man of his word. And when he chose to follow through, I was probably prouder of him than I have ever been in any other moment since he's lived here. 

I'm proud of one of my friends who is working hard to educate herself on how to parent her little one well, even though her little on is still REALLY LITTLE. Her commitment and obedience to be a God-fearing mom is inspirational, and I told her so.

So many people in my little tiny world who are doing big, brave things that matter every bit as much as a triple toe loop...and I want them to know I see their bravery and am so proud of them for it. 

Maybe someone in your world is being brave today too? What if you congratulated them? It might make all the difference!