Energy.
It is the most precious commodity I have in my life.
No matter how many chocolate doughnuts I eat, I just can't seem to create any more of it.
Consequently, I have to conserve and protect the energy I have which doesn't allow me any excess to waste in negative ways -- road rage, pettiness, needless complaining, etc. It is a refreshing predicament to find yourself always carefully rationing your energy.
Tonight a miracle happened.
My energy grew.
I was going about my usual evening routine - serving the kids their dinner with Alan still at work. I was exhausted. Arctic conditions have overtaken Virginia and the kids have been home for nearly 7 days straight. With typical children this would make a mother pull her hair out. With a child with special needs it makes a mom pull her hair out, her temples throb, her right eye continually twitch and a perma-wrinkle form between her brows.
In the middle of it all tonight, from the darkness of the cold outside appeared my bestie, Danielle. She came over and told me she wanted to kidnap Bridger to come home and play with her kids and have an extended evening party. Bridger nearly popped out of his chair with excitement at the prospect. We changed his diaper and put on his coat and off she went carrying my heavy boy in her arms and a smile on each of their faces.
After they left, I stood there shocked and warmed all over. That has never happened! Never has anyone come to my house and said they wanted to pick Bridger up to go play. What a beautifully kind gesture.
That act of kindness then proved miraculous,
because it created energy.
I learned tonight that kindness can breed energy.
After she left, even though it was late in the evening - pretty close to the time that I collapse into bed unable to move another muscle, I was infused with a fresh energy and went right into my bathroom and proceeded to give it a good cleaning. Not the regular wipe-down kind of clean, but the scrub so hard your nails peel off, your hands become raw and you are coughing out the fumes of the cleansers kind of clean that it was in need of (sorry green friends, I love me some chemicals and nothing smells of joy in my house more than some lemonylicious fumes of Lysol.)
I never would have had the energy to do that after the physically demanding long day (and week) I have had, but for her spontaneous sweet act.
I am grateful for my friend and especially grateful for the energy that her kindness grew in me.
My boy is now tucked into his bed having thoroughly enjoyed this unique first time experience tonight. I am predicting he is likely never going to fall asleep. He is upstairs excitedly chattering away to himself about this evening. Apparently, this kindness created extra energy in him too!