No Such Thing as Normal

It all started with the shattering of the jelly jar. We had gone grocery shopping and I left the putting away of the groceries to the guys. They had put away all the perishables, but left a few things sitting out. One of the items was an unopened jar of strawberry jelly. I had walked by these few items for a couple of days knowing I should put them away, but hey you know we're in the middle of more important things so they could wait. This day a I had a friend coming over and leaving groceries on the floor isn't "normal" and one must look normal especially when life isn't. I reached down for the jar of jelly when suddenly, without warning...it fell. There was nothing I could do but watch and hear the wonderful sound of shattering that glass makes when it hits the floor. Glass and jelly. I just stood there staring at it. If this had been a scene from Hollywood this would have been the moment when the main character "lost it". She would have started either laughing hysterically or crying uncontrollably. I did neither. I just stood there staring, sighed and cleaned it up. Should have just left it in the hall. Then I began thinking about all the things we do to cover up the fact that we're not normal or that we're not in a normal situation. Sometimes in all our "covering up" we're really making a bigger mess than if we had just let it be. I don't know where I am going with all these random writings of random thoughts, but I have learned that none of us are normal and sometimes actually most of the time we're all going through "unnormal" situations. And sometimes...normal people leave groceries sitting on the floor in the hallway for a couple of days. My youngest son has always had this saying. The first time he said this to me he was three. I thought him the smartest boy in all the world. One day I had used the word normal to describe something and he said "Mom, there's no such thing as normal." That was such a profound thing for a boy so young to say and I remember telling him how absolutely brilliant he was and 100% correct. Whenever I accidentally use the word normal he is always there to remind me. So, if your struggling with being different. Or struggling with being in a "crazy" situation, with "crazy" feelings and emotions. Don't worry so much about "covering up". Your "crazy" could be someone else's "normal". Your "normal" could be the exact thing that causes your life to change and for the better...plus...even though the sound of glass shattering makes a cool noise...no one really likes to clean it up. Next time leave it in the hallway...you'll come round right soon enough. I pray today that your life is amazing! I pray that the people you love, love you back. I pray that when you catch your reflection in a window, a mirror you smile. I pray that sooner or later you begin looking for your reflection...just so you can say "Hi", you look good!"


the TRUTH in LOVE,
Heidi Shepherd