The Choice for Clarity (glimpse into my world)

This pathetic remnant was abandoned on our kitchen counter just pleading to be the catalyst for a blog post. How could I resist? Take a look at that picture. A close look. What do you see? Well, I mean, I know you see a piece of cake. A really small piece of cake. Some might say it is a piece so small that it doesn't even make sense that someone left it in the box. Especially when you come upon the knowledge that this is the Maccaroni favorite right now, Wegman's Raspberry Crumb Cake. It is absolutely delicious, and one of the few edible items that all five kids (and their mother) agree is amazing. Even Rebecca, who is currently by far the most nutritiously conscious, can be seen enjoying this cake when it enters the house. By the way, treats such as this are purchased once a week and available only as long as we can make it last. I don't go back to buy more when it is gone. So now, with that new knowledge, tell me what you see.

With my mother's-eye, I see two possibilities.  

Possibility #1. A piece left so that the leaver didn't have to dispose of the box and deliver the knife to the sink. (a likely possibility with this crew) 

OR 

Possibility #2. A piece abandoned so that there was something left, however small, for the next person who desired a piece of this family favorite. 

Reason #1. Total disregard for others. 

OR 

Reason #2. Total other-centered thinking. 

If I wanted to, I could take the mother-perspective a bit further and attempt to surmise the goal by considering the possible 'leaver'.  Depending on the child who left it, my mind toggles between the two possibilities. Is that fair? Probably not. So I'll move on.

I am reminded of my first ever Facebook post...the moment I finally understood the purpose of that type of social media. The kids were small. It was likely about ten years ago, and it was Easter morning. I was  setting up the Easter 'baskets', which in this house were really never much more than a chocolate bunny and some jelly beans in a homemade paper mess. As I removed the chocolate bunnies from their shopping bag, it became apparent I was in trouble. One bunny had its ears broken right off its little bunny head. The question arose, "Who gets the broken bunny?" I went through each of my five children attempting to find the one that could handle having the broken ears. You know it was a crap shoot...and there was no way to win. Or was there? I'll let you sit with that for a bit while we enjoy one more story. 

A year ago, (if you've been reading my words this long I thank you!), you know that I took my kids on our first ever vacation with only one adult (me), to Boston. What you might not know is that for the duration of the trip, I suffered from excruciating pain from a tooth that I later found out was in need of a root canal. As these things often go with me, I did not begin the process of correcting the issue until much later in the year. Five dentist and endodontist visits later, I was finally sitting in the dentist chair being sized up for the molded crown when pop...it fell into my throat. No kidding...right down. The dentist was mortified. Apparently in 27 years of practice, this had never happened to him before. As he apologized profusely, I teetered between 

Option #1. Crying because I really just needed this to be done and I just swallowed the final chapter 

OR 

Option #2. Laughing because it was really quite funny. 

Outcome #1. Certainly making the dentist feel much worse for an accident that was clearly freakish in nature.

OR 

Outcome #2. Undoubtedly putting him at ease and helping him find the humor in life's mishaps. 

Before you try to figure out how this went, you need to know that just before I left for the final dentist appointment I found this.

Yep...that's a ring.  My father's wedding band. In a bag of frozen ground meat. I had lost it about a week prior and spent a crazy amount of time looking for it because it meant A LOT to me. So needless to say as I got to the dentist office I was feeling happy and grateful to have found it. (Wait? This kind of nonsense happens to all of you on a daily basis too, right? haha!) 

At every moment, in every juncture, we have a decision to make. The choice we make not only effects us, but inevitably effects those around us, positively or negatively. My One Word this year is Clarity. 

I am seeking clarity in the decisions I make. Why did I do that? What did I intend to gain or lose by my actions? How did my actions effect others? What am I not even considering that is also prey to the decisions I make? 

I am seeking clarity in the words I utilize. Did the words I chose help or hurt? Were they kind? Did they make the day better? 

I am seeking Clarity in the path of my life. Am I on the right track? Am I creating a future that will make me happy? Help my children? 

The choice is ALWAYS ours. In each of these stories described, others could have been built up or torn down. I choose to build up, and apparently so do my children. 

The cake was left for someone else to have a little taste before it was gone. "I didn't need to eat all of the last piece." was the statement made. 

As for the bunnies, I didn't choose one child to get broken ears...I chose them all. Yep, as sadistic as it seemed, I cracked all those chocolate ears and guess what, no one cried...all felt valued and equal.  

And anyone who knows me knows that I couldn't help but laugh as I felt the crown that was intended for my mouth move down my esophagus. I assured the dentist it wasn't in my windpipe, and as he breathed a sigh of relief, I cracked jokes and couldn't wait for the story it would provide. 

In the end, the choice to put others at the forefront of our words, actions and minds is always available. Leave the cake, break those bunny ears, and if you happen to swallow the crown that is intended to be cemented into your mouth today after months of appointments, drilling and pain, laugh it off. These are the gifts of choice, life and kindness that are provided to us each day. Seek Clarity, Choose Wisely.