In years past I’ve tried to find a word that I hoped to focus on for the year. Actually, most years the word found me. And just as in years past, 2019’s word “trash” did not disappoint.
I think it was about a month ago when a two word thought started speaking to me.
“No no,” I whispered to anyone listening, but mostly myself, “just one word. It’s a thing. That’s one too many.”
But still the words, joined together in one chain of thought, came back to me. Again and again.
~Make Do~
It’s something that I’ve heard all my life. Often it was intended to bring to mind something rather pitiful.
“Well, they didn’t have enough such and such or so and so, but they made do.”
Sad sounding, isn’t it?
Making do implied lack. Need. Missing out.
But in my life, after watching my Mama make do all those years, I find myself reflecting on her living out the second word–the ACTION in it.
Mama didn’t say, “Well, we don’t have fill in the blank, so we can’t make that happen.” Instead she didn’t let what she didn’t have stop her. She got up and DID.
Too often, I’ve found myself wondering what my next step should be or have been overwhelmed by all that getting something done entails. And so I freeze up. And nothing happens.
That, y’all, is pitiful. Sad. Lacking.
Not like my Mama doing what she could with what she had. That was fabulous and an amazing example of how to live this life.
And so in the days to come, I hope that those two words, linked in my ancestry, will continue to speak to me. And to remind me that the most important thing I can do is take action.
All the great thoughts and compassion in the world do no good unless I follow them up with that “do”ing.
And with that, I think that making do is one of the most beautiful things we can do. It’s the way of those on whose shoulders I stand. I’m thankful for their example and way of lighting this world.
Wishing you all new mercies every day, not just on New Year’s Day, and an era of making a plan and living it out.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 