Sunday morning musings
by Elouise
Sunday morning
Sitting near the back row
In a neighborhood church
Pondering the reality
That I am now one of the
Old Folks at Home
An aging white woman
Wondering what on earth
I have to offer this generation
Drowning in possibilities
I never dreamed about
A life —
That’s all I have
A life already lived
Partially grieved and celebrated
Now halfway resting
In this odd space
Called retirement with
all the time in the world
yet no spare time to be found
So what’s left to offer?
Just one thing comes to mind —
Smiles
Free smiles and maybe a kind word
No manipulation
No smirking
No hesitation
No holding back
No looking away
No pretending not to see
the child or young person before me
carrying an invisible cup running over
too often with confusion, self-judgment or worse
Smiles
That’s all I have to offer
Smiles that say
With or without a word
I’m so happy to see you today!
Smiles that reflect our Creator’s delight
in each child or young person’s beauty
whether they get this yet or not
Simple things. That’s what I can do. No promises made. No lists of things to do after this moment. Just a smile and a silent prayer for that child or teenager already dealing with the heaviness of being in this world. Who can’t relate to that?
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 18 February 2020
Photo found at pinterest.com
Telling the Truth 
Beautiful poem, Elouise. When we do our best to fearlessly embrace aging, it gets easier to understand what we can leave for the next generations. The things you listed are so important.
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Thank you, Martha. You hit the nail on the head – doing our best to “fearlessly embrace aging.” A great way of describing it. 🙏🏻😊
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Dear Elouise, I love your reflection, and your smile – it is infectious – in part because it is so genuine! I have been practicing smiling and waving in a friendly manner at as many people as I can – including, especially the flaggers/stop-sign holders wherever there is road-work going on. I have found that these are mostly well-received …and returned. I’ll take that!
Thanks so much for reminding me to smile – something we all can do throughout life, and should only get better at, as we realize how rare the real thing can be…
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Yes! Three cheers for the flangers, too. Enduring all kinds of weather to keep us from gridlock. 😊 I grew up with a serious look on my face. A way to cope, I think, with feeling invisible or unacceptable. Now if I can smile just a bit more when I look at my mirror…. 🤗
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Smiles, prayers, acknowledgment with nods, kind words…
well-seasonsed people have a lot to offer the other not-so-seasoned generations! 😉 🙂
Wonderful poem, Elouise!
HUGS!!! 🙂
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For those who think their time of usefulness is done, there’s always something one can do to brighten up the space around them. A smile, a prayer, a word of encouragement, or a word of appreciation are some that take little time or energy, but mean so much.
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So true, Candice. And not always easy for me to remember these days. 😟😊
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