I posted this meme yesterday on my timeline and page without the true explanation behind it. 

I wrote it for my youngest daughter.  Some of you may know, but many don’t, she suffers from Autism, depression, and several other health challenges.  It’s hard. It’s hard for her and for those who love her. The changing mood swings can bring on conversations and actions whether face to face or on text that puts us into a tailspin.

This week has been one of those weeks. No matter how hard we all try, sometimes it’s just not enough to make it all better.

This is what I was talking about when I said, “Someone may be mean or unkind to you because of a hurt you know nothing about.”  Even if you do know the so-called diagnosis as to why this happens, unless you live in that mindset, it’s hard to REALLY know what goes on in the mind and heart.

As I was finishing up the meme, I remembered a YouTube video I saw years ago from a little 4 year old girl named Sophia.  She was talking about kindness and I thought I would try to add her sweet words of wisdom for a positive option when someone is not kind at the moment.

Here’s the link if you want to check her out on her YouTube channel Mugglesam. She’s adorable!

 

Something happened yesterday that turned the tide of the past week of confusion, anger and disappointment.

I started sharing my “doodles by mjk” via text with my daughter since she is not on Facebook. I thought the little girl that came to life in my first three doodle memes…just maybe would put a smile on her face and encourage her to look for the good in life.

After I posted the meme, I had another conversation with her on a text. And instead of the usual banter that quickly goes downhill, I found myself in a very pleasant conversation talking about how to put YouTube on her phone.

I told her I wanted to give the “little stick girl” in my memes a name.  We discussed several names and finally we agreed she looked like a “Mia” (pronounced meeA).

She said, “That’s good, let’s call her Mia!”

I thanked her for helping me pick out her name and she replied, “Thanks for making me happy” and I responded, “I’m glad you let yourself be happy!”

She commented later, “Thank for letting me pick a name for her.”

It was such a little thing, but in a small way, she was able to take her mind off of her usual thoughts that run through her head to one simple task of naming a cartoon character.

Instead of me chastising her for her words and lack of respect…which is my usual go to when in one of those hard conversations with her, yesterday, I got to experience a few moments of mother/daughter bonding that we rarely get to have.

 

Why am I telling you all this?

Let me tell you, this is a rare thing. Anyone who loves someone who suffers from mental illness can tell you it IS a rare occurrence.

But when it happens, it warms your heart.

Towards evening she made a comment about our recent conversation with

“Thanks for brightening my day…can u help me everyday?”  and I replied, “I can try.”

And that’s all that we can expect from either of us.

 

Take Away

I hope you are encouraged, when relationships are hard, to try to reach them with KINDNESS.

I am not a master at it by any means, especially when I’m in the throes of that hard, hateful or manipulative scenario.

But today…by God’s grace I said the right thing at the right time and it was beautiful!

with love,

Mindy