Improv Seasons

 "Whatever you are meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible." Doris Lessing

Peanut and I are in charge of organizing our church's Easter egg hunt as well as a scavenger hunt for the youth. It is therefore our job to procure the stuffed eggs. I mentioned to her yesterday that in addition to the announcement in the bulletin, I was going to make an announcement during the service.

"I can do that. It's just improv theater in action."

She was brave and beautiful as she stood before the church yesterday and asked for donations for Easter Sunday. She was creative ("Mom we should give them a number so they know what our goals is").

She did the hard thing.

One of my favorite things about our sweet church is that we participate in family worship. The most adorable 4 year old sits a few rows ahead of me each week and gives the best post Eucharist fist bump known to man. Around me sit elderly men and women who need walkers and canes to get to the altar. And then all the people between 4 years old and walker dependent.

This is how life is right?

We are all out here doing life together, the young and the old.

I know this can be wildly chaotic but it can also be incredibly beautiful.

Because sometimes on a random Sunday in March, an 11 (almost 12) year old stands up at the podium in front of the congregation and we are all, young and old, reminded that we can be brave.

We are reminded that we can learn from each other.

I spent a lot of time over the years trying to find the "right" friend group. My search often focused on finding people in the same season of life that I was in.

I've learned that what I actually need is a friend group with people in various seasons.

I need ones in seasons I've already walked to remind me of where I've been. I've survived potty training, teaching two teenagers to drive, the loss of two parents. I've done hard things.

I need ones in seasons I haven't reached yet to show me where I'm going. There will be new hard things to come.

The best teachers are ones who realize that they are often the student.

I need spaces where I can listen. And spaces where I can share.

Homeschoolers have long known this as we don't group our kids by chronological ages, but rather wide spans. Because kids benefit from being the leader, but also from being the learner.

Mama Warriors, I encourage you to surround yourself with friends of all ages, in all seasons.

Ones for whom you can say "You will not miss this arching the back in the car seat while screaming nonsense. It will pass. You do not have to cherish every moment. Some moments stink."

And ones for whom you can say "What is next? How do I walk this?"

Let's remember that our kids have things to teach us.

Like how to use your improv theater skills to ask the church to donate stuffed eggs on a random Sunday in March.