I was just five years old the day I got the crushing, heartbreaking news. The setting was so surreal; the room was dark and foreboding. Mom sat close beside me on the couch as Dad loomed large pacing in the middle of the room. I could feel whatever was coming – it wasn’t going to be good. It was worse. They told me they were getting a divorce.
And while they both worked hard to carefully craft the story to make sure I understood how much they loved me and my two older siblings, my ears only heard my world was collapsing and my heart could only process deep pain. Gingerly, they spent extra time to assure me that their decision was only because of mommy and daddy stuff and that we kids were not to blame in any way – fortunately, I believed them.
But even though I trusted their truth – my truth was this daddy’s girl’s heart was devastated. As I matured, I was able to understand much more about the end to their marriage and grew to believe it was definitely the best for all of us. Nevertheless, that scene is a vivid memory forever etched in the recesses of my inner child’s wounded wall. Sadly, it was just a short time that my dad moved to southern California – we lived in the bay area. The distance was vast and to me it felt like the far side of the moon and as I would soon discover our precious daddy daughter moments would be fewer and further in between than I had hoped for in my dreams.
Months had passed and the time came that my dad was flying in to see us. Mom took me to the airport to greet him. What happened next took me by surprise and embedded yet another childhood memory that to this day causes a wave of emotion to wash through my heart . . . fortunately, a good one.
Breathless with anticipation, I stood alert holding my mom’s hand looking with intense expectation for that familiar face I loved so much to emerge from the crowd. Finally, I saw him come around the corner. With thunderous joy, my adolescent legs churning as fast as they could go . . . I sprinted towards him . . . I leapt from the ground (felt like six feet) and flew into his arms.
His immediate hugs and kisses caused an emotional chain reaction – I was so overcome with joy and happiness . . . I cried. I remember thinking to myself, “what is this feeling?” “Why are tears coming out of my eyes and why does my heart feel like it is exploding?” The floodgates of love for this man who made me feel like the most special baby daughter in the world – gushed out of my eyes onto his cheek and drenched his freshly starched white shirt. He loved it.
It was such an indelible experience to feel so overcome with happiness and realize it caused the same waterworks as sadness or pain. What a mystery these things called emotions.
I got reminded of that event this week as I watched several YouTube videos of children being introduced to their new baby sister or brother for the first time. I found it adorable and touching that so many reacted by crying uncontrollable tears of pure happiness and love. And while I really can’t remember the last time I felt so happy I cried . . . I did shed a tear with these kids experiencing that feeling for the first time – so in a sense, I guess that counts!
Grateful that in this life’s journey I have cried not just the happy tears but also the sad ones – it is that dichotomy that makes the raindrops pierced by sunbeams so much more glorious.
This article was written by a guest blogger. The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not reflect the opinions of Bob Lacey, Sheri Lynch or the Bob & Sheri show.
The Zen Den
Hello and welcome to The Zen Den. My name is Alison and while I am passionate about many things, my most inspiring driving force is human connection. Blogger, content writer, orthopedic exercise specialist, motivational speaker, international yoga pro, published songwriter, avid poker player, mom and wife are just a few of my titles. But when I do my job at NASA, I am known simply as “The Fairy Zenmother” a role I deeply love because people invite me into their space to help them find their center, relax and stretch their muscles and destress their mind. Here in the blogosphere version of The Zen Den, I invite you into my world where I will explore ideas for creating a better tomorrow and a kinder today. And hopefully, with insight, authenticity and humor; my words, observations and experiences will help you feel calm, centered, intellectually challenged and spiritually enlightened. Alternatively, if you have something you would like to see covered in The Zen Den, just let me know. Your feedback is welcome and valuable to the success of this blog. Finally, my heart is filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to share with all of you.
