Many years ago, a friend of mine was having a challenging time with her toddler. It was just one of those very normal developmental eras when defiance was growing, and “No,” was a very common word, both from that toddler and to that toddler.
One day, right when the family was about to leave the house, this toddler was insistent upon wearing her rain boots, even though it wasn’t raining.
“Yes,” my friend said. Then she looked at me and added, “I’m trying to say yes to her when I can.”
A few days ago, I found myself thinking about this again. Maybe we need to say yes to ourselves more often. How many times do we put off the things we desire, the things that bring us joy? What if we said yes to more connection in ways we can? Maybe we can’t talk to a friend for an hour, but we could make a quick call on the way home from work. Perhaps we can say yes to ourselves when it comes to a growing sense of calling — a calling to do something life-giving that others might think is foolish. Or we could allow ourselves to believe in something better, even when other (or perhaps ourselves) lean toward the cynical.
Oh, an by the way, the toddler was right. There was no rain in the forecast, but on the way home, a downpour happened. She was the only one who was ready.
— Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 