Tuesday, May 4, 2010

I was 11 and  couldn't get the pickle jar open. My mom told me that when I thought I'd twisted the lid as hard as I could, I should push myself to twist it even harder and the lid would most likely come off. Later (maybe even the same day) I went to open another jar and had the same problem. I remembered her words and doubled over, my upper body shaking as I gave it just a little more effort. It popped open of course.

This is one of the best pieces of advice my mom has ever given me, because it doesn't just apply to pickle jars. So many times a solution to a problem comes at the 11th hour. It comes right as you're about to give up. It's like when you're giving birth and you have that moment where you say, "I can't do this anymore" (despite the fact that you pledged not to say that) and your dr. finally says it's ok to push...you know you're almost there. This even happened at creation. Since God rested on the 7th day, we can assume that the process wore him out, yet he looked at the universe and decided it needed just a little more effort; and so man was created. It wasn't good until humans were running around in their bare feet eating berries.

Today Lydia told me she used her grandma's technique to open the jelly jar...seems like a small thing, but my mom should be proud.
Today on flickr I ran aross these "pickled gnomes". I have sort of a thing for gnomes lately anyway, but thought these were really fun.

2 comments:

Patrick and Tiffany said...

omg i love the gnomes

Gail and Keith said...

This is a nice tribute to your Mom. And, wise words from you on perseverance. G