Show & Tell

Every Tuesday night Chris and I attend an adult bible study at a couple's house that we met through church. Periodically throughout the studies we set aside nights to get to know each other better and take a break from our routine. This week we are having a "Show & Tell" night where each person brings one object that reveals something of importance about themself and then explain the significance of the object to the group.

After a week of brainstorming I found myself confused, frustrated, and a little disappointed in myself to be honest. Not only was I finding it difficult to find an object that revealed something about me, but I was having a hard time even thinking about myself at all. For some reason reflection is something that I find very difficult for myself. Actually, let me rephrase that because it is not entirely accurate. I seem to find it easy to scrape through my life with a microscope and a critical eye, but when it comes to giving people a piece of my childhood happiness, I cannot seem to put my finger on it.

About 30 minutes before our gathering I found myself at my parent's house with my mom telling me what I should bring. I cannot describe the excitement that my mom had as she pulled out a collection of items from my childhood, each with a unique story behind them. And of course with each item came my excuse to not want to share the attached story. I settled on my first FFA corduroy blue and gold jacket that I had earned through a green hand honor award and as I told the group the story about Chris and I's first meeeting while I was wearing that jacket I felt my eyes well up. Overall it was a good item to bring and revealed more about myself than I thought it would. It turns out that being in FFA is not very common for people who grew up outside of Katy. In fact, most people were in awe that I raised a pig each year and wore cowboy boots. It really puts things into perspective about what aspects of my life have really played an instrumental role in shaping me as a person. I cannot imagine my life without that 4 year experience, and as an added bonus I get to share that feeling with my husband. I am more appreciative now, knowing that I got to do something that most can hardly imagine doing. Once again I have my parents to thank for pushing me to be in a program that I otherwise would not have chosen to participate in. And who says parents are not the most important influence that a child receives?