With Arms Wide Open
When I first heard the lyrics to the song "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed, I felt the love and joy of those words pour into my heart.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
To this day, it remains one of those songs that can stir something in my blood no matter how many times I hear it.
It is a song about a man who is excited, anticipating and scared about becoming a father.
I feel that is sometimes how we feel about life - going through new seasons, over rough terrain and climbing to new heights that we have never been, yet alone thought or dreamed of.
When events and circumstances bring us down, it can be hard to stand still and open our arms to accept what is coming next. We worry about things we cannot change, we worry that we will disappoint the people we love through our choices or things that are beyond our knowledge or control. It is not easy for us to say that we are fallible or vulnerable to what comes our way.
What we can do is accept what is, yet we can also anticipate what is coming, what could be if we keep standing firm and owning what is ours.
Our love, hurts, victories, mistakes, genius, stupidity, beliefs, challenges and what is healing and broken inside us. When we can embrace those things, we can change our lives and those of others.
Years ago, I was deeply ashamed of having a learning disability - I hated the fact that other people seemed to do things better and easier than I did. I did what most teenagers do, try and blend in - sometimes this worked and other times it didn't. When I was seventeen, my Mum said to me.
"Sarah, if you embrace who you are - you could do so many things."
I don't remember what I said in response, probably some pissy retort.
It took me a long time to embrace the benefits as well as the downfalls of living with a learning disability. Being sensitive and having empathy for others, having a gift with words and being able to relate to people where they're at and appreciate who they are and what they bring to the table.
As I grew older, I learned that everybody has quirks - on and off the spectrum.
So these days, I'm happy knowing who I am - there are so many people who are not and I have been there too.
Life is full of beautiful and delicate threads that weave together like a spider web.
Spiders are the most uncelebrated artists in the world, their works are always original, creative and intricate. We may not enjoy the knowledge of a spider's presence per se, but we can appreciate the work they do. While I was walking down the rain forest trail today I noticed a spider web that was spun in the shape of a mixing bowl, with leaves scattered throughout. If the spider who made that web was human, it would be in a gallery and that human would be toasted and celebrated for their art. For that spider, it's just home.
If there is one thing I know, it is that we cannot go through life without embracing it.
Even on days when we feel defeated, lonely or hurting - we still need to live this life with arms wide open to receive blessings and see what and who we can be grateful for.
It can be as simple as looking up at a full moon and appreciating it's beauty, or admiring the handiwork of a spider.
If you are in a dark place and you can appreciate the beauty in your surroundings, it's the beginning of new and happy things to come.
For those of you who are afraid to open your arms to embrace this life you have been given, know that you survived the ordeal of being conceived and delivered safely into this world. You were born for a purpose, to live a life that is full of joy and color, along with the inevitable hurt that comes with living. Losing people you love, losing status, losing jobs and possessions. Losing yourself.
We all lose our way at some point in our lives, but during our wanderings we can still find ourselves back on the path we were meant to walk on or we can find a new one and with that, a new person that we didn't know lived inside of us. Remember that you are priceless.
You are an original. You cannot be bought or replaced. You simply are. What is in your soul and spirit belongs to you and you alone. Celebrate what is yours and this life you have been given with those you love. With arms wide open.
- Sarah x
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
To this day, it remains one of those songs that can stir something in my blood no matter how many times I hear it.
It is a song about a man who is excited, anticipating and scared about becoming a father.
I feel that is sometimes how we feel about life - going through new seasons, over rough terrain and climbing to new heights that we have never been, yet alone thought or dreamed of.
When events and circumstances bring us down, it can be hard to stand still and open our arms to accept what is coming next. We worry about things we cannot change, we worry that we will disappoint the people we love through our choices or things that are beyond our knowledge or control. It is not easy for us to say that we are fallible or vulnerable to what comes our way.
What we can do is accept what is, yet we can also anticipate what is coming, what could be if we keep standing firm and owning what is ours.
Our love, hurts, victories, mistakes, genius, stupidity, beliefs, challenges and what is healing and broken inside us. When we can embrace those things, we can change our lives and those of others.
Years ago, I was deeply ashamed of having a learning disability - I hated the fact that other people seemed to do things better and easier than I did. I did what most teenagers do, try and blend in - sometimes this worked and other times it didn't. When I was seventeen, my Mum said to me.
"Sarah, if you embrace who you are - you could do so many things."
I don't remember what I said in response, probably some pissy retort.
It took me a long time to embrace the benefits as well as the downfalls of living with a learning disability. Being sensitive and having empathy for others, having a gift with words and being able to relate to people where they're at and appreciate who they are and what they bring to the table.
As I grew older, I learned that everybody has quirks - on and off the spectrum.
So these days, I'm happy knowing who I am - there are so many people who are not and I have been there too.
Life is full of beautiful and delicate threads that weave together like a spider web.
Spiders are the most uncelebrated artists in the world, their works are always original, creative and intricate. We may not enjoy the knowledge of a spider's presence per se, but we can appreciate the work they do. While I was walking down the rain forest trail today I noticed a spider web that was spun in the shape of a mixing bowl, with leaves scattered throughout. If the spider who made that web was human, it would be in a gallery and that human would be toasted and celebrated for their art. For that spider, it's just home.
If there is one thing I know, it is that we cannot go through life without embracing it.
Even on days when we feel defeated, lonely or hurting - we still need to live this life with arms wide open to receive blessings and see what and who we can be grateful for.
It can be as simple as looking up at a full moon and appreciating it's beauty, or admiring the handiwork of a spider.
If you are in a dark place and you can appreciate the beauty in your surroundings, it's the beginning of new and happy things to come.
For those of you who are afraid to open your arms to embrace this life you have been given, know that you survived the ordeal of being conceived and delivered safely into this world. You were born for a purpose, to live a life that is full of joy and color, along with the inevitable hurt that comes with living. Losing people you love, losing status, losing jobs and possessions. Losing yourself.
We all lose our way at some point in our lives, but during our wanderings we can still find ourselves back on the path we were meant to walk on or we can find a new one and with that, a new person that we didn't know lived inside of us. Remember that you are priceless.
You are an original. You cannot be bought or replaced. You simply are. What is in your soul and spirit belongs to you and you alone. Celebrate what is yours and this life you have been given with those you love. With arms wide open.
- Sarah x
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