Rest Easy Knowing That One Day, Red Riding Hood Will Find Her Own Particular Way Out Of The Woods.

People do not change instantly, and certainly not on our timetable, but progress occurs, whether or not we can measure it. 

Hope is not lost. 

Rest easy knowing that one day, red riding hood will find her own particular way out of the woods. 

In a true adventure, no one wants to follow someone else's course. 

You can not tell a person how to get out of the proverbial woods; to live as you see fit; but you can be a cheerleader, and proof that there is life outside the brambles.

Would you like to help someone along? Try being a lantern instead of a map!

My still living Gran used to be cranky all the time, and only spoke to criticize. When she was complimenting someone, it was in order to highlight someone else's failings. We could tell her "Hey, stop being such a downer, Gran/Mom!" but she was too far in the woods to hear our pleas. 

Those were her woods. 

Her brier patch. 

Not ours. 

She had to find her way out of the maze on her own. 

A big shift occurred when she had to move closer to family. My Auntie took a deep breath, and held up a light for her. For a really long time. When I think of my Auntie, I conjure up images of the statue of liberty, beckoning ships to the new world. My how her spiritual arm must have ached! 

 This light was powered by love and patience, kindness and grace, 

and maybe just a little desperation 

"Oh please dear God, get thorough to this woman so we can enjoy the time we have left!"

After a many moons, a beam popped through the thickest of brush. 

Light travels farther than fervent gesticulations and screams into the deep woods of the soul, it seems... 

Gran could see what life is like when one uses kind words. 

She liked this new image of the world, and walked towards it readily, and with a little a little flair. 

People said she would never change, and yet she did. 

I now look forward to visiting her, especially because she simply can not stop bubbling on about the many wonderful stories around her. 

"Oh did you hear about what old so-and so is up to? Isn't it wonderful!?" 

It feels good to be next to her; to laugh, to relax; to take off my armor at last! 

There is always hope. 

Ones internal timetable may call for change at age 26 or age 86. 

The point is, that good things are always afoot, even in the most shadowed of hearts. 

This thought brings me joy.