"It's All Good"

    Sitting outside in the glow of the warm sun I took a deep breath and a saying that my father-in-law says all the time came to mind- "It's all good." If you know Bill, you know that he is a laid back kind of guy that doesn't get upset easily or get discouraged under pressure. He's a man of few words, but when he talks you want to listen. It's mid-November and an amazing 74 degrees here in Northern VA today. The sun is shining, the leaves are slowly drifting from the branches and onto the ground, the sky is a a powdery blue mixed with white whispy clouds and all I have to say is "It's all good."

   I've always been a talker and because of that I don't always listen as I should because I am planning out what I will say next.  Matt calls his dad for advice from time to time and Matt talks (a lot- like me) while his dad patiently listens on the other end of the line. Bill usually says a few words that are simply put, but hold genuine and sound advice.  Bill will say "It's all good." to Matt on a regular basis and leave it at that.  At first, I thought of it as just a habitual thing to say, but I've found that it implies a lot more than what first meets the ear. : )

   "It's all good." brings us back to a place of thankfulness in the end. Even if said light heartidly, it's true. And for the times that things aren't good at all? Well, "It's all good." implies that there are still things to hold to tightly and to be thankful  for and it also reminds us that there will be a time when things are good; when life does get better.  Matt has picked up his dad's catch phrase and he uses it on me a lot. I will pour my heart out to Matt for an hour and he will look at me patiently and say "It's all good."   I don't find it insensitive for him to say that or to be short with me after I have been talking non-stop.  I'm finding that over time, fewer words seem to be more valuable to me than someone talking in circles trying to "fix" what's going on with me.

   Matt and I are facing a lot financially right now with situations that are beyond our control. Despite what we're facing and will continue to face for the coming months, the truth is that it's still 74 degrees outside right now in mid-November, the sun is shining, the sky is flawless and "It's all good." Our circumstances don't determine our level of worth, contentment, joy or hope for a future. Tomorrow, if Winter decides to make an early arrival and snow covers the beautiful fallen leaves, the sky is turned to gray, and the sun refuses to shine- well, "It's all good."