Finding Joy in the Remnants
by Felisha Jones
Finding Joy in the Remnants
rem·nant
/ˈremnənt/
a small remaining quantity of something.
The first time I walked into a fabric shop, I remember seeing this huge sign that read - Remnants. I had often heard my aunt, who is a seamstress, refer to leftover fabric as a swatch, so I was curious about this basket full of fabric that was priced for under a dollar. Once I began rummaging through the basket, I quickly made the correlation. For some reason, I became more excited about what I could do with these remnants. I didn’t need the entire 6ft of fabric, in fact, I appreciated that the remnant was already prepared for me in order to better utilize it for the specific ideas that I had in mind, such as several beautiful headwraps. It’s the perfect example of how two people don’t require the same amount of a thing to create something equally beautiful. It also lends to the fact that what’s left can be evolved into something more gloriously beneficial for the future.
How are you actively allowing remnants of the past to evolve into something more gloriously beneficial for the future?
As I continue to explore the thought of appreciating remnants, my mind quickly shifts to my grandmother's magical navigation with Dementia. We moved her into my parent's home the last 5 years of her residency on earth, so I had gladly become one of her caregivers. It was a joy to spend so much time with her and learn some important life lessons about appreciating the remnants of my courageous grandmother’s personality. Although she reached a point in her journey where she didn't remember any of our names, she would still light up when she saw our faces and it became a deeper spiritual connection for us.
I will never forget how she never forgot three names that seemed to always override her inability to remember: Her own name, Corine Darby, which she firmly stated if asked; my grandfather's name, Reuben Darby, who left this earth almost 3 decades prior, and the name of Jesus, who she called upon frequently until her final days. She loved to sing, dance, snap her fingers to soulful music, laugh with her whole face and savor good food. She was also fascinated with everyone's eyes. She would often say, "look at those eyes" as if she could see into our soul. The memories that I'm sharing with you at this moment are remnants that still live deep within my heart today. For that, I am extremely grateful.
Can you take a moment to recall the memorable remnants that live on in your heart from the precious time spent with your loved ones who are no longer with you - your ancestors? How can you honor and keep those remnants alive today?
My final thought in regards to the word remnant, centers around the past two years, for which many, if not all of us, have been forced to live from a remnant-infused reality. We've all had to examine what we could offer ourselves, those we care about, and our communities-at-large during these challenging times. I personally found infectious joy in our ability to come together as ONE to revolutionize the remnants within our communities - recognizing that we truly are the hands and feet of God on earth. We were forced to dig deeper within ourselves to revitalize humanity.
We were reintroduced to our innate and learned skills to help us pivot within our careers. We have been brave enough to ask for what we need to help us heal the trauma that may have bubbled up during our stay-at-home lockdowns - which will ultimately heal many generations to come. We have also discovered what is most important - at the end of the day. Yes, this pandemic has decided to stick around, so we must hold space for those still grieving and struggling, while doing our best to find joy in the remnants, one day at a time. So, as I close, I would like to pose the following questions to you, as you move about within this brand new year:
How are you finding joy in your remnants, right now, in the present moment?
Are you staying true to the promises you made to yourself when you couldn’t find a roll of toilet paper nor a bottle of sanitizer?
Are you waking up daily with appreciation for what is within an arm’s reach of you?
How do you envision someone revolutionizing the remnants of your life and legacy?