Judging by January, time still flies.
It was the last day of January. My oldest son’s birthday made me marinate in memories-the day of his birth, childhood memories, and all the places he and his family have lived since joining the Air Force. Thoughts of he and his brother, their wives and kids, and our memories kept me warm. Judging by January, my heart is still soft. Tears fell (I’m mushy sometimes). “Am I being selfish because we’re not in the same time zone anymore?” It’s hard to give yourself grace to feel in a world with so much hurt. Judging by January, life still hands the unexpected. It’s February?
Frankly, February seems hard to fathom. Ah, February. The month of love.
From the fires to devastating air tragedies—from world tension to tyrannical tendencies—how does one even find faith or hope? My heart is saddened by these situations. Frankly, I can’t FATHOM the loss in such tragic ways! How are we supposed to react?
I’m not going to put my head in the sand and pretend horrific things don’t happen. But I’m not going to spiral in unsettling circumstances. I will pray daily for those who have lost loved ones. For those closest in my life, in my circle, I will reach out and tell them (& SHOW) I love them.
In the 25 schools, with hundreds of kids, I’ve witnessed new trends (or new normals?). This isn’t a blanket observation about every school or room. Yet, many rooms I’ve experienced have calming centers, chair, or rooms. Without going into detail, one situation was beyond aggressive. Kids yelling at authority, ignoring, and having (what other teachers call) “breakdowns.” I’ve been there. I’ve been at the end-of-my-rope. Depression, loss of self-worth, and feelings of abandonment. Life stages and circumstances can grow you or grind at you. There are plenty of people that might tell you what you’re doing wrong. Yet, do you feel HEARD? Do you feel you BELONG? Rather than trying to “fix” others, why not just …listen? Teachers are scrambling trying to control behaviors and teach standards. What if teamwork, cooperation, and kindness were standards? Working together as a team despite differences? One school has the kids sit in rows, another school the kids are dancing on cafeteria tables working in groups. Is either right or wrong? Twenty-five schools, leaders, and thousands of kids make up the largest district in Missouri. Each school has their own culture, environment, and norms. It didn’t take me long to even notice dress trends in different schools. All in one city. One city in a county. One county in a state. One state in a country. One country in the world. I’m just one out of 8 billion. So how should I react?
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (ESV)
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” –C.S Lewis
“Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come without leaving happier.”
Mother Teresa
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” A.A. Milne
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and reward will be great, and you will sons of the Most High, for his is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Luke 6:35
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” –Robert Frost
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.”
C.S. Lewis
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Keep the faith 💚
Good News to Choose!
TODAY is my amazing Dad’s birthday! Happy birthday, Dad! To know him is to love and respect him. His heart might be weak, but his inner strength remains. I’m blessed to celebrate another year with him. There’s been so much sickness and judging by January (;-), I wasn’t immune to an upper respiratory infection. My recovery has required medication and inhalers. I’m moving in the right direction. My flight to D.C. and scans/bloodwork/dr’s visits at the National Cancer Institute is scheduled for early March. My bone pain management plan has been established. Life is evolving and I continue to grow. As I’ve “expanded”, my world has also “shrunk”. I’m sticking to my Year Makeover goals. God is still working miracles! There’s freedom in choosing to control only what you can control. It’s old wisdom to put first things first. Be careful out there. There’s a lot of noise, traffic, and hate. Remember that you are loved. YOU are HIS BELOVED. You don’t have to worry about being polished or popular. Don’t stress over others’ opinions or oppositions. If you’re being chased by something that isn’t Christ-minded or life-giving, stop running and stand your ground. Allow your feet to be firmly planted in the root of truth (CHRIST!) and goodness. It can be done without waging war. Don’t compromise your values or beliefs–you’ll end up in confusion or chaos.
Frankly, February, I’m fallible, but I won’t fold. I don’t have to “fit”. They’ll be football, family, and faithful gatherings- failures, fact-checking, and fatigue. I’ll celebrate the fact you’re short like me!
Faith? Life might try to dissolve mine, but it’s fixed.
It’s not fluid or faded…
frankly, my faith won’t falter.
