Why Do We Freak Ourselves Out?

   I am an over thinker. I have finally admitted that to myself after many years of trying to deny it. Oh, it's not always bad, sometimes I come up with great blogs or stories by over thinking. But, many times it gets me in trouble.
One day I was at work and I saw a parent of one of my students go in to talk with my boss. I automatically thought through things I may have done wrong. Then I realized I was making myself anxious, which is not good to do when you are teaching children (they tend to pick up on how you are feeling).
   That's when I chose then to ignore what I just saw. I would run myself ragged thinking about what they could be talking about when it wasn't my business in the first place. The only way it would become my business is if the parent or my boss told me. In the end my boss told me that the parent was happy with the progress his/her child made in class. It turned out to be a good thing; but it could have been very bad if I would have made myself sick by worrying about it.
   Many times we worry over things we don't need to. What will I eat? Where will I live? What job should I take? What school should I go to? We are very good at making ourselves anxious over things that God says we don't need to worry about. Matthew 6:25 says: "Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"
   When I was in that situation I was worried about the status of my job. God knows my needs and will provide for them. If I would've lost my job, God would provide for my needs. He cares for everything he created. He cares for each person. He cares for me. He knows my needs and wants. He provides me with what I need so that his plan for my life will come about. I just need to surrender to his will.
   Surrendering is difficult for many of us. We want to have control over our lives. If we try to control our lives then that means we are trying to take care of ourselves. In the end our strength will fail because we cannot go through this life without leaning on God. I don't know about you but I'd rather let God handle my problems and enjoy today because I don't know if I'll get a tomorrow.
   So, do you worry too much? Will you surrender to God's will for your life? What can you do to trust God more? 

   Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:25-34

   Image from here.

Seeing Eye to Eye

    Sometimes it is difficult to see from another person's perspective. In one movie in particular this is very evident: A Goofy Movie. In this movie Goofy is father to a son named Max. Max is a typical teenager trying to fit in at school and impress girls. He performs an unauthorized Pop concert at school, based off the popular artist Powerline. The concert impresses everyone at school including the girl he likes. But, it got him in trouble with the principal who calls his dad.

   Goofy, desperate to save his son from becoming a criminal, decides to take his son on a wild vacation to bond with him. Max had just gotten a date with the girl he likes but had to cancel. Instead of telling her the truth he decides to tell her he was going to the Powerline concert to sing onstage. From there it is a crazy trip where Goofy is trying to accomplish one thing and Max is trying to accomplish something else.

This father and son don't see eye to eye. They don't work as a team. Many times it is that way with our families. Parents seem to have one goal but the kids seem to have another.

   That's kind of what Jesus was talking about when he told the parable of the prodigal son. In Luke 15:11-32 we find this story of a son who wants what he wants and doesn't seem to think about what his father wants. The son goes out and squanders all his father gave him. Then, after hitting rock bottom, he goes home to ask his father for a job. When his father sees him coming he runs to his son and welcomes him back into the family.

   We all have parents or parent figures and we don't always see eye to eye. But, most of the time, our parents have our best interest at heart. And, even if they don't, we do have a heavenly father who does. He knows we will fall away because we are sinful beings. But, when we come back to him he welcomes us with open arms.

   As our heavenly father God has a plan for each of us. However, we don't always see eye to eye with God's plan for us. He knows that we may reject his plan for us, just as Jonah did, but he is ready when we do come back to follow his plan for us. He wants us to see eye to eye. Yet, he is patient with us if we fall away. That's why the parable of the prodigal son isn't necessarily about the son. It is about the father who represents our heavenly father. It is a reminder that God loves us no matter what. I hope you take solace in that this father's day.

   So, do you see eye to eye with your heavenly father? Do you know how much God loves you? What is God's plan for your life?

   Image from here.

Can I Really Do This?

   Have you ever had a time where you were called to do something and you weren't sure you were ready for? I know I have. In fact I have recently gone through a time like this. I'm already someone who is not very assertive about certain things. I don't like "selling myself" and I don't like stepping on toes.

   To make matters worse the person who I replaced was there for one of the first events I was at. Now, I wasn't upset with this person. In fact, he was someone who taught me much of what I knew about this area. Yet, it was intimidating because I wanted to show everyone that I could do this.
   Part of my problem was I knew the personality of the person who I replaced. He was confident, a people person, and very demanding of those in his charge. Meanwhile, yes I had experience doing what I was doing but not at the level I was doing it at. I also knew there was no way I could be like the person I replaced without faking, putting on a mask, and in essence lying. Yes, I have confidence but it's a different kind of confidence. I'm not really a people person. I will talk to people and get to know them but I like to do it on a deeper level. I am not a big fan of small talk. I am demanding of those in my charge but in a different way than this person was.
   Long story short: when I saw this person I did things my way with those under my charge; and he did things his way with those under his charge. He won and we lost. Yes, I had to put things into perspective. I had only been working with those under my charge for less than a week. I was ironing out a lot of things and we were just getting started. However, it still hurt. I felt like I had failed those under me.
   Now I had a choice: I could wallow and accept that I wasn't going to be as good as the person I replaced or I could let it go and keep working hard. Before I tell you about my choice I want to point out a few other things. 1. I was focused on how the person I replaced did things. I was focused on his strengths, not mine. 2. I have been talking about this person's strengths and my weaknesses compared to him. But, I have not talked about God's strength. God called me to take that position. It was outside of my comfort zone because I knew I would be really busy. I also knew it would be an adjustment to those under me because I have a different style than the person I replaced. God called me to do this and I know he will bring me through it.
   You could probably guess what my choice was. I chose to keep working hard. However, I did not choose to do things the way the person I replaced did things. I chose to do things my way. I chose to do things according my strength. I chose to do things that way because that's the way God made me. He gave me those strengths. He wants me to use them to reflect his glory. He wants you to do that too.
   So, do you try to do things the way other people do them even if it's uncomfortable? Do you believe that God gave you strengths for a reason? What can you do to step out in faith today?

   Joshua 1:9, 1 Peter 4:10, and James 1:17
   Image from here. 

The Good Samaritan Law

   One day I was at a first aid class, because I am a teacher I have to take them, and the instructor asked, "what is the Good Samaritan Law?" I had just raised my hand to answer when the instructor called on someone else. She said that the law protects you if you walk by someone who is hurt. The instructor said, "no, actually it protects you from the person you help from taking legal action against you, if you try to help the him/her."
   My first thought was it somewhat made sense that she thought that was what the law said. I mean, in the story of the Good Samaritan the Priest and the Levite both passed by the man. But, the whole point of the story is that we are not to be like them. We are to be like the Good Samaritan. If we were to be like the Priest or the Levite it would be called the "Holier than thou Law" (JK somewhat).
   Next I thought about how this proves that people have their priorities way out of line nowadays. People would rather walk away from those in need than get involved. Why is that? We don't want to get messy, or take time out from our busy schedules. We, like the Priest, think "this person is not worth my time." What if you were the person in need? Would you want someone to take time then? Yes, you would.
   Matthew 7:12 says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." We have laws in our country we are to follow but we also follow the Bible. The Greatest commandment in the Bible boils down to love God and the second boils down to love others. If we love God and love others we will do what we can to help them. If you were hurt you would want that person who is late for a meeting to stop and help you, right? Why can't you stop to help that person in need?
   So, the next time you see someone in need will you be like the Priest or like the Good Samaritan? What can you do to help someone today?

   James 2:8 and Leviticus 19:18

   Image from here. 

The Power of Words

   Once I was a young college student. I had just been through my first year of collegiate soccer and I was about to start my second year. I was the only goalie and I had just gone through a rough first year of soccer. I was still trying to gain confidence in the abilities God gave me. I felt more confident than the prior year, which was good.
   The bad thing was we had just played in a scrimmage that we lost 6-0. I felt I did my best and that the goals that were scored were good shots. Thus, I was feeling a little down, but not terrible.
   The team had just finished going through warm ups before practice. Then the coach began to talk about the game. He asked different people what they thought about it. Then he asked one of our captains to say something positive about the game.
   Up until that point many of the comments were negative. This captain did not typically say positive things. She asked if she could single someone out. The coach said yes. She pointed to me and said she thought I did a really good job. She said I had improved since last year and she was impressed. Then we went back to practicing.
   Do you think that during that practice I slacked off? No, I worked even harder than usual. Typically, we start out working hard in something because we want to glorify God. Then we begin to slow down for different reasons. It just becomes routine. However, with a little encouragement, we get back into the groove. Encouragement helps us feel like we are making a difference.
   At a different time in soccer my team had a meeting. Our captains said, "who here does not like to be encouraged? Raise your hand." Of course, none of us raised our hands. That's because we all like encouragement. Words have power. Actions have power. We may make a compliment in passing but it may mean the world to someone who is having a really rough day.
   So, I encourage you to try to encourage someone today. Think to yourself: "how can I show someone God's love today?" That will help you focus on encouraging others.

   1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Ephesians 4:29

   Image from here.

One Day: A Graduation Post

One day a preschooler was playing with blocks at school

He loved to sit and talk with his friends at lunch while sitting on a stool.

He loved to run around the playground

He liked to laugh and yell, but now we no longer hear that happy sound.

This preschooler was to graduate and go to the school where big kids go

He will still go to big kid school but we will miss seeing part of him grow.

One day a high school senior was riding with her friends

She loved just being with them because they were people on whom she could depend.

She liked to read new books and enjoyed learning new things,

But now it feels like something may have just clipped her wings.

This high schooler was to graduate and go to college

She will still go to college but for the last part of high school she won’t be able to see her friends and learn as much knowledge.

One day a college senior was sitting in class

She enjoyed learning about her major; it made her feel like she was headed for first class.

She loved work at her job and to play sports

But now, for some reason, she may feel out of sorts.

This college senior was to graduate from college and go out to share her knowledge many places,

She will still earn her degree and graduate; but, for the last part of her senior year, she will miss seeing her college friends’ faces.

   Thus far 2020 has been an interesting year. We had about 2 months of what seemed like regular life, and then it all came crashing down. COVID-19 has taken our jobs, health, freedom, and probably much more. Now, it has taken away the chance for people I know to walk across a stage, or a platform, and show their friends and family that they completed something really big.

   No matter where you are in life, graduation symbolizes the closing of a chapter. Sure, you will probably still talk to your friends from the old chapter but things will probably never be the same. Graduation helps you open a new chapter. You will get to move on to new places and meet new people.

   I am a preschool teacher and a coach. I know many preschool students, high schoolers, and college students who will not get a traditional graduation. They may never have what some of us have had. But that also gives them a choice.

   The graduates can choose to be bitter about not getting something they were probably looking forward to, or they can choose to rise above it. I have seen many of these people I know rise above this challenge. Are they still upset? Sure, they may still be upset. But, they know that being upset will not change this situation. They are following the words of Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

   In this case, instead of the word “them” we can insert the word “it.” We should not be afraid of this virus. Yes, it has the ability to take away our health and even our lives but we have someone we can trust in. God is with us. God has a plan. If God is for us who (or what) can be against us? We may not like our current situation. BUT, we can rise above it. We can choose to lean on God because he is always with us.

   So, will you choose to rise above this situation? Will you trust in God and his plan?

Congratulations to the class of 2020, whether you are in preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, or college you have achieved a huge accomplishment. I pray that you will trust in God during this difficult time and remember that he is always with you.

   Image from here.