Lesson(s) Learned

God woke me up super early this morning with these thoughts running through my mind, so I suppose they are to help someone out there who’s struggling. I hope this letter, or FB “note,” encourages everyone out there – intended and unintended audiences alike. Unintended Audiences                 I’m sure it happens all the time in classrooms all around the world. Student A passes a note intended for Student B - only for it to be intercepted by the teacher. It’s actually quite the riot when the teacher is bold enough (and mean enough) to read the note in front of the entire classroom. It’s like a free pass into the secrets of that person’s life. The inner sanctum, if you will. The Holy of Holies, where everything is out in the open and raw before the presence of God and everyone else. But why, oh why, do people long (and maybe even love) to hear the content in the forbidden letters? Why do the unintended audiences...

A Woman's Question ... Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing Ever made by the Hand above? A woman's heart, and a woman's life--- And a woman's wonderful love. Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing As a child might ask for a toy? Demanding what others have died to win, With a reckless dash of boy. You have written my lesson of duty out, Manlike, you have questioned me. Now stand at the bars of my woman's soul Until I shall question thee. You require your mutton shall always be hot, Your socks and your shirt be whole; I require your heart be true as God's stars And as pure as His heaven your soul. You require a cook for your mutton and beef, I require a far greater thing; A seamstress you're wanting for socks and shirts--- I look for a man and a king. A king for the beautiful realm called Home, And a man that his Maker, God, Shall look upon as He did on the first And say: "It is very good." I am fa...

“I’m not done yet” Today, during Bible lesson with the kiddos, we discussed the betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as part of our study on the “Easter Unit.” I explained that when Jesus was betrayed, he wasn’t shouting, screaming, fighting, or bickering…. He…. Was….Praying. By praying, he was showing us an example in the Garden of Gethsemane of what we should also do when we feel betrayed. Instead of just reading about prayer, God told me to lead the kids in a silent “prayer exercise.” First, the students were directed to pray for the person sitting next to them, then the ones that sat across from them….then, we prayed for families, best friends in the class, and THEN… (here’s the kicker), we prayed for our “enemies.” We indentified the ones that have betrayed us, in one way or another. We attempted to bless the ones that curse us, and we prayed for those that despitefully have (and will) use us. By this point, the students had been silent, and still, and had their eyes clo...

The Alternate Reality of “What If” Several famous people have written upon this alternate reality of “What If.” The first of which comes to mind is Coldplay’s song: “What if there was no light. Nothing wrong, nothing right. What if there was no time? And no reason or rhyme? What if you should decide That you don't want me there by your side. That you don't want me there in your life. What if I got it wrong? And no poem or song.. Could put right what I got wrong, Or make you feel I belong What if you should decide That you don't want me there by your side That you don't want me there in your life. “ Sad times, if someone chooses that “what if.” Yes? The second of which comes to mind is Rudyard Kipling’s poem: “If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied abou...

Growing up with three brothers, I often heard the phrase "boys will be boys" repeated over and over again. Though I'd oftentimes heard it, I don't think I quite caught on to the full meaning of that phrase until today. Yes, that's right. Today. You see, today I was invited. Welcomed, rather. To a place most girls don't venture to go. It's a modern day version of the Little Rascal's "HeMan-Woman-Haters club," if you will. Maybe some girls lack the desire to go (by the sheer mention of the name); but for most girls, they lack the courage to go. It's like it's a secret club-of-sorts, this place is. An all-boys club, in fact. An innocent "street gang." An inner sanctum. A place where laughter abides, and who knows what will end up on someone's french fries. That's right. Today. I. Sat. At. The. Fourth-Grade. Boy's. Lunch. Table. And I'm thankful I did. Conversation ranged from Lady Gaga's latest styles, ...