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Who is Fighting This Battle Anyway?
Do you ever feel like you are continually on edge, struggling against forces seemingly out of your control? It can happen in many areas of life – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Whether it is dealing with health issues, financial difficulties, weather elements, or relationship challenges, it can become overwhelming when the fight to stay afloat is a continual occurrence. I know I could give you multiple examples from my own life. Far too frequently I am weary with trying to continue forward when the forces against me seem to prevail. Just trying to keep one foot in front of the other can be a challenge when the walls of…
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Giving What Matters
Being around children I see lots of interesting behaviours. It’s always interesting to watch how some children share. Some will freely give of what they have to others. It seems to come to them as easily as breathing. Others hold what they have close to themselves and often if they do give something to others it is their cast offs. What really matters to them they keep and only give what they find less appealing. I have found myself in the latter category on occasion. Growing up with very little monetary wise has sometimes made me cautious and protective about what I have. I guess I have had moments where…
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What’s Your Laugh Quotient?
I heard a speaker say that children laugh 300 times per day compared to adults laughing 20 times. I’m not sure how scientifically accurate those statistics are, but I do know that children do have a flair for laughter. They tend to more carefree than adults and delight in the world around them. It seems, that as we age, laughter can get lost in all the complexities of life. It makes me grateful to have the job I do. I have many moments in my day where laughter takes hold. My students and I find joy in many things – mostly joy in the journey we are taking together as…
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The Walls Come Down
It is moving day today. Once again, I must change classrooms. Throughout my teaching career I have had to pack up and restart many times. Believe me, the whole moving thing is getting old. This time is somewhat different. Almost our entire school is moving today as we make a shift to more concentrated grade areas and spaces for our students with challenges. I am moving to a permanent space – one I can finally call home for the remainder of my career. That is exciting and I am looking forward to this new start. The move is not without some grieving though. Yesterday the tears were flowing. This is…
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Just Too Much Going On
Some weeks are just more hectic than others. I have had times in my life with extensive to do lists, but this week seems to surpass them all. I would love to say that I am handling it well and that I am trusting God to get me through whatever happens. That’s not really what’s going on. Some days I am keeping my cool, but more often than not, small things set off a string of emotions and sometimes even tears result. As I take some moments to write out my thoughts and feelings (a healing thing for me) I ponder what will turn things around for me right now.…
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Things Hidden, Things Revealed
The headlines blare with the news of massive amounts of wildfires in our province. In our county many are forced to evacuate their homes because of fire out of control. It is tenuous times with much anxiety for many. I live in 75 acres of trees. Having wildfires close at hand creates many moments of wondering If we too will be forced to find shelter somewhere else. Going through my home, finding all those special and valuable items, is bittersweet. Many lovely memories are tied to some of these things. The thought of their loss is deeply saddening. At the moment, I feel better with some of these things packed…
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Following a Bad Example
In recent days I have watched God do some amazing things for me. After years of teaching instability, I finally have a permanent job where I know I don’t have to move schools again or change grades. It was a job I never expected to have offered to me and God made it all come together! God even worked out an awesome grade group team for me. All this after me worrying about the matter for a considerable length of time. What do I do? I continue to follow the bad example of the Israelites. They saw God do so many mighty things to help them escape slavery in Egypt.…
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Living in Grace
Do you ever have those moments when the list of all those things undone or unsaid comes hurtling at you full force? Or maybe you are being tormented by things you did do or say that you really wish you hadn’t. That’s been the state of my week. As the school year winds down my mind whirrs with all the things that I wish I had done for my students. My heart is also heavy with the knowledge that my job has taken away time from my family and all I wanted to do with them. Then there’s the things that have come out of my mouth this week. I…
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The In Between
Have you ever been caught hanging, not really in one place or in another – that wretched place of indecision, confusion, or disillusionment? Those days of not knowing can cause havoc with our systems – both physical and emotional. As I sit in the in between at this moment, my heart is heavy. My brain is foggy and concentrating seems impossible. I am lethargic and strained. This generally out of sorts feeling just drags me down. At moments like these, hope seems fleeting. It is incredibly easy to delve into the bad aspects of the situation and lose sight of the positive. The waiting seems indefinite and my patience weakens.…
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Easter Joy
The trauma is great. Their beloved Messiah has been crucified and buried in a tomb. How can such a thing happen? Distraught feelings permeate the band of Jesus’ followers. Their lives are turned upside-down and they don’t know what is coming next. Sure, Jesus had spoken of returning, but what did that really mean? They feel like they are also targets for Roman punishment and fear is rampant. With all this going on, some of Jesus’ followers venture to His tomb. Scripture describes their encounter as this: “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There…
