I get knocked down BUT I get up again…and again…again…….

Yesterday was a rough day for me as a teacher.  There’s just no other way to say it.  After 20 years away from the classroom I’m teaching high school Spanish and boy do I have a lot to learn.  An incident happened that just kind of “broke the straw on the camels back” so to speak.  It made me realize that something has got to change or it’s going to be a really really long year. After school I grabbed my headphones, turned my music up really loud and just walked and walked.  And then something crazy happened……I ran.  Yes, this girl who despises running ran.  (I must have been really upset!)

Here’s the thing: I LOVE teaching and I love my students.  However, the more I spend daily with people, I am reminded of how much we live in a broken world, with hurting and broken kids whose families aren’t in this easy cookie cutter life. These kids are coming into school with baggage, and quit frankly many of them are a mess before they even step into the classroom. Then I am also reminded of the grownups that I interact with in the world and am reminded that they too are broken and hurting.  So what do I do with all of that?

First of all, I need to pray.  Notice how I said pray first?  I find myself getting upset first and then praying later which is a backwards way of doing it.  When I stop and pray and ask the Lord for help with a student or a situation, I am more apt to be clearheaded and deal with it properly….in a Godly manner which is my #1 goal.  I want the students to see Jesus in me even when I have to discipline them, when I teach them, when we are in the halls, etc….  

Secondly, I elicit help from others that are more experienced.   This takes a little bit of humbling on our part because that means we have to go talk to someone and actually admit that this problem or situation is a little much for us and we need help.  I stood in the hallway yesterday talking to two more experienced teachers and sharing my frustrations and they kindly, without judging my abilities, gave me solution ideas and encouraged me.  Last evening my principal spent time sending me articles and ideas on how to make my situation better.  Her encouraging words to me were a balm and a healing to the hurt I had experienced that day. These people encouraged me to keep on doing what I know to be right.

Third, don’t believe the lies that go through your head. I believe this is a tough one for many of us, whatever the situation.  We may make a mistake, or botch something at work, or feel like we didn’t do our best or maybe yelled at our kids, or were mean to our husbands.  Satan puts all of these things in our minds like, “see, I told you that you couldn’t do this job.”  “You really aren’t worthy, you know that don’t you?”  “You’re lucky they hired you because you are not really a good teacher.”  “Just look at you yelling at your kids like that, you are a horrible mom.”  All of those things play around in our minds and just sit there and if we are not careful we begin to believe those lies.  And yes my friends, they are LIES!  You are good enough, you are smart, you are worthy, you are a good mom, you are a great teacher……you’re just not perfect.  I’ve had a friend share recently that when you know what the truth is and you begin to believe the lies, you turn to the lies and say “be quiet!!”, do an about face and listen to the truth.  I know, it’s easier said than done, but we need to be in the practice of recognizing lies for what they are and seeing the truth for what it is.

Forth, get your prayer people on board.  I had a couple friends that I was chatting with last night and I just told them that I had a rough day at work and needed prayer.  It was as easy as that and I know that they are praying for me.  Make sure you have people around you that you can go to when you are struggling so that they can lift you up to the Father.  If you don’t then begin to pray that God would bring a someone or somebodies into your life to be those people.

Finally, move past it.  So you had a bump in the road.  Again, you’re not perfect. You are learning.  Believe me, we all have room to grow.  But if we stay in our sulky, “woe is me” state then it doesn’t do anyone any good.  You can’t do what God has for you because you have stayed in the pit.  Get out of there and fast!  Satan wants nothing more than for us to give up.  Don’t believe his lies.  Move on.

My story was focused on my teaching but everyone has their own area where these will apply.  Yours may be that you have tried to share your story of Jesus with a friend and it didn’t go so well. Tuck these tools in your tool belt and keep going. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning. 

           It’s a new day my friends.  Keep encouraged!!!

Prayers in the alley

Sadly there is a young boy, age 7, from our community that has just been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer.  I quickly received a message from a gal telling me and then later that day we got a call with more specifics to please put it on our church prayer chain.  From there, the next few days were just hearing people spread the word to pray for him. 

That Sunday night I was in a special 5 week training that our church is doing about being authentic for Jesus and reaching out to our community.  As the teacher was speaking, the Lord hit me over the head with a command.  “I want you to go and pray and encourage the grandmother of this young guy that you have been hearing so much about” I started to brush it off thinking it was really just a fleeting thought but I knew it wasn’t when it keep strongly coming to me.  I KNEW that I had to be obedient.  But I didn’t really know the grandmother that well.  God said, “It doesn’t matter. You need to go pray for her and encourage her.”

So last Tuesday after school I walked into her place of business and asked for her.  She was out back sitting and talking with a friend.  I walked up and reintroduced myself and just said that I was here to pray and encourage her.  Can you imagine a grandmother finding this out about her beloved grandson?  It was so fresh and so raw for this family that my heart just went out to this precious lady.  We talked for a few minutes and then I asked if I could pray with her.  She agreed and so I put my hand on her shoulder to start.  As I was about to pray, the other gal from the shop that took me back to her said, “Can I get in on the prayer too?”, while the third lady came up to join us.  We had a prayer circle of four and lifted little Payton to Jesus and prayed for him.  We prayed for the family and for the dear grandmother that was hurting so deeply right there in the alley behind her shop.  As the 4 of us said amen, another lady who had been walking through the alley said “amen” from a few feet away.  A fifth person had joined in and we didn’t even know it.  She walked over to give hugs and words of encouragement to this heartbroken grandmother.

God was working right then and there in the alley behind the beauty shop.  It was pretty awesome to be a part of.  I hugged her and I left knowing that I wouldn’t soon forget this real God moment.

You see God calls us to just do life with people.  He may direct you to certain people to pray, encourage, give financially, etc…..Our job is just to listen and be obedient.  I’m learning that when we do this God increases our faith and our trust in him. In turn, we are blessed as we are a blessing to others. 

If you wouldn’t mind praying for Payton and his family I know that they would covet your prayers.  We know God can do anything but right now the diagnosis does not look promising.  Please pray for peace, comfort and strength for this family.