Now that the month of August is FINALLY over, it seems as though we have settled into a familiar school year routine. We are all back in school. David is a senior at Ole Miss and Collin is in the 7th grade. We have already had two Jr. High football games (out-of-town) that resulted in one win and one loss, Open House, and school pictures. ...And not to mention HOMEWORK - lots of it!
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| Go Mustangs! |
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I have been thinking a lot about change throughout this past month. There have been a lot of transitions taking place that I was not expecting to find quite so overwhelming, both personally and professionally. It all started with a pair of shoes. Collin and I had completed our back to school shopping, with the exception of a new pair of sneakers. He had found a pair that he really wanted , but I told him he would need to wait on the new shoes and could make do with his "frat cleats" and sneakers we had bought at the beginning of the summer. Well, I don't know how your kids are, but when that boy gets an idea in his mind he will not let you rest! I really wanted to get him those shoes, but needed some sort of "financial blessing." After all, what parent doesn't want to provide everything he or she possibly can for a child? One night as we were eating supper, we were watching the news. (Yes, the TV was on during supper. - I know bad parent award!) The reporter was interviewing this African woman that had been suffering with her children because of the famine there. She and her children had walked 5 DAYS just so that they could find food, water, and shelter. Not only that, she had brought another young boy with her that she had found on the way that had been orphaned due to the famine. I just broke down in tears! Inconsolably! My kids looked at me like I was crazy! I cannot describe to you how that moment changed me from the inside-out. I had been worrying about something so trivial, like, am I a terrible parent because my child has to go back to school without a new pair of shoes? And, there, on the other side of the world, people are just hoping they will live to see another day! I felt so guilty that I have been blessed, while others suffer and have so little.
My mom gave me this devotional book for teachers. I opened it up to "Accepting God's Abundance." The author writes about the tenth chapter of John, in which we are reminded of the abundance that can be ours through Christ. Jesus was not referring to material possessions or financial wealth. His is a spiritual richness that extends beyond the boundaries of this world and is available to all that seek it and claim it.
God's riches are beyond anything we could ask
or even dare to imagine!
If my life gets gooey and stale, I have no excuse.
~Barbara Johnson
I pray that all of those suffering in Africa will have all of their physical needs met. I pray that they will hear the message of God's abundance. I pray that I will seek more spiritual riches and less worldly riches and material possessions.
Well, here's the shoe update. The "financial blessing" came through. The shoes were ordered and delivered to our door on Tuesday. I hope Collin learned a little about patience and worldliness from having to wait on these shoes. I know I certainly did. I am so thankful for these shoes! They have proven to be a spiritual life changer for me! Who would have thought that?
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| The Shoes | | |
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How to donate to famine relief:
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