End of the Year Reflections

     Well, it's that time of year again...the time where we say, "How is it 2019 already?"  And we hear all the aphorisms about time flying, and making each day count, and enjoying the moment.  And we feel a twinge of guilt, because did we really make the most of each moment?  Was there more we could have done?  Or less?  Could we have kept that New Year's resolution a little more faithfully?  Could we have stressed less about a clean house, folded laundry, or full schedules?  Are we ever going to get our kid out of "that stage?"  Did we keep that diet or exercise plan we promised ourselves we would?

     We like to look at the beginning of the year as a time for new starts.  Fresh pages, new leaves, all that type of thing.  But I think that it can also be a good time to look back.  Not in an "I-failed-at-all-these-things" way, but in a "what-did-I learn-this-year?" way.  Looking back at the ways we failed is an easy trap to fall into.  Our human tendency is to focus on all the ways we failed, and to live there in defeat.  The enemy knows that if he can trap us in the cycle of defeat and discouragement, then he's won half the battle.  We defeat ourselves by obsessing over what we didn't do, didn't say, didn't try. 

   So, instead of making a list of things we didn't get right to start the new year, I propose we make a list of what did go right.  What good things happened?  What did we get right?  Start the new year with a different kind of list. 

   This year, I really saw the way the Lord provides for us...even in the things that aren't super "spiritual."   Like the way He kept it from raining on our camp outs, or the way He sent the rain on a day that I wanted it to rain, so I could be a part of something important to me.  The way He let us get our kid's Christmas for 50% off, allowing us to get two instead of one.  The way He sent people into our lives at the right time to encourage us in the work He has called us to.  Things that may not be important to anyone else, but to me they were a big deal.

    I didn't get super fit, but I did improve my water drinking habit.  My house isn't spotless, but my kids are healthy, and learning to be decent humans.  My baby is reading fluently, and loves to do it.  My side hobby isn't making me rich, but it is helping me to learn new things, meet new people, and have some fun along the way.   My kids at school are growing and learning and improving.   Am I still doing a lot?  Yep.  Am I doing things that I think I'm supposed to do?  Yep.  And that's what really matters. 

     I have come closer to the realization that it doesn't matter what people say or think about what you are doing.  The only thing that matters is that you are doing the things your Heavenly Father has called you to do, and that the things that you are choosing to prioritize are furthering His kingdom.  That you go to bed at night and truly say, "I did my best to do my Father's will today."  And if the answer to that question happens to be "no" one night, His grace is sufficient to make the next day better. 

    So, this is what I think we should be thinking about as this year draws to an end.  Not all the failures we have seen, but all the grace we have received.  And maybe be a little more determined to share that grace with others in the New Year.

    Oh, and of course, the other important question this time of year: do I let the kids stay up until midnight or not?  Happy New Year. :)




   

"Even If You Don't"

   So, it's been a couple of months since I last updated... hope things are going well for all of y'all!  We are as busy as ever with all the things!  I think that's just the season we are in right now, so we just throw the balls up and hope to catch them as they come back down! 

     Something's been on my mind lately.  Several weeks in a row recently, I attended a Bible study on the passage in Ephesians about the armor of God. (Priscilla Shirer, "Armor of God" study... definitely a recommend!!)  This is a passage I have known and studied before, but I learned a lot in this particular study group.  Well, let's just say, when the enemy finds out you might be moving closer to God, that's when he decides to see if you really mean it. 

    So, about halfway through this study... right between the "shoes of peace" and the "shield of faith" he decided to make his move.  A situation came up that really stressed me out.  No details... just suffice it to say that it really disturbed my normal, mostly peaceful inner self. 

    And did I immediately turn to God and say, "Well, I know You've got this, so here You go?"  Nope.  I started pondering.  Planning.  Stressing.  I mean, come on... I'm right in the middle of this Bible study, and whoops... down the rabbit hole I go!  Awake at night... distracted during the day... no appetite.  (Well, maybe that one was not so terrible!)  The worst part (for me!) was the fact that there was nothing I could do.  I literally had not one thing that I could do about any of it. 

     Eventually, the time I spent in Bible study and prayer started to help.  I was able to move past the initial panic mode and back to my more laid-back mode.  So, while I wasn't immediately quick to squash those doubts and fears, after a few days I was back on track. 

     And that's when I started thinking a little more about this idea: but what if He didn't?  I don't mean what if God wasn't there or what if He didn't hear my prayers. but what if He didn't smooth the way?  What if He left it bumpy? Or rocky?  Or even a valley of shadow?  Would I get that inner peace back as quickly? 

      How many times do we hear of people going through some sort of tragedy?  Do we think they're not praying?  What about Job?  Pretty sure he prayed.  But God didn't immediately restore him.  How would I have responded if my stressful situation had gone a different direction?  I would like to believe that I would still trust...but maybe not.  I need to keep practicing.

     So, this is my encouragement to you: some day God may not open that door, or relieve that burden, or fix that problem.  We may just have to be in it.  And the way we respond to the things He sets before us today will get us in the habit of turning and trusting.  So, if God moves your mountain, be thankful!  If He doesn't, be thankful.   Keep practicing.  We may not always get it right...but each time we get stronger.  And, like these lyrics say... our hope is Him alone.  I pray I remember that.  I pray you remember that.  Our hope is Him alone. :)

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone.

Life Lessons from Mister Rogers

     So, I have been asked to do more book reviews on the blog.  If you know me at all, you know that I am a reader.  Reading is not just a hobby to me...it is more of a compulsion.  I can barely remember a time that I could not and did not read.  However, book reviewing is something I haven't done much of at all.

    So, here goes an attempt to review a book that I read recently.  I got it at my local library (my happy place) a few weeks ago.  The name of the book is "The Good Neighbor: the Life and Work of Fred Rogers" by Maxwell King.  I found it to be a truthful and touching account of the life of a well-known figure who played an essential role in the childhood of millions of Americans during the '70s, '80s, and into the '90s.

     The book is biographical, telling the story of Mister Rogers from his birth, upbringing, education, and his passion for the children he ministered to in his life.  And "ministered" is the right word.  He believed with his whole heart that God had called him to be a light in the lives of the children he came in contact with, and also the ones he visited with on a daily basis in his "television neighborhood."  He actually was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian church, with the special dispensation that his ministry was to children through the medium of television.  He had to convince the board of ordination of the fact that this was a legitimate ministry, and it worked.  After some wrangling with the Presbytery, he was ordained, and his official congregation was the children he loved.

     And that is one of the main truths that I took away from this book.  Page after page, his love for his fellow man, especially children, shone through.  In one of the most impacting parts of the book, the author quotes several people who knew Mister Rogers talking about what made him different than other people.  And every person in this particular section said the same thing.  "What would Christ be like?" said one of his teachers from theological school.  "He would be like Fred Rogers.  He would encourage you to do right and help other people."  Another long-time acquaintance said, "He was the most Christ-like person I ever knew."

     What a testimony!  Isn't that what we all want as Christians?  Isn't that exactly what Jesus said to us in John 13:35?  "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  It seems pretty clear that Mister Rogers lived this out.  Was he perfect?  No.  But the driving theme of this book was his authenticity.  He truly did his best to live what he believed in a way that had an impact on those around him.  Certainly something we can all aspire to.

     As a parent and teacher, I like Mister Rogers for another reason.  He told children the truth... even when the truth was unpleasant.  He didn't believe in shielding children from the scary things in this world, but preparing them to face  by those things by giving them the tools they needed to do so.

     When the goldfish dies, he doesn't stop rolling to replace it.  He calmly removes the fish, talking about what "dead" means, and simply wraps it up in a paper towel and walks to the backyard and quietly buries the fish.  He didn't shy away from hard topics that little children had to face like divorce (something that became more and more common as the years went on), death, fear, national tragedy, or just meanness.  He simply explained in his calm, quiet way that these things are, and that they are scary or sad, but that if you have people in your life that love you, you can face them.

     I find it interesting that there has been a bit of a revival of interest in Mister Rogers.  There has been this book, published this year, a couple of movies about his life made in the last two years, and even a Google Doodle a couple of days ago.  (Watch it here if you didn't get to see it... it was great!) 

     So, why this interest?  Well, I've been giving it some thought, and I think it might come down to the two pillars that Mister Rogers held dear: love and truth.  People are searching for these two qualities, and Mister Rogers shows us what it can look like in our everyday life.  He gives us examples of how to show these two things in tangible ways, like drawing a picture for a sick friend, or sharing something we learned that was interesting to us with someone else, or inviting our friend to put his feet in a pool of water with us on a hot day.  ( Go to 5:50 to see this example of neighborliness.) 

     So, do I recommend this book? Yes.  And I encourage you to take a lesson or two from Mister Rogers.  I know after I read it, it made me think about my own life, and what kind of impact I am having on the little people in my life.  And I think we can all show a little more love to our neighbors. :)