Age

Being a fourth grade teacher, I appreciate what young people have to offer. Of course, at this time of year, I also appreciate having a break to de-stress! That point aside, I see a lot of good in youth and what they have to share. Don't get me wrong, respect is shown towards those who are older. There is much that age has to offer that youth can not give. Years on Earth often does bring a lot of wisdom. I have such respect for my parents, my church pastor and elders, grandparents, etc. They have seen so much and experienced so much and those experiences have taught them how to handle a lot. What I think people need to avoid though is that youth means that you have less to offer. There is hardly a week goes by that a student of mine didn't teach me something or give me a different way to look at something that I thought I was the 'expert' on. I sometimes need to work at remembering that just because I am older, doesn't mean I have the end all and be all answer to something. Even when a students knoweldge of a subject is limited (or sometimes when there may be no knowledge), they ask a question or rephrase something in such a way as to give me a new perspective and open a whole new way to approach the subject. Don't discount me because I am yonger, please!

The Weight of Prayer - Author unknown

I am not sure where this story came from, but it was passed on to me recently and thought it was wonderful. Has anyone seen this before? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store. Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can."

John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store. Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocerman that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocerman said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list? Louise replied "Yes sir!" "O.K." he said: "Put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocerman and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocerman staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it." The customer smiled and the grocerman started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.

The grocerman stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands." The grocerman gave her the groceries that he had gathered and placed on the scales and stood in stunned silence.

Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to John as he said, "It was worth every penny of it." It was sometime later that John Longhouse discovered the scales were broken, therefore only God knows how much a prayer weighs.

A calling

How do we know what we are meant to do? Ok, tough question, or maybe not written well, but how do we know where God wants us to go and what to do? I realize that someone's going to answer that when we are quiet enough, we will hear what God wants. I know that's true, but sometimes I have trouble making the step to understand if that's my mind imposing something that I think is a calling. How do other people discern what's a real calling versus their mind just "playing" with them?

My Aunt

A few weeks ago, my Aunt Bea was diagnosed with cancer that has progressed very far. It is now in her brain, lungs, and bones, and they are still checking to see where else. She had been feeling fine until about a month ago when she had an episode that was originally thought to be a mini-stroke. The real problem was quickly discovered when they performed various scans and tests. There is no hope for curing the cancer and she has opted to not receive chemo or other treatments, since they would be giving her extremely harsh doses and it would not give her much time. She has always been, and still is, a very Godly person. She is trusting that she will be called home when He is ready for her. All things considered, she is holding up well. She has lead a long and good life. Please pray for her as she recieves her care. We don't know how long we will have her before she is called home and hope we can find joy in the time we have left with her.

Psalm 31:5 - Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Psalm 23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
John 11:26 - And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Oh boy

So I apparently have been out of the loop for a LONG time. I feel really bad. Between our field trip to Williamsburg, VA, school wrapping up, and some family issues (more on that in a seperate post), I've been very busy and tired. I PROMISE to get back in to it now that summer is coming.

I'm back!

I believe I may have said that about two weeks ago, but works been unreal and then we got some bad news about one of my aunts this past week. She has been diagnosed with cancer and it doesn't look good. They are not going to operate, but will do chemo and radiation. I am feeling a bit out of sorts, but God is good and He will be good. She is taking it as well as can be expected and is doing a lot of praying. She sees God has a plan, and knows she has lived a good life - as she told me, if He wants to call her home, than she is ready to go. Pray for us please.