Peace, Part II

PEACE

Part II

Philippians 4:7King James Version (KJV)

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This is where my #OneWord journey will begin.  I am looking to God for peace in the things I do not understand.

Jeremiah 29:11-13New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
     If He knows the plans for my life, then who am I to question those plans?  “Everything happens for a reason.”  I need to have PEACE in respecting that reason and believing that everything will turn out as it should and was scripted by God.
     There are so many unknowns in this crazy world.  I could chose to stress about them or I can choose to believe that everything will work out the way it should.
     These things I do know:

·       My marriage is stronger than it’s ever been.

·       We have three amazing children who have found their own passions.

·       We have a gorgeous granddaughter who is smart as a whip!

·       I am happier than I have ever been in my teaching career.

·       I work with an outstanding group of caring and compassionate individuals.

·       I have a close circle of friends and we have each other’s backs!

That being said, there are some things going on, professionally, that I do not have control over.  This is why I’ve chose PEACE as my #OneWord.  I need to be at PEACE and trust the journey.  I know that I am going to need to continue revisiting this post along the journey and digging deeper to find that PEACE for things I do not understand.

#OneWord

#OneWord

     I have made the decision to be a part of #oneword for the upcoming year.  The word I have chose to pursue, study, and to have as my mantra is “peace.”  My choice was very God-given!  When I read about this fairly new idea, the word came to me almost immediately.  I didn’t really have to think about it at all!

     There is so much in the world that is unknown, and that, quite frankly, I have no personal control over.  I could stress over it all or I could trust the journey.  I’m choosing to trust the journey.  For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.

     Here’s what you need to do to choose your word:  pick your word, then go to this link and enter it.  http://getoneword.com/

More to come...

 

My "Why"

My “Why”

     Backstory:  A couple of weeks ago, I received a letter from one of the first students I had in kindergarten when moving to our current community.  It was so touching that I literally cried!  I contacted the student’s teacher and asked when their class goes to lunch, so I could surprise this student.  Working with her mom, I learned that her grandmother is in hospice.   Her mom called my previous school to give me permission to come at lunch.

     I walked into the lunchroom.  The class wasn’t there yet.  However, my last kindergarten class, now second graders, was.  I was greeted with lots of “Mrs. Jenkins!!” and one particular little girl jumped up from her seat and into my arms!  She said, “I thought you forgot about us!”  With tears in my eyes, I told her, “Never!”

     By this time, the sixth grade students had begun filing in.  I didn’t see my letter-writing friend, so I asked her teacher where she was.  Her teacher pointed to the lunch-from-home table.  As I walked over, she didn’t see me coming.  I sat down next to her.  She turned, her mouth dropped open, and she threw her arms around my neck and started crying!  Other students that I’d had in kindergarten came over and were giving me hugs and high-fives.  The whole time the young lady held on for dear life! 

     Friends!  This is my “why!”  This is why I do what I do and love what I do.  It’s about making a difference in the lives of my students!  When I needed that reminder the most, God provided it with all the love I was able to feel in that school cafeteria.  Lunch was supposed to be about the young lady.  However, my bucket was filled, as well!  I am so blessed!