To The Test

This morning my third grader had a little apprehension leaving for school.  You see, this is her first time taking the STAAR test.  So much has been made about this test, it’s significance, what it says about the teacher, what it says about the student, what it means if you don’t do well.  If tests don’t already give you the heebie geebies, the importance placed on this one test would surely make your knees wobble a bit!  I understand the need to get a good night’s rest before a long test, to eat a plentiful breakfast before engaging your brain, to bring an extra pencil – those are all good habits to prepare for any big day.  My problem is when you turn the promotion of good habits into all-out fear mongering.  Yes, this test is important.  Yes, this test has consequences.  But, the need for our kids to do well shouldn’t rest on the 4 days a year when they sit down to several hours of standardized testing.  Growing up, I was told it was important to do my best on every assignment.   I made my best efforts to get an A on my math homework and my weekly spelling test just as much as I did to score well on music assignments and physical aptitude tests in P.E.!  When it came time to take state tests, my teachers emphasized that they were assessments of all of the material we had already mastered throughout the year.   There were no pep rallies planned to send us off, like we were going into battle.  We didn’t designate a portion of each class period to practice taking the test every day.  Fear was not a factor.

Dear Lord, as our kids head to school this week to be assessed, I hope for their reassurance.  I pray that each of them will walk to class with confidence in their ability and with faith in you God, that you will give them comfort and steady their nerves.  I pray they are rested and nourished, that their teachers and parents have done well in preparing them for the next school year and that this will be evident in their assessment this week.

Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Listen and Obey (04/01/14)

Oh my, His works are so wondrous!  I’m unfailingly amazed at the way He makes things happen.  I’ll share this story in hopes it will speak to you.

This Lenten season, I’ve been trying to focus on the sacrifice of Christ and what that means to me and my family.  I truly wanted to be renewed, which is really what Lent is all about.  So many times I have viewed Lent as a time of solace and suffering in order to earn my right to sit at the Lord’s table.  Oh, go on and laugh, I know how ridiculous that is – now.  I didn’t always get it though.  When you say sacrifice, you think of giving something up.  Taking away something you enjoy.  Doing without something you like.  It really gives such a direct message, doesn’t it?  Put away something pleasurable, endure a hardship, sacrifice. 

As a mom, I know a few things about sacrifice.  How many of us have opted out of exchanging Christmas gifts with our spouse so that we might make sure our kids get that special something they were hoping for?  I watched my parents do stuff for me and my brother all the time, while they sacrificed their own little niceties.  Only now, as a parent,  could I really understand how much joy it brings me to give to my kids – even if it means I do without.  I imagine God gives like that – out of love – taking joy in our joy.

So, back to Lent…  This Lent the message has hit me differently.  I have heard over and over stories from the bible where people did as they were asked and it changed them.  The Samaritan woman at the well who met Jesus and drew him water.  The lame man at the pool of Bethesda who picked up his mat and walked.  I’ve been encouraged this season to sacrifice my time, to act in faith and obedience, but to look at it all as a way of changing who I am – that I may become closer to Jesus.  That my relationship might be made more than what it is now, more than it has ever been.  Uh, yeah I want that!  My Lenten offering is to read the bible daily and to really reflect on what I read and share it in this blog as often as possible.   It’s harder than you might think to sit down and not get distracted while you meditate on the word.  I mean, it’s like a feast – you need to take proper time to sit at the table, be served a meal that will fill you up, eat every bite, enjoy visiting with your host and digest what you’ve just eaten.  This takes time.  I’m doing okay on the readings, not perfect, but the reflection is rougher and the blogging is just flat hard.  I’ve noticed the part about visiting with my host has become a luxury that I tend to rush through and the part about writing and sharing just gets left off altogether.  So this morning I told Him that I missed our visits and I asked Him to speak to me to give me a message to share.  In return He said, “read the book.  I will always speak to you there.”  Of course my day got hectic and I rushed right through without stopping to read the word.  Later in the afternoon, I felt a feeling of unease that I haven’t felt in several weeks.  I’ve been so grateful for the noticeable difference in my days and nights, but why was it creeping in now?  Sweaty, mind racing, anticipatory… I thought to redirect my focus and pray.  But I just couldn’t speak, when it crossed my mind to listen.  I pulled out my bible app and dug in.  The message was fitting and encouraged me to trudge through the difficult moments.   But, like the doting and loving Dad He is, He did me one better.  You see I was closing my phone when up popped a FB message from a friend I hadn’t seen or spoken to in quite some time.  Her message was about this blog!  A message of encouragement and support and she told me about her neighbor who was suffering from anxiety and panic attacks too.  She planned to share this blog with her neighbor. 

Oh Jesus!  That I might be able to help someone right now just by being faithful and doing what you ask.  I was instantly assured and renewed.  Yes, how you work amazes me every day.  Your love is the best love story, you never fail to surprise me and make me feel like a million bucks!

And for the neighbor or anyone else that feels like you’re lost at sea…  He walks on water!