Faith's Findings

"Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done." -- Psalm 105:1 I wasn't going to do it. I promise. I wasn't going to post a cliche thankful blog, but then I was laying in bed and my thoughts and pondering ran away with me. It's one of those nights where I have to write, I have to get this out so that I may rest.  I remembered this picture that my mom crosstitched many years ago: She was working on this picture when she gave birth to my premature, still born baby brother, who was between my sister and me.   I remember her telling me this story vividly: "After coming home from the hospital, I was working on it again. And the still small voice, that we know so well, whispered, "You never thanked me for the baby." I didn't know how to thank the Lord for taking my baby. But, His Spirit lead me and I am thankful, now, for the journey." (Yes, that is the short version.) I am hu...

To the husband and wife who curled their noses at me, only after giving me the judgmental once over, and then proceeded to make rude comments about my physical appearance, while I was within earshot: I pity you.        You are the part of society that tells people they are never enough: their bodies are never fit enough; their hair never quite right; their crooked smile isn't white enough; their laugh is too loud; their thighs don’t have a gap; and the list could go on and on.         I left my house Saturday feeling pretty, an occurrence that does not happen all that often between the teacher clothes and sweatpants. I left my house looking forward to a shopping trip with some sweet ladies, whom I cherish. This was a good day and I had won the mental battle; a battle that should never have to be fought, except there are people like you in this world. After hearing your rude comments and how you summed me up ...

As I have been preparing for the beginning of a new school year, a new school year where I am the teacher from day one I might add, I have been pondering: why is this so stressful?   I am a teacher and society believes I only work 9 months out of the year for roughly 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Some of us know what a far cry from reality that this is. However, that's another blog. Yes, I have had the past 6 weeks off for summer and I have traveled and had a blast. But, there were conferences, trainings, workshops, etc.  All in preparation for the upcoming school year.   So, my job picks up in a few days when I have students with me again. Why is this so stressful? Other people work 12 months out of the year and I have done that, but I never felt this kind of stress.  My only analogy I have here is that the beginning of a school year is like being given a newborn baby. You are given this baby and you only have 9 months to teach this child everything the...

The following is a blog that has been on my heart and computer since earlier this year when I was people watching at a concert. (Yes, the Nelly concert.) In light of all of the posts where people have been challenged to post 5 pictures that they feel beautiful in. I have been challenged quite a few times, so here are my five, along with a little piece of my heart. Dear Pretty Girl, I see you. I see you as you stare and take it all in. I see you as you are --- never enough and always falling short. I see you as you see them---the prettier and skinnier girls as they strut through the gazes of admirers. I see you as you adjust your clothes---the shirt that now seems to accentuate every flaw; the shoes that now seem to be clumsy; and that frizzy hair that just won’t stay in place. I see the insecurity and anxiety perspire as you dab them away, hoping no one saw. I see you as you watch with lonely and longing eyes wishing for one admirer for rescue. I see your s...

The thought process behind this blog started months ago. There are random pieces of it in the notes app on my phone. However, I put the pen to paper the night before Easter because there was a stirring; yet, I could not finish the blog. I could not process it to an end. I had no idea why. I, also, had no idea what the week after Easter held for me. Funny, how that timing thing works, huh?   It has been a few weeks—months—since I have put my heart to paper through ink—even longer since the ink turned into Times New Roman on the computer screen. Once again, this is a journey that parallels life, for I am not real sure where it will lead. It is the night before Easter 2014. There’s no Easter bunny visiting once again this year. There are no eggs to hide and no chocolate bunny. But, there is the promise of Sunday morning, figuratively speaking. I was pondering how Mary, Martha, and the rest of Jesus’ followers must have felt on this night so many years ago. They had seen the Lo...

So, I joined a new gym and this gym came with a family. I was leery of this combination, but it is definitely growing on me. I know there are a lot of stigmas and negative connotations that come with the word “Crossfit.” While some of the memes are true and I can laugh at the lingo, while I use it, I am writing this post to give a new perspective on something I never saw myself doing. This perspective comes from someone who has never been considered “sporty-spice,” “athletic,” or someone who just enjoyed working out. There was a stent of running, but I got bored. And if I am completely honest, I get bored with the whole scene. I’ve never been a skinny person, nor have I ever thought I would enjoy lifting---weights that is and on purpose, too! I mean, I don’t want to get bulky! If you look back to previous posts , you will find my heart being poured about the struggle with body image, health, and weight. The struggle is real---and not just for me. Last year, my life changed---y...