Last year I had an experience with a little girl where I volunteer. This elementary school girl was having problems with some other girls and was about to fight. So in my wisdom I tried to prevent the fight. Instead of this young girl hitting another young girl, she hit me. It wasn't a caught in the cross fire event, it was intentional because I was telling and preventing her from doing something she should not have been doing and she didn't like that.
Honestly, her hitting me didn't hurt, but it did bring up some negative feelings though. I had to as the adult step away from the situation and allow other adults to deal with it. I also had to forgive the little girl in my heart and let it go. Over the next few weeks I did see the girl and treated her in love with a smile and hello every time I saw her. Then I took time off from volunteering where I was for totally unrelated reasons. Now over a year later I saw this girl again where I volunteer. I saw how much she had grown physically but truly it was the inner transformation that is blowing my mind. Of course she still has issues like everyone else, but I believe God has worked in her life and on her heart. She has softened over the year and its clear. So last week I was standing around talking to another volunteer and this young girl came up to talk her. Then she gave her a hug and turned to me and without being prompted by anyone else she gave me a hug. Now I don't know if she remembers the incident. I can't imagine that she wouldn't considering her age. That doesn't matter. What matters is there is forgiveness for her and the Lord has been doing great things in her life.
I went from being punched to being hugged in a year. I am thankful.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
What are we saying to our girls?
So I often hear people talking about little girls and how chubby or fat they are. Um will you stop that please? Actually its not a question its a command. Those negative comments stick and often stay stuck for years or life times. They may be said in a joke or maybe mean or a matter of fact but they stick. There are concerns especially in recent years for young people who are too big for their health and these things do need to be addressed of course. When a kid is not stick skinny it doesn't mean they are fat or need to be called fat.
Working with children it is sometimes hard to see if there is an impact outside of the few hours we're around. I believe kids bring school, after school, mentors, and ministries home with them. Even when we think they aren't listening or understanding what we are saying, they take it in. Sometimes they hold it in, and sometimes they let it out in other places. We have opportunity and responsibility to the youth whether they are our own or we get with them once a week or less, to show them the way and affirm the positives. They are like sponges and will pick up whatever is on the counter. There's enough polluting attributes, we can be the soap.
Next time affirm her beauty whether its another physical attribute like her smile or her hair, but affirm her inner beauty too. When a girl grows up knowing her value she may not fall into other things that depreciate her worth. Of course her the value of her soul is most important and when we translate that begins to breakdown the negatives. I hope we understand that we should be careful of how and what we say to children and adults on other subjects too. You're stupid, dumb, ugly, fat, chubby, bad and a host of other negative words are words to consider not using when talking to or about others. Just saying! Think before you speak.
Working with children it is sometimes hard to see if there is an impact outside of the few hours we're around. I believe kids bring school, after school, mentors, and ministries home with them. Even when we think they aren't listening or understanding what we are saying, they take it in. Sometimes they hold it in, and sometimes they let it out in other places. We have opportunity and responsibility to the youth whether they are our own or we get with them once a week or less, to show them the way and affirm the positives. They are like sponges and will pick up whatever is on the counter. There's enough polluting attributes, we can be the soap.
Next time affirm her beauty whether its another physical attribute like her smile or her hair, but affirm her inner beauty too. When a girl grows up knowing her value she may not fall into other things that depreciate her worth. Of course her the value of her soul is most important and when we translate that begins to breakdown the negatives. I hope we understand that we should be careful of how and what we say to children and adults on other subjects too. You're stupid, dumb, ugly, fat, chubby, bad and a host of other negative words are words to consider not using when talking to or about others. Just saying! Think before you speak.
Monday, January 10, 2011
What are we doing?
Do you ever look at the world in your mind and ask, what are we doing? I do more often in recent times. There is so much to consider in just one day, from your personal story to the state of your world. People are killing each other for sometimes no gain of their own that we can see, people are entering into illegal activities for what reasons? I don't think most of the reasons we give about why people do things are completely legit. Yes there is truth to some of it but its not usually the whole truth. Then I look at myself and see how much I don't love and how much I wish for something else and how much I complain and walk past those who are worse off than I am. What are we doing, what am I doing?
Sometimes I find myself watching television and being shamelessly sucked into the lies that I simply call entertainment. Often times just trying to numb my reality. Maybe if I watch this murder show I will numb myself to the pain that comes when someone I knew is facing prison for a crime they committed, maybe I can numb the pain of grieving the loss of a loved one, maybe I can numb the reality that is called living in this city, this country, this world today, where only bad news sells. What are we doing? How did we get here? How did I get here? What the real question is, where do we go from here?
Yes I recognize that sin is here and its trying to stay. I understand that the root of everything is not new. People were killing their family members from the beginning of time, people have always wanted what wasn't theirs to have. Yes I get it. What happened to hope, faith, and love? What happened to the need for a savior? What happened to the fight for what is right and true (its all relative is not truth)? Where is it? So I have many questions and I too struggle to answer them but I know there is an answer. Let's ask God what he thinks...to be continued.
Sometimes I find myself watching television and being shamelessly sucked into the lies that I simply call entertainment. Often times just trying to numb my reality. Maybe if I watch this murder show I will numb myself to the pain that comes when someone I knew is facing prison for a crime they committed, maybe I can numb the pain of grieving the loss of a loved one, maybe I can numb the reality that is called living in this city, this country, this world today, where only bad news sells. What are we doing? How did we get here? How did I get here? What the real question is, where do we go from here?
Yes I recognize that sin is here and its trying to stay. I understand that the root of everything is not new. People were killing their family members from the beginning of time, people have always wanted what wasn't theirs to have. Yes I get it. What happened to hope, faith, and love? What happened to the need for a savior? What happened to the fight for what is right and true (its all relative is not truth)? Where is it? So I have many questions and I too struggle to answer them but I know there is an answer. Let's ask God what he thinks...to be continued.
Made to run
Here I am talking about running. Who ever thought I'd be into running before the past year, I'll give you a penny if you did. So as many know I began a journey of running short distance races last year. This is a very big deal in my life since I before February 2010 had never ran a full mile without stopping. EVER!!! I'm not here to discuss the journey right now, maybe later or I'll email you a letter I sent out last year. I am here to say, I think I was made to run. I hate running most of the time. Sometimes I really want to run. Its funny thinking back on my younger years and how every once in a while I'd just feel like running. I would go a few steps and then be out of breath and start walking or go back. Even now there are times when I've slowed down on my training and just have the urge to run. I usually say "I need to run." That's just my body telling me come on girl I need you to move! Now I'm not saying I was born to be a track star and I'm heading to these races to win the prizes they are giving out. I am winning a whole lot more at the race or in the gym, I'm winning that leg burn (I kinda like it), I'm winning some mental strength of I can do this, and I'm winning some spiritual strength of "dear God please run with me." I can honestly say I think God made me to run. I have legs and arms and lungs and a heart beat, so I'll run while I can happy or sad I'll run.
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