Skip to main content

Day 158: Water Your Joy!



August 20, 2020


My husband threw out grass seed all around our yard yesterday.  Then he watered it because it says to on the package.  It actually says water it every day for 2-3 weeks.  As hot as it is outside right now and as brick-like as the dirt is in our yard, if he doesn’t, it will probably never grow, and our money and his efforts will be wasted.  If we do our part, then we trust that God (nature) will do His part and we should have some pretty green grass where there is currently only dirt in a few weeks.  This reminds me of part of a Lauren Daigle interview that I heard on the radio yesterday.  She said something like, “Negativity is everywhere but it doesn’t have to grow and take over our lives or our attitudes.  Just don’t water it.”  We can’t control that negative things will happen in our day but, with God’s help we can control our reaction to it.  I have been struggling with a negative attitude a lot this week.  Everything at work (school) is uncertain and unfamiliar.  It feels like mass chaos.  (It is kind of is mass chaos.)  I can choose to be on “Team We Got This!” or on “Team We Will Never Figure This Out”.  The game will go on as scheduled no matter which team I am on.  Today I will choose to be on the positive team.  I will not water the seeds of negativity.  I can only keep this promise to myself if God is my coach.  James 1:2-3 (NIV) says: “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”  Romans 15:13 says:  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Water your joy today!  Smile and be joyful!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

  There comes a time for most boats when they need their hull scraped free of barnacles.  One website says that “a barnacle-free surface is essential for smooth cruising”.  According to Google, this process is more easily done if the boat is removed from the water.  I guess God thought I needed some maintenance work, as He has dry docked me.  Four weeks ago, I had shoulder surgery.  Apparently, when I do something, I do it up big.  It turned out that I had not only a rotator cuff tear, I also have something called frozen shoulder.  I was shocked when the doctor originally told me I would miss 6 weeks of work.  I told him this is no time for that.  Teaching virtually and in person at the same time is not something that can just be handed over to a substitute teacher, if one can even find a substitute willing to take it on.  When the recovery time was bumped to 12 weeks (thanks, frozen shoulder) I very nearly decided to just live with...

Day 188: Thank a Teacher

These last few weeks have been quite challenging at work as the teachers in my school district have been asked to teach both “face to face” students and “at home” students at the same time. (As in, simultaneously !)   Multi-tasking has always been “a thing” in education, kind of like being a mom, but with more kids (who are not your kids) and less bathroom breaks.   The job description is un-writeable even in “normal” circumstances.   As a teacher I am accustomed to juggling many tasks at the same time.   It is a talent I had (nearly) perfected over time.   This school year my usual act of juggling balls and bowling pins while keeping plates spinning on tall sticks has been upgraded with the addition of chain saws, knives and flaming torches.   (Thank you, technology, learning management software and unstable internet!)   And did I mention I do all this blindfolded?   (while wearing a mask?)   One of my new sayings is “I don’t even know what ...

In God We Trust

  Today is election day.   I’ve never seen a political race more closely watched, worried about or polarizing. I am not concerned about the outcome.   The Ruler of the Universe is in control.   On a day when the nation feels so divided, my prayer is that people will remember their “common ground”, the things we can all agree on rather than the things we disagree on.   Disappointment and discord are inevitable whatever the results, throughout the nation, within cities and neighborhoods and unfortunately, even within families.   Days like this one are Satan’s favorite.   He is at the ready with his giant stick to stir the pot of our discontent.   Instead of discontent, let’s fill our pots with all the things we agree upon and treasure.   If each “side” can be gracious and not lash out or boast, Satan will be missing even more of the ingredients needed for his recipe for disaster.   Rather than fanning the flames of discord and fear, perhap...