MY BLOG POSTS

Yesterday marked the end of the school year. Hooray! While it was a great year, it was also the busiest year I  think I have ever had. All the things I did were good, they were fun, fulfilling. But there were just too many of them. I learned that there really can be too much of a good thing. Being busy can be dangerous.

Being too busy prevents me from enjoying the moments as they come. Because this year was a constant rush from one event to another, one deadline to another, one activity to another, even one ministry to another, I felt like I was racing through everything. I spent my time planning for what was next instead of enjoying what was.

Being too busy creates stress. Because I was constantly rushing from one thing to the next, I was also constantly stressed. I was worried I”d miss a deadline, be late to an appointment, disappoint one of the hundred people who had expectations of me that I was sure I couldn’t meet.

Bring too busy inhibits my ability to do my best. I can’t do 20 things well. I take shortcuts, rush through assignments, neglect relationships. I am too divided to give my whole self to any one project, and as a result, everyone loses out.

Being too busy hinders my relationship with God. While I had my time with God every day (most days), I  had neither the quality nor quantity of time that I really need. Far too often, He became one of the “Things to Do Today” boxes I needed to check off my list instead of being my Savior who I want, more than anything, to be with and learn from and worship.

So it is time to rest. It is time to say no. It is time to be still.

I’m not old. But I can see old. I am perilously close to the top of the hill.

I know I’m getting older because people look at my wedding pics and say, “Look how cute you were!” (emphasis on the were). And because people think I’m lying when I say that I just got my first gray hair this year (It’s true! And it’s still just the one). And  because my firstborn is two and half days away from being in high school (excuse me while I hyperventilate).

There are benefits to getting older: I have 38 years of life lessons behind me. My wrinkles reflect wisdom. My gray hair (did I mention I just have the one?), survival. I no longer ask Dave if my butt looks big in those jeans. Of course it does! I’ve had three kids and I hardly ever exercise. I no longer try and compare myself to supermodels. Instead, I think about writing their mothers and telling them to put on some clothes.

Getting older is part of life. Sadly, our tendency in facing that reality is to focus on the outside. We want to surgically remove all vestiges of age – suck it out, perk it up, lift it away. But too often this results in a complete lack of focus on the inside. And while there is nothing wrong with wanting to look nice, there is something really wrong with making that all you think about.

Here’s a verse many of you have heard before, but all of us need to be reminded of: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Sam. 16:7b

If, as Christians, our goal in this – and the next – life is to glorify God, then constantly worrying about what we look like, how we’re aging, counting our gray hairs and Googling ways to minimize crow’s feet is not beneficial. Being grateful for the years God has given us, the lessons He has taught us in those years, looking for ways to serve others and share Christ’s love – that is where our focus should be.

So even if you’re not old, or almost old, you should still be focusing your energy on developing your inner beauty. It sounds cliche – but only because it is true. Inner beauty is more important! It is more lasting. So forget your butt. Start asking “how does my heart look?”

Last night was graduation. It is always a bittersweet time for me. I am happy – the students work hard for years to earn their diplomas. But I am also sad – I hate losing students I have come to love.

This year’s class is especially close to my heart. I have taught some of them since 8^th grade (my one and only year teaching 8^th grade English). They are also an “artsy” bunch – I love the artsy kids! But, more than anything, they are a Jesus-loving group.

I have a weekly Bible study with the senior girls. We started out this year with me asking what they hoped to accomplish their senior year. All of the girls said they wanted to a leave a legacy to their fellow students – a legacy of faith and action and love. As the year went on, they worked to accomplish the goals they set for themselves.

I watched as they grew in relationship with God and each other, as they sought His will in choosing colleges and boyfriends. I saw them reach out to fellow students, encourage them, challenge them, care for them.

The boys in this class are my son’s heroes. They would grab Thomas in the hall, throw him around, let him tackle them. They’d ask him about his sports and his classes. They didn’t need to be nice to a little 4^th grader. But they did, anyway, and I know Thomas will never forget them.

So I am sad today, sad that I won’t be seeing these boys in the halls, won’t be meeting with the girls on Monday. But I am also incredibly proud – proud of the example they set, proud that they accomplished the goal they set for themselves.

What about you? Are you leaving a legacy? If not, start now!

Period.

If a kid is sick, he needs to stay home. I don’t want him coming to school, breathing all over me and my healthy family just so he can get an award.

I’d like to make a new award: “The thank-you-for-staying-home-when-you-were-sick” award. Kids who come to school every day won’t be eligible. No awards for them. Only shame and embarrassment. Perfect attendance will result in detentions. A healthy return from an illness-related absence = ice cream.

For the kids who actually are healthy an entire school year – they have their reward. No doctors’ visits, no antibiotics, no forced days on the couch watching Lifetime movies and overdosing on OJ.

I know some of you are reading my blog and crying because I won’t buy you ice cream. But there it is. I am pro-sickie and proud of it. Mine will be a snot-colored ribbon, embroidered onto a surgical mask. All of us anti-perfect-attendance folks will wear them on awards day. And we will mock you as you go to get that award that cost us so dearly.

So there, you perfect attender. Na-na-na-na-na.