Keeping Hope

As Holy Week begins, we hear the Passion and are reminded of the dark before the light.  Palm Sunday brings the prophet's declaration of a humble king, arriving on a donkey in Jerusalem, and crucified by Friday.  It is a time to reflect and bring focus to our Christian faith and to live and breathe hope.  Hope is an optimistic attitude that good will come out of the most difficult times.  Something our faith teaches us and the promise He gives us.  Because of this week, we know that we will reach our home in His timing: not one moment too soon or too late. "Let the hope of heaven encourage you as you walk along the path of Life with Me"  (Young, pg. 109).

What happens when you lose hope and challenge your faith?  Anxiety, fear, physical illness, worry, over-thinking and depression to just name a few.  There are these times in our lives where we try to make things right, how we feel they should be, and look more to the flesh-self instead of the God-self.  When we allow our problems to dictate our day and don't listen to His gentle reminders, we spiral out of control.  Losing all hope and questioning our existence and purpose becomes the norm instead of peace and joy.  We lose our balance.

April 14th-Welcome to our schools with only a few weeks to go but such high-stake assessments drawing near.  We find our students more eager to be outside and itching for summer break.  Teachers, with all their daily responsibilities, are now dealt with standardized testing, evaluations, end of year testing, schedule changes, and maintaining "normal" functioning as students are revved up for the end of the year.  Our balance is lost, our hope is struggling, and we begin to feel the impact of stress.  Our patience is a little shorter, our smiles are more forced, and we are tired.  Here is where our faith must carry us.  Our hope and faith that we must always live in the moment, only manage what we can in that moment, and know we must always do what's best for kids in those moments.

If we look around, signs of heaven are everywhere.  If we can find our balance in living by faith, we freely see these signs.  When we are focused on doing things for our flesh-self, we miss out on opportunities to experience peace and joy.  We close our door to hope.  We look for a quick fix to help us get through the moment and sometimes that means we don't do what's best for kids or ourselves.  We stop looking for Him and begin living to just make it through the day.

I've been there for some time now.  After dad died, I saw and felt signs all the time.  I felt him with me and the strength I had to begin school for my admin license, take on a principal's job, all while having a newborn.  I became busy.  I put my flesh-self first and did what I thought was best for my family.  I pushed my limits, celebrated my accomplishments, and jumped into everything I could to be the best principal, best wife, and best mother.  I lost myself in doing all these things I thought were helping me.  I stopped seeing signs and wondered what I had done wrong for the silence from above.  I live my faith outwardly but struggle with inner peace.  That's when I realized the balance was lost.

Today would have been my dad's 64th birthday. This week, a red bird has been visiting our tree outside our picture window.  I tell the kids it's Jesus' bird and papaw Ted checking on them.  In my heart I know it's my sign to continue diving into scripture and breaking the cycle of "fixing" my flesh-side.  My path is already created and I must live the way He teaches us, through faith and hope.  Realizing that because I was busy, I still have work to do to strengthen my faith and find His peace.

 

As a servant leader, I must be aware that many of my staff, students, and peers are in the same place and cycle through balance and stress.  Helping them focus on the challenges ahead with hope of a positive outcome will be my objective the next 6 weeks. Maintaining the best balance I can, to be good for those I serve, is a priority.  I will hold tight to my friends that listen and direct me back to His promise.  I will pray for the light of His hope and promise to come into their hearts and that they may find peace in each moment.  I will continue to allow my strength of belief, in every situation, to guide my decisions and actions.  As I reflect during this Holy Week, I put faith in the resurrection and am reminded that His will be done. 

I am here for all of you, just reach out!  Interested in an online prayer group?  I've missed the connection I had with my former prayer warriors and would love to begin a new group.  Fellowship is my current priority and look forward to sharing scripture and prayer requests with all of you.  PM me on Facebook and we will brainstorm how we can support each other. 

Just Love,

Kirsten

Happy Birthday Dad!

EB retirement party in 2013