ENCOURAGE - EQUIP - EMPOWER
IT STARTS HERE.
This past Memorial Day weekend marked 16 years since “the accident.” A horrific car accident that would change the trajectory of my life in a myriad of ways. Physically, spiritually, mentally, and relationally. Recovering in the hospital, the only change my mind could focus on centered on the changes to my body. Severe injuries sustained by my right leg led to the need for an above the knee amputation, and a few months down the line the addition of a prosthetic leg.
I’m about desperate for a visit. No one has come over to my house in what feels like forever. If you came over to my house, I’d let you choose one of my special teas, and I’d steep it in my glass teapot over my tea warmer and pour us each a cup. Then I’d tell you this story of what God did for me during the pandemic.
Before beginning my fellowship with International Justice Mission, I was a mental health therapist for seven years. Working with children who had behavior and mental health concerns, my roles included outpatient therapist, mobile therapist, behavior specialist consultant, and meetings facilitator. I had been trained in different evidence-based therapies. I was a professional.
May is Foster Care Awareness Month. There are almost 500,000 children nationwide in need of foster homes. The church is an integral part of this system. Many in the church are involved as foster parents, and others are on the sidelines supporting these families. I thought I could provide some insight on what it’s like to be a foster parent, as well as share what your role could be in the process.
Music, unlike anything else in my life, has always been a way for me to process and express emotions. As an 8 on the Enneagram and an ENTJ on Myers Briggs, (if you’re not familiar, basically I’m the heartless ruthless type. Kidding…or am I?) expressing my emotions doesn’t come easily, so music has been vital to me throughout life …
In matters of theology and science, I often consider myself “the dumb it down expert.” Give me something complex, and I’ll try to make it easy for you to understand. It’s National Mental Health Awareness Month, and so I want to bring this “expertise” to bear on a complicated concept that straddles both theology and science: depression.
This new season of life for all of us has brought an array of emotions. Some of us have been anxious with the unknowns of how long this quarantine will last. Some are frustrated at losing their senior year of high school or college. Some don’t know how to manage working from home and doing all the other tasks that include caring for an elderly loved one or teaching their children. There are job losses. Friends and family getting sick. This list is not exhaustive, but there is so much going on in our world right now.
She was skipping along, smiling, and searching for the moon. Before I could remind her to watch her step, her feet lost their place and the sidewalk reached up and ripped the skin from her knees. She howled. Using the sleeve of my hoodie, I wiped the blood from the legs of my tender-hearted three-year-old and held her tight.
Love Prays. The words embossed on a T-shirt and purchased as a fundraiser for a dying young girl whose life I had only followed through an online blog, have had far-reaching effects. The vibrant life of the small child for which these words were penned may be gone, but the message of her life and those who loved her will live forever.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”
These words from Psalm 23 seem so soothing and comforting – and easy - at first look. But what I’ve been learning recently is that those verbs – MAKES – LEADS – RESTORES – these are action verbs. God is doing something here.
Like many of you, I collected random paraphernalia during my elementary years. Child development experts tell us that this ‘gathering and sorting’ stage is a healthy indicator of our active imaginations and natural bent toward classifying objects. My two oldest are currently in this phase and the organizer in me wants to chuck all of their [perceived] rubbish out the window.
Matthew 22:36-40 tells us: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The young man walked into the political science class and handed the moderator her copy of his report. When she went to shake his hand, he snubbed her. When he turned to face the class, she tore up his report. How childish these middle schoolers were behaving! Had their parents taught them nothing about proper behavior? As leaders in their class, they should have set a better example! Their behavior was so disappointing and so immature!
Oh wait! Those weren’t middle schoolers!
In 2003, as my youngest was off to college and I was heading into the empty nest stage of life, I was presented with the opportunity to go on a missionary trip to Jamaica. Upon my return, I was left with lots of questions. What did we really accomplish? What difference did we make? Was the impact of our work just a temporary fix, or would there be a longer lasting impact?
