What the world needs now is love sweet love no not just for some but for everyone*
I'm exhausted. The end of my day begins with my falling down on my couch with a very heavy sigh. There is a boy in my class that the counselor at school tells me has to be in the top 5 of the most defiant and control freaks she has known. My days are spent directing him and redirecting him with him screaming "I don't want to!" or "I hate this!" I must confess my thoughts at the beginning of school were that maybe he will drop out or move away that is until I heard his story. Both his parents are in prison and his grandmother is raising him. After I heard that I begged God to forgive my previous thoughts of him maybe getting some extreme prolonged case of chicken pox and proceeded to buckle my seat belt and realize that this boy just may be in my room for a reason and I may be the one responsible to show this boy some alternatives to hate and anger.
Today I sat on the floor beside his mat and rubbed his chest as he fought sleep. I whispered to him to sleep that he must be exhausted. Then I began to pray for him. I just whispered my prayer and he looked in my eyes and watched me. I looked out over the room of sleeping little bodies on their mats and then felt his hand slip into mine. I felt warm and knew this was a holy moment.
I ask you to pray for me ..that God will give me courage and strength and for me not to forget to find the joy in the moments that arise in my room with him. I ask that you pray for this boy. I can't say his name for confidentiality reasons but I bet ya God will know exactly who you are talking about.
I love you all and pray that we all can love each other as He wants and asks of us..
*From "What The World Needs Now" by Jackie DeShannon
"Sometimes what seems like surrender isn't surrender at all. It's about what's going on in our hearts. About seeing clearly the way life is and accepting it and being true to it, whatever the pain, because the pain of not being true to it is far, far greater."
Tom BookerI just recently watched The Horse Whisperer again. Its such a powerful movie about suffering and pride and healing. I love it. If you haven't seen it...do...
You know I cant stand still*
The highlight of Open House in my school room on Tuesday night was one of my students yelling out to a crowded room of parents, "I have an AC/DC t-shirt on!"
From "Can't Stand Still" by AC/DC
Look what Blondie surprised me with for my birthday...thanks girl a change was due..love ya!
The truth of it is there's a right way to live and you showed me*
If you are in Abilene this week go hear Landon Saunders on Monday night..he is a man who taught me a lot about God. He has such a gift of speaking to you personally when you are in a crowd of 1000.
When I went on a campaign to the Northeast one of my contacts was a communist revolutionary from Venezuela. Landon was preaching at our Searcher's Seminar nightly at an Elementary school. Maria wanted to meet him because she told me in her broken English that he has a peace that she wants to know about. I went over to Landon and asked if he could come meet Maria. He came over and as they talked, Maria said, "Beverly, tell him of my beliefs." I explained to Landon in my southern Alabama accent, "Well Landon, Maria is a communist revolutionary." He began to explain to her in such a beautiful brilliant way what Christianity has in common with communism. He knew where to meet her and was not afraid to go there. I just sat there amazed. I got to stand beside the baptistery as Maria was baptized and I'll never forget the moment she came out of there like a wet rat with a new spirit..pretty amazing stuff for a 19 year old to witness.
*From "Stand Here With Me" by Creed
You've got the cool water when the fever runs high*
a cold front has blown through and its just simply wonderful outside..
seasons change..ever so slightly in west texas but they do change...and so do i.
have a peaceful tuesday my good friends..
*From " Something So Right" by Paul Simon
And I think to myself what a wonderful world*
sitting at the playground, with my students, watching them playing in the sand..actually keeping an eye on Antonio who flipped me off the first week and is ready to rumble with anyone, but alas he is stealing my heart..anyway, Anna comes up to me and shows me a small little pebble looking thing in her hand.."What's that?" i ask, and she says.."It's a dinosaur tooth." ....Lord help me to make small things in my life into big beautiful experiences..
*From "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
Cause life continues right or wrong when I play this birthday song I learned from you *
Today is my birthday and Whitney left me this birthday card on the kitchen counter. I loved it. Sam even wrote inside! My Whitney is a sweetheart and she made my birthday so special. I told Sam and Whitney that all I wanted was a picture of me with them for my birthday but it never panned out so Whit drew me one instead. I was walking down the hall with my students today when Whitney walked up and told me Beth (my most amazing friend) and she had left cupcakes and drinks for my class and me for my birthday..I loved it!!
I feel special, so special.
*From "Birthday Song" by Don McLean
Random thoughts on a Monday...
Ive been lately thinking about my life's time*
Whitney has been reading
Maggie, Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane
.
Stephen Crane wrote The Red Badge of Courage when he was 24...24 years old!
Go see the trailer for Wes Anderson's new movie
The Darjeeling Limited...I can't wait!! Wes Anderson directed
Bottle Rocket which is on my top 10 list.
Wednesday is my birthday.
The last 2 months I have for the first time: used a drill , learned what a rip cut is, laid tile, put down laminate floor, in the process of learning how to replace a light fixture, gone to Lowe's like 3 times a week and (drum roll) bought and used my own saw.
I'm grateful for a lot of things: sleeping in today (not slept-in for years seems), Whitney and Sam, my sweet Jesus who has held my hand and hasn't let go, the smell of a new room, my class, good friends who call me even when I don't call them or pick up, my little park pond and that white pelican Fred oh and turkey and pepper jack panninis.
Have a great week everyone...got any random thoughts today or things or people you are especially thankful for?...discuss
*From "Poems, Prayers and Promises" by John Denver
I'm exhausted. The end of my day begins with my falling down on my couch with a very heavy sigh. There is a boy in my class that the counselor at school tells me has to be in the top 5 of the most defiant and control freaks she has known. My days are spent directing him and redirecting him with him screaming "I don't want to!" or "I hate this!" I must confess my thoughts at the beginning of school were that maybe he will drop out or move away that is until I heard his story. Both his parents are in prison and his grandmother is raising him. After I heard that I begged God to forgive my previous thoughts of him maybe getting some extreme prolonged case of chicken pox and proceeded to buckle my seat belt and realize that this boy just may be in my room for a reason and I may be the one responsible to show this boy some alternatives to hate and anger.
