November 21, 2012

Charlotte’s Web, mercy, and being thankful…

Just before Thanksgiving break, we finished reading Charlotte’s Web in 3^rd grade. I had warned the students when we began the novel, “there will be tears in my eyes at the end.”  Those last couple chapters, more than a few eyes watched closely to see if I had predicted correctly.

Definitely correct on that prediction.  Such a sweet story of friendship and sacrifice. And I was not the only one with a few tears.

Throughout the story, we worked together on vocabulary words, not looking them up in the dictionary, but using contextual clues to determine meaning. One word that we needed to define was “mercy.”

When one of the students contributed proudly to the discussion, “mercy is like grace,” another student intercepted saying, “No! They are two different words,” but then was at a loss on how to explain the difference.

That’s when I stepped in. I shared that mercy was when something you deserved was withheld or not given, while grace was being given something you do not deserve. An immediate connection to Jesus was made and the students began to murmur and nod in understanding.

A friend asked the other day as we entered the week of celebrating Thanksgiving, what I was thankful for…and my first thought was:

Charlotte’s Web and mercy.

There are SO many things that run through my mind that I’m thankful for? And I think of Charlotte’s Web?

But just the realization in that moment how thankful I was that in the school I teach, I can share freely about mercy and grace in reference to Jesus Christ.  And beyond that, I live in a country that I can choose to attend church, that I can freely attend bible studies, and that I really have no comprehension personally of persecution for my faith.

That’s lots of thoughts from just thinking of Charlotte’s Web and mercy.

How thankful I am to be thankful for that….and oh so much more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 4, 2012

Making my vote count…

Living in a city with a few million other residents, makes me thankful for early voting. I took advantage of this option last weekend.  On Sunday afternoon I found myself weaving my way amongst the other vehicles searching for a parking place at the nearest early voting location.  Had the parking not already taken enough great effort, I may have chosen to try another day when I walked into the “waiting” room and saw a couple hundred others already in line.  But this is my civic duty, I was already there, and I needed to make my vote count.

Standing in line with a sample ballot in my hand, I soon found myself in conversation with the guy in front of me.  He too was looking over the sample ballot provided in the waiting area.  He shared that he had not been in Houston for long and felt that he had not done due diligence in paying attention to the local candidates and issues like he should have.  Something he said next struck me…”It’s not like my vote counts anyway.  I’m just one measly person.  But it’s my duty, so I’m here to vote.”

How easy it is for so many to make the choice not to even battle the lines at the voting booths for the same reason.  Rationalizing that with millions of others voting across America, how could their one vote really make a difference???

But it is my country, the President is the leader that I am to follow, (“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Romans 13:1), so my vote is going to count.

I love that just before Paul penned those words in Romans, he wrote, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). And preceded that with phrases such as….

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good” (12:9)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (12:12)

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (12:14)

“Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (12:17-18)

I think today I’m struck most with verse 12…

BE JOYFUL IN HOPE, PATIENT IN AFFLICTION, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER

That’s how I’m going to make my vote count. By adhering to these words of Paul.

This morning, I was reminded yet again how we never know what each day will hold.  The first text I received greeted me with the news of last night’s tragic death of a young college guy I had the privilege of teaching when he was in middle school. I am grieving for his parents, his friends, and all those he has touched in his short life.

And it’s making me embrace yet again this reminder to make today count because….

I don’t know what today or tomorrow (or Tuesday’s election) holds.

But I do know my God. 

So I will be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

Prayer for my country, for its leaders, and for tomorrow is my way of making my vote count.