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Monday, July 15, 2013

7.14.13 High school again? No thank you. Teen years are tough.


Bountiful Blessings

July 14th, 2013

 

Good morning! Happy Sunday! Last week, I talked about God making each of us special. I was whining, I mean, discussing... my recent feelings of low self esteem. All in the context of helping others realize that they are not alone in feelings of worthlessness. Yea, that’s me, always looking out for everyone else. J Well, I got to thinking. Yep. Uh oh. And I thought about some children that I know (and love) and their struggles with low self esteem. Now I am not a big supporter of the new self esteem building crap. I don’t think children should sleep in the bed with you until they are like, ten, nor am I a fan of kids who can walk around still breastfeeding. I know. I know. Studies show it is good for self esteem. Sorry people, I have to be true to who I am and I am calling it crap. EVERYONE has bouts of low self esteem occasionally. Everyone. It is the ones that cannot rise out of the darkness that we should be concerned about. Oops. I got on a soapbox and forgot to step down. Where was I? Oh yea, teenagers. The formative years.

 

We forget how hard it was to be a teenager or even younger. Would you want to go back to that age? Not me. Not for one second. Even after all these years, I can remember the stress. Stress at fifteen is just as real as stress at thirty or at fifty. Trying to fit in, what clothes to wear,  trying to get the cute boy/girl to like you, curfews, alcohol, making the team, trying to get good grades….  Its rough. So, what is my point here? Don’t really have one. I just wanted to ask you this week to take a moment to tell a teen in your life that you are proud of the decisions that they are making. You may only find one or two good decisions. Focus on those. Let them know that you are there for them. Teen years can be wonderful but they can also suck. (Sorry Mom for my language).

 

I have a special teen in my life. I tell him that I love him and he knows it. But I also kind of, well, fuss a little at him. Legitimate things but still. I do not want him to take away only the negative from our conversations. I want him to know how special he is and that he is full of positive aspects. Let me give you an example. I asked him to do something this weekend. Something he didn’t really want to do. And I was leaving when I asked. He grumbled a little over the request and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if he would do it after I left. But before I even got out of the door, he was up and doing it. Simple? Yes. But it meant something to me. It showed me that he did listen to me. He did have respect for my wishes. He was honest and trustworthy, truly a really good guy. I love him and I am very proud of him.  Today I leave you with a poem from my special man. It is both incredibly beautiful and talented and overwhelmingly sad.

 

A school of mirrors                                           Is a school of one.

One who runs down the halls                              Imitating many.

He talks with the reflections                               As if they were real.

And listens to teachers                                      Made of glass.

Who teach of conformity                                     And fitting in.

When he waves goodbye to the reflections         They wave back.

And he walks home                                           All alone.

In the city of mirrors                                          That is a city of one.

 

Bible verse for the week:

 

“God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy for others, be kind, humble, gentle and patient. Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. Do all these things; but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.”           Colossians 3:12-14

 

Bible fun for the week: (logic problem - this one is a toughie)

We’re in heaven, and - wouldn’t you know it? - five Bible characters brought pets. David brought a lamb. Daniel a lion. Elijah brought a raven that fed him by the brook, and Moses brought the snake that he lifted up in the wilderness. And of course, Balaam brought his talking donkey.

But once they got there, they decided to trade their pets  so that none of them ended up with the one he started with. And yes, each pet has been given a name. From the clues provided, can you figure out which character ended up with each pet, and what each pet was named?

 

1.       The lamb and the snake have names that begin with the same letter.

2.       Elijah now has the pet named Hank.

3.       Moses and Balaam have the pets that are not four legged.

4.       The lion and the lamb now belong to two people whose names begin with the same letter.

5.       If the pets names are listed in alphabetical order, the ravens name would come immediately before the donkeys.

6.       Felicia does not slither.

7.       If the pet owners names were listed alphabetically, Buddys owner would come immediately before Brenda’s.

8.       The lion and the lamb have names with the same number of letters as their owners names.

9.       Roger is not the raven.

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