Words from Abe Lincoln

I saw this quote on Sarah's blog about her son's first day of school. What a good reminder of my responsibility as a teacher.

"World, take my child by the hand- he starts school today!

It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently. You see, up to now, he has been the king of the roost. He has been the boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair his wounds, and I have always been handy to soothe his feelings.

But now things are going to be different. This morning he is going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on a great adventure that probably will include tragedy, sorrow and hurt.

To live in this world will require faith and love and courage. So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him –but gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all people are not just –that all men and women are not true. Teach him that for every scoundrel, there is a hero; that for every enemy, there is a friend. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest people to beat.

Teach him the wonder of books. Give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky and the flowers on green hill. Teach him that it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to others, but to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and to take only the good that comes through.

Teach him never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears on the howling mob- and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Teach him gently, World, but do not coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

This is a big order, World, but see what you can do. He's such a fine litttle fellow."

~Abe Lincoln

HOPE

I walked into devotions Tuesday morning, my mind heavy with a seemingly hopeless situation. Little did I know that I would be sitting at Jesus' feet as He reminded me that with Him, there is always hope. I'm always amazed when God speaks directly to the need of my heart. Sometimes, I forget that He sees the beginning from the end, that He knows me more intimately than anyone else.

"O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:1-6 NASB

Susan shared so beautifully how hope is like an action verb and faith the noun. Our faith is grounded in who God is; our hope is that joyful expectancy that He will be true to His character. Faith is like the roots of a plant while hope is the stem through which the faith flows. She gave the following acronym:

   H - Holding

   O - On

   P- Praying

   E- Expectantly

She then showed us the video of a song by Gungor "Beautiful Things." I've heard the song before, but I heard it in a new way that morning, and it has been in my mind the last few days. Yes - I don't understand everything in my life right now. At times, I feel rather hopeless as if I've done all I can do, but then God reminds me of what He can and is doing. And He makes things new. My hope is in Him.

Jesus, keep making me new.