School's in session

We started school today. I forget every year how difficult those first few days of school are. Lots of drama, lots of tears. This morning 4 out of the 5 kids cried. One couldn't remember how to solve for the unknown. One couldn't remember how to subtract. One couldn't concentrate with 2 toddlers running around. One wanted to be coloring instead of playing with blocks.
I felt a little more like a LaMaze coach than a teacher. "Ok, let's breathe through this problem...It's gonna be alright. It'll come back to you. Breathe. No, it's not too much work. No, you can't quit piano. Breathe. No, we can't lock them in a room all morning. They're fine. Breathe..."

Book

I've been reading a great book by Elyse Fitzpatrick. It's entitled
A Steadfast Heart, Experiencing God's comfort in life's storms. She walks through Psalm 57. I've started to memorize the Psalm for my own heart. Here's the first couple verses that I've been meditating on...

Psalm 57:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.

What a comfort to know that in the midst of my trial that God is merciful to me, that I can take refuge in Him and that He is fulfilling His purposes for me!

Song

This song by Laura Story echoes my heart these past 6 weeks....
It's called Make Something Beautiful

When I'm at the point of breaking
At the place where I resign
When I'm at the stage of shaking my head
as I look back on my life
When I'm halfway through the grieving
but not quite through the ache
When I cannot see the ending
Or which road I'm supposed to take

And all I know to do
is lift my hands to you-
Take all of my life,
all of my life,
and make something beautiful...
I open my hand and trust in your plan
to make something beautiful
so all will see Your work in me
as you make something beautiful...

When I'm tired of pretending
and can't recall my line
Do I say I'm barely breathing
or say I'm doing fine?
I admit there is a yearning
for the hurting to subside
but not at the risk of missing
what You're doing in my life...


1 Peter 1:6-7
In this (the salvation and the inheritance that awaits us) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.