Stronger Through Him

  In Genesis 28 Jacob has his iconic dream.   The one about the ladder connecting Heaven and earth.  There are many possible interpretations and meanings which can be drawn.  One is that we will be in an eternal progression.  Sometimes we will fall but we can get back up and keep climbing. Another is that the climbing will take effort on our part. But I particularly like the part that says angels are coming and going.  That Heaven and earth are truly connected. For I have had many angels in my life- some sent from Heaven and frequently those here who are inspired by Heaven.   They make my life a little easier, a little more filled with love.   They remind me that like Jacob, even when facing difficulties and frustrations in this life, I can look around and also say, "Surely the Lord is in this place." And I am grateful.  

  Yesterday I had a third grader who had a rough day.   We had an important practice test and he hadn't charged his device when his teacher told him to.   And then he lost his login card that I handed him. And he tossed candy wrappers on the floor and left them there. And disrupted the test repeatedly. I went back to his classroom and asked him to come back and clean  up.   I was frustrated and told him that his behavior wasn't acceptable.  He was frustrated to be missing the first couple minutes of recess to go back and clean up.   Natural consequences don't always feel great.  He started to clean up and I saw him fighting tears.   I stopped and asked him what had gone wrong today.  He looked at the floor and shrugged.   I waited patiently and then quietly said, "Can you see my eyes? Do I look angry?"  He slowly looked up and shook his head no and then sobbed, "I'm so sorry Mrs. Potter.  I didn't mean to dis...

  My sassy little kindergarten friend was not happy to go with me, as I was there to reprimand her.  On only her second day of earning independent bathroom privileges she had emptied multiple soap dispensers onto the floor and made a huge mess.   In dramatic style she let me know she was not interested in my having caught her or the consequence which includes cleaning it up and then reflecting with me and making a plan for better behavior.  She also knew her privileges would again be revoked. As I brought her into my room she furrowed her eyebrows and scowled at me.   I pointed to the chair and said firmly, "You will sit on this chair for five minutes and think about what you will do differently next time." She crossed her arms on her chest, raises her chin and squinted her eyes into a serious glare.  Then she defiantly stated, "You can make me sit on this chair, but I'm going to think about my dad going fishing!" I had to bite my lip to keep fr...

  Alex has six different friends in her church congregation who were formerly missionaries in Ukraine. They were collecting money to help send to people they knew still in Ukraine who needed help with food and supplies. Alex contributed and said it was rewarding to see the pictures of the food they were able to purchase to help make hunger one less concern for these families in crisis.   The family was able to go get some  food and will be able to go again later.  The stores have very limited amounts.   Alex was especially humbled and inspired by the family who took what limited resources they were able to obtain to bake pirozhki, a yeast bread with filling, to share with others.   I am flooded with intense gratitude for what I have and a deep sorrow for our brothers and sisters suffering at the hands of evil.  I am grateful for Alex's example, and that of her friends, to put together what they can and reach out and share.   As Pres...

  At seminary this morning we read Genesis 28-30. That's quite the story. Jacob leaves (which is good because his brother wants to kill him) and heads to his uncle's place to find someone to marry. He falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work for her father, Laban, for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. But on their wedding night Laban sends in Leah in Rachael's place, the marriage is consummated and Leah is now his wife.  Only he still loves Rachel.   So Laban says he can have Rachel too, for another seven years of work.  He is allowed to wed her after only the seven day wedding week is over with Leah. Only now there are serious issues between the sisters.  Leah knows she was the preferred wife.   But Leah has children and Rachel is barren.   So Rachel gives her handmaid to Jacob to bear children for her. So Leah gives her handmaid to Jacob to bear children for her.  And Leah's son finds some mandrakes, th...

  I was watching two boys at indoor recess last week playing with a train set.   One of the trains  was "derailed" by a girl walking too closely to the tracks, much to the chagrin of the other child who promptly burst into tears.  He immediately ran over to the edge of the room and began sobbing into his arms while kicking his feet. I then watched the other little boy look at the trains, take a deep breath and scowl.  I moved over and sat down next to him on the carpet.   "It looks like your train is off the tracks." I noted to him. "Yeah.  She knocked it off." "I'm wondering what we should do when our train is off the tracks."  I waited patiently for his response.  I want them to become reflective members of our society.  He looked over at his friend still distressed by the door.   Then he looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said, "I think we should build the tracks again and get back to playing!"  So...

  My very first year teaching preschool in Goshen, I met a beautiful little girl with blonde hair and striking blue eyes.  Her mom told me in broken English that they were Ukranian and her daughter knew no English.   I knelt down and smiled at her and extended my hand.  She shyly stood behind her mom, peeking out and then slowly took my hand and smiled at me. Over the year she quickly picked up English but as she played she would sing sweetly in her home language.  And when she did my heart would bubble with joy for what she brought to our classroom.   At the end of the year, her mom gave me this butterfly keychain to thank me for seeing the potential and beauty in her child and helping her emerge from her "cocoon".  It's still on my keychain to remind me every single day to look for the good and beauty in others and to remember that God isn't done with me yet either.   This week every time I see it, I think of my sweet girl and her famil...