King's Kids

Two years ago my parents started a program at our church for the younger kids there. The program they started is called King’s Kids. It is a program that helps kids learn Bible verses and gives them goal to reach and prizes such as ribbons and trophies to earn. They teach primarily first graders through sixth graders, although the program can be used for age groups through high-school. When they started it I was still in high-school and didn’t want to help them with the program yet. I had said that maybe after I graduated then I would consider helping.

Time went on and the winter before I graduated I decided that I wanted to start getting more involved in my church. So I went to my parents and asked if I could start helping on Wednesday nights in their class. Of course they were happy to say yes. I started out just sitting upstairs in the class room and watching what went on. The kids loved my dad, as well as the young man that was up there helping. They seemed to just crave the love and attention they were given. My younger sister was helping upstairs in King’s Kids, but after a short while of me being up there she relinquished her position to me.

I fell in love with the kids that were up there. They are encouraging and frustrating all at the same time. Some of them make me glad to be there each week and laugh at every joke or help out when there is something to be done. Other children make me feel like I’ll never go back. They cause problems in every situation. How on earth can one child make me feel like losing my mind? But then when Sunday rolls around and the kids come and find me to say hi, or give me a hug it makes it all worthwhile. Giving them just a little bit of encouragement or saying hi with a smile and asking how they are doing goes a whole lot farther than I thought possible.

I now have made friends with just about all of the kids in our class and I wouldn’t trade being up there for anything. The experience of working with children has encouraged me. They push me to be a better person, because they look up to me. I don’t want to be another person in their lives that just lets them down. I want to be the one that they know will still be faithful even when no one else is.

Military Life?

          The biggest piece of advice I was given in writing this blog was to write about things that matter to me. It has taken me a while to get comfortable in writing my blog, but I feel like I have a better understanding of how to do this. So, writing what matters to me begins now.

            When I was fourteen years old I was determined that I was going to join the military. I was going to go into the Navy and be jet mechanic just like my dad. I was sure that that was what I was going to do. When I told my sisters that I was going to join the Navy, they thought I was crazy. They couldn’t believe that I would want to do that. My mom really struggled when I told her. She didn’t think it was a good idea and told me so. My dad wasn’t quite sure what to think and never really responded. I wasn’t quite sure how to react to all the negative responses I was receiving. But it frustrated me.

            Being stubborn, I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Every time someone told me that I couldn’t do it or that I would never make it I pushed harder. I was determined to prove everyone wrong; that I could do it. I started jogging on a daily bases and tried to build up my body strength. Although, I never did quite master push-ups. I just wanted to be in the military so bad.

            I have always had a high appreciations for our military personnel, and I wanted to be among the number of our true heroes. Every time I see a certain video that plays the song “It has Always Been the Soldier” I cry. It makes me so thankful for the freedom we have. And it causes me to think about the past soldiers who have fought and what they and their families have been through. Of the ones who paid the ultimate price for what they believed in. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

            After hearing for over a year why going into the military wasn’t a good idea and being constantly put down, I finally started listening. I listened to why people thought I wouldn’t make it. My mom didn’t like the idea of losing her “little” girl. But she also had other reasons. And among them were: she didn’t think that the military, or war, was a place for a woman, she didn’t think that I would be able to stand the yelling of orders from the superiors, and also she didn’t like the idea of me being exposed to certain things such as constant swearing. My dad agreed in that he didn’t think that God meant for women to fight in the military. He told me that if I could find a place in the Bible where a woman actually FOUGHT in battle then he would let me go. Of course I couldn’t find one. Although I tried, and even looked for loopholes. There weren’t any so, I outwardly gave up my dream for joining the military.

            Even though I am not going into the military, I still have passion for those who are in the services. I fully support women who join, just because I’m not going doesn’t mean someone else can’t go. I would like to work somehow, with the military. I would love to work at a VA or even a military base. I may have high hopes but you never know how your dreams will play out into real life.

Beautiful, Yet Dying

So, I am starting this blog with the last paragraph from my las blog post because when I was writing I wrote this one and the last one together. This upcoming paragraph ended my last thought and also picked up my first thought and how I wanted to go forward. It has taken me a while to get in the groove of things but I think I’ve finally gotten a handle on it. So here you go, hope you enjoy.

How can something be so beautiful when it’s dying? I have often wonder this when looking at the leaves changing colors. They are breathtaking. But they are on their way to shedding their leaves and hibernating for the winter. Everything is dying, yet it’s so beautiful. I don’t understand why that is. However, it makes me very thankful that God can make something beautiful even when it is dying. It makes me think of my own life. When I am struggling to understand what God is doing, or why I’m going through the things I am, the autumn season reminds me that God has a plan. And though I may feel like I am dying, He is still making me beautiful.

I don’t always know why things in our lives happen as they do. I don’t know why people go through difficult things. I don’t have the answers to people’s question of “why?” But this I do know, God has a purpose for everything He does. We don’t have to understand the why of it, we just have to know that He is working. Just like the trees that go through different stages of growth, we are put through stages to test our faith. Sometimes we have to deal with a struggle within our own lives in order for God to be able to fully work through us.

I can’t pretend to know why God puts me through things. Or why certain people deal with more than others. I know that God is testing some people, while other people have made their own choices and that is why they deal with some of the things they do. When I say God is testing us, I am talking to those that are saved. Those that have at one point in their life believed on Jesus Christ as their Savior. Those that have believed in His death, burial, and resurrection, and believe that He was seen of men after His resurrection. Those are the people that God tests. He allows them to go through things to see how they will respond, and whether or not they will come out of the difficulty triumphantly or not. Our attitude going through difficulties is huge. It can motivate and inspire others around you. Or it can destroy those closest to you. God doesn’t put us through hard times to make Him happy, or to bring Himself any kind of pleasure. It’s for our benefit. It’s to make us stronger. To see how far we are truly willing to follow Him.

My youth pastor has a phrase that he says all the time, “If Christ died for me, then the least I can do is live my life for Him.” And how true that is. God doesn’t ask for much, just all of you. Is that really too much to give? Especially once you have realized how much He has given for you. I have decided to follow Jesus, if none go with me still I will follow. No turning back.

Remember, autumn isn’t the last season. Winter comes and most things do die. But just when you think things can’t get any worse, or colder, another blizzard hits and leaves you with four extra feet of snow. And you think, “That’s it, I quit. I’m moving to Hawaii and never looking back.” Things always get worse before they get better. It’s like the golden rule. And then spring comes and with it, new life. It’s the same way in our lives. Things are bad and then they get worse. And when you think the worst is behind you something else strikes. Just remember spring always comes again. And the things that were dying are now growing and beautiful once again. So when that last snow storm hits, be prepared for an even bigger one to follow.

 

Chapter Four: Autumn

Autumn. The crisp, crunch of leaves. The cool, brisk air. Cozy colors, warm sweaters, and scarves. The warmth of hot tea and coffee as you’re reading a new book or gazing into the glow of a bonfire. All these things and more wrap up to make autumn my favorite season.

Seeing the leaves change colors excites me! It means cozy clothes, brisk walks, and fall decorations. I enjoy pulling out scarves and sweaters that were once put away for summer. The old sweatshirt that you refuse to get rid of, instantly becomes useful again. Thus the reason you never get rid of it! Taking walks with friends or siblings becomes a thing you enjoy. And the decorations are my favorite. I’m not talking about Halloween décor, no, real fall décor. The hay bales and happy looking scarecrows. The pumpkins and gourds that cover front porches and kitchen tables. The candy corn and pumpkins that fill pumpkin shaped candy dishes. It’s so inviting and cheerful.  

Two of my many favorite things would be apple cider and caramel apples. Mmm!! So tasty. Warm apple cider is the best. With its sweet, tangy taste and crisp, apple smell it warms me up just thinking about it. Caramel apples coated with nuts are delicious. You have to get the good apples though. There are some and the apple is small, and mushy. Bluck. No good. Go for the big firm apples!

Autumn is fun because you get to have bonfires with friends and look at the stars on clear nights. Having a bonfire is fun anyway, but add a cool night, a warm blanket, and a few friends and it’s instantly ten times better. I love looking up in the sky and seeing the stars. And clear autumn nights are perfect for that. When the weather is just right, or after a rain storm and the sky has just cleared. Oh, man. It’s breathtaking. The stars seem to shine extra bright as if they know you are waiting for the show to start.

How can something be so beautiful when it’s dying? I have often wonder this when looking at the leaves changing colors. They are breathtaking. But they are on their way to shedding their leaves and hibernating for the winter. Everything is dying, yet it’s so beautiful. I don’t understand why that is. However, it makes me very thankful that God can make something beautiful even when it is dying. It makes me think of my own life. When I am struggling to understand what God is doing, or why I’m going through the things I am, the autumn season reminds me that God has a plan. And though I may feel like I am dying, He is still making me beautiful.