Many mornings I consume two breakfasts--one imaginary one and another an hour after I get out of bed. As the remnants of dreams hold on to my waking moments like spiderwebs being pushed aside, hunger invades my peaceful morning. And from the low growls in my abdomen, my body demands food.
With no desire to leave the comforts of bed, I prepare a feast in my mind. Blueberry pancakes that are so full of berries no syrup is needed. Not wanting to commit such an injustice, I slather the cakes with the thick sweet liquid. Followed by hickory smoked bacon with the perfect consistency of chewy and crunch. I may add eggs of some form to my imaginary meal depending on how hungry I am. Finally, a cup of hazelnut coffee that remains hot throughout. Yum.
My stomach grumbles not impressed with my first meal. Time to get up.
After making my way downstairs I search the contents of the refrigerator, trying to ignore the red and white container at eye level. Cottage cheese. Not one of my favorite foods, but over the years I've discovered if I start my day with cottage cheese or some form of protein, I feel better.
I push it aside. Leftover pizza does not sound appealing. My sons would thank me later for leaving it for them. Cereal? Nope. I look back at the cottage cheese.
I sigh. "Why can't you taste like blueberry pancakes?"
Will I finish this small tub or will it end up in a lasagna like the last one? I remove the container and grab a spoon. Double-dipping doesn't concern me, no one else eat it. After a quick prayer and an apology to my stomach, I down a few bites.
Before long it feels like my body is thanking me for my choice. My mind told me I wanted one thing, yet my stomach told me I needed something else. If I had given in to my imaginary breakfast and made it my meal of choice, I would be ready to go back to bed. Giving my body something I knew it would respond well to prepared me for the day.
How many times have I asked God, "Are you sure this is the spiritual food you want me to consume today?" He doesn't always give me what I want, but He does give me what I need.
I put the cottage cheese back in the refrigerator. Again at eye level. Will I choose it tomorrow? I don't know, yet God has given me everything I need to do so. With His help I will finish the Cottage Cheese. No lasagna for this one.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Life
She stared at me with the hope and innocence of youth, yet I needed to be the one to give her a bitter taste of reality.
“What if God doesn’t give you what you want?” I asked.
Her expression deflated. “But He has to,” she said with more doubt than she realized.
Years of being a Christian had schooled me differently. “No. He doesn’t.”
Every year I teach a life skills class to high schoolers, I discover the same basic facts:
1/4 of the students think they know everything
1/4 KNOW they know everything
1/2 of the class is a mixture of those who are unsure they want to know anything; those who are certain they don’t and a few who actually believe they can learn something that they don’t already know.
In an age where technology is teaching our kids faster than the rest of us can keep up, the last thing they’re interested in is learning how to write a check. For that matter, several will look at me and ask, “Isn’t that the same as using a debit card?”
Then why teach life skills? Because life is more than what these students can learn in a textbook (or on Facebook). Life is meant to be experience and if done so unintentionally, there’s so much to miss.
I encourage my students to shoot for the stars when they think about their futures. But if they land on the moon, it’s a good thing. When we work on goals, I always have a few students whose goal is to marry a Godly person, have Godly kids and live a happily-ever-after Godly life. Just like the young girl with whom I spoke with above.
“Mrs. Perkins, are you saying this is an unrealistic goal?”
I smiled and looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “Yes, it is because a goal is something you work toward to make happen. But it is a realistic desire. One you will need to trust God for.”
She nodded. “I can do that.” She closed her notebook, gathered her things and headed for her next class.
I found her quick response to trusting God refreshing. I said a simple prayer asking God to one day give her the desires of her heart. And when she struggles, that she can still respond with, “I trust you, Lord.”
God, may I respond as quickly as my student when you ask me to trust you.
“What if God doesn’t give you what you want?” I asked.
Her expression deflated. “But He has to,” she said with more doubt than she realized.
Years of being a Christian had schooled me differently. “No. He doesn’t.”
Every year I teach a life skills class to high schoolers, I discover the same basic facts:
1/4 of the students think they know everything
1/4 KNOW they know everything
1/2 of the class is a mixture of those who are unsure they want to know anything; those who are certain they don’t and a few who actually believe they can learn something that they don’t already know.
In an age where technology is teaching our kids faster than the rest of us can keep up, the last thing they’re interested in is learning how to write a check. For that matter, several will look at me and ask, “Isn’t that the same as using a debit card?”
Then why teach life skills? Because life is more than what these students can learn in a textbook (or on Facebook). Life is meant to be experience and if done so unintentionally, there’s so much to miss.
I encourage my students to shoot for the stars when they think about their futures. But if they land on the moon, it’s a good thing. When we work on goals, I always have a few students whose goal is to marry a Godly person, have Godly kids and live a happily-ever-after Godly life. Just like the young girl with whom I spoke with above.
“Mrs. Perkins, are you saying this is an unrealistic goal?”
I smiled and looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “Yes, it is because a goal is something you work toward to make happen. But it is a realistic desire. One you will need to trust God for.”
She nodded. “I can do that.” She closed her notebook, gathered her things and headed for her next class.
I found her quick response to trusting God refreshing. I said a simple prayer asking God to one day give her the desires of her heart. And when she struggles, that she can still respond with, “I trust you, Lord.”
God, may I respond as quickly as my student when you ask me to trust you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
