God DOES listen... He really does!

Lately, I've been going through difficult times, dealing with the bullies of the world, a very difficult class of students who have many behavior issues, and most recently getting tired of the poor customer service in our society.

And just when I think I'm beaten, I hear a small still voice tell me that this is all intended.

Okay...so kick me while I'm down, I think.

But then God reminds me that I, indeed, ASKED for these challenges.

This point is cleverly made clear in the movie "Evan Almighty"... when Morgan Freeman, portraying God, talks to Evan's wife. He states, and I'm paraphrasing here, that when we ask for patience, does God give us patience, or does He give us opportunities to become patient?

He's right.

Last year (not too long ago actually!) I asked God to strengthen my faith, momentarily forgetting that I wasn't going to wake up one day to find a bottle of Faithitol tablets sitting on my nightstand!

God is giving me opportunities to strengthen my faith. I didn't ask for this challenging class of students, but I've asked, in the past, to be a better teacher. That would NOT happen in a class where my students behaved 100% of the time and were academically successful each and every moment. In fact, that would most certainly be a boring school year. (Although I readily admit that I hope my last year of teaching is "boring" by those standards! ;) )

I asked that God would make me more forgiving of others, to realize that I am not perfect and that I have just as many flaws (if not more!) than those who I believe wrong me. So, God didn't hit me over the head with His "Forgive-a-matic" wand... no, He is allowing others to wrong me so that I will have chances to be forgiving.

I asked God for His wisdom (I've tried the earthly wisdom for over 40 years... trust me, it doesn't work) and now He's speaking to me and letting me know that this is all part of His plans - what a wonderful gift!

So, I guess I'm trying to say to those who may be reading this... when you feel that life is hard on you... (and we all feel that way at times), let's remember that God IS in control and that He DOES listen... we may not like His methods... but He really doesn't care if we like His methods or not... because His goal for us to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ... His goal isn't that we always get what we want and that we're happy in the MATERIAL items.

I am not sure about all of you, but I struggle with that on a daily basis.

Anyway, whenever I get littles jewels of wisdom like this, I actually entertain the possibility that I may be growing! :)

Adult bullies...

I need to vent and where else can I do it, but on a blog, eh? :)

So, a few days ago I came across a woman who, for the most part, didn't look like she had any anger or sadness in her. In fact, she looked downright happy. :)

But as I spoke with her, it didn't take me long to learn that she was rather bitter. In fact, it struck me that she wasn't content unless those around her were intimidated or upset by her words.

At first, I was hurt by what she said to me and I lashed out. And, while I would like to use the excuse I was hurt, that's sadly not a really good excuse. I have no excuse. I could tell I hit a nerve because she fumed even more and really let me have it (verbally, not physically).

I apologized, but she would have nothing to do with that. I was her target and she was going to come full force against me. I apologized again... to no avail. In fact, by now others were around and started pitching in. The more I tried to explain myself, the more they wanted to find chinks in my argument.

So, I figured the best thing I could do is simply walk away...and so I did. I realized that while I tried to smooth things over, I was, in fact, just making matters worse... and that there's no use in trying to reason with the unreasonable.

When I got to my classroom, I looked at all the desks. Then I had the revelation. Just as I have bullies in my classroom, there are bullies in the adult world. And why wouldn't there be? It's not like people hit puberty, or reach the age of 18 and then all of a sudden, they become less of a bully.

I've watched this person attack others who state their opinion. When I approach her --- well, let's just say I no longer approach her... :)

But I am left wondering... are these adults bullies from childhood? Or, could something have happened in their lives to MAKE them feel bitter and angry? And if the latter, is there anything that we can do for them? Or would they even accept our help, believing that WE are in the wrong for even SUGGESTING we want to be friendly to each other?

I'm no saint. I have done (and continue to do) my share of wrongdoings. The Bible teaches I should ask forgiveness. So, I do. The Bible also teaches I'll be persecuted for my beliefs. So, I am. I can only ask for forgiveness... I can't force the person to forgive me.

I still see this woman and her friends and I just pass on by... I won't even make eye contact.

I am happier for it... although I do wish she would accept my olive branch. I do hope that she'll be happy in her life as well.