I don't have anything specific to say. I just feel like blogging, so I thought I would throw out a few more reflections.
I struggle with being myself sometimes. I know so many successful, smart, talented, kind, and ambitious people. And to be honest, sometimes I want to be them, which has got to break God's heart. He crafted me individually and uniquely. Why I struggle believing that, I have no idea. I should embrace that concept instead of trying to be a carbon copy of another. God and I work on this together. All. the. time. I see so much improvement in this area compared to where I was even a year ago. I am so thankful He is a God that doesn't leave us where we are and rescues us from our crazy selves.
To reiterate this point, see the example below. God made one Monet. ONE. Home girl attempted the one and only Water Lilies. Don't do that. Don't be someone you are not. It turns out badly. Really, really badly. Bet you can't guess which one is the original.
Next:
I worked with a little boy this year who was having a really hard time keeping it together at school. Children like him are one of the main reasons I feel satisfaction in my career. I get the opportunity to problem solve on a child's behalf and make life a little easier for him/her. But this little guy taught me a whole lot. A lot about grace and the beauty of fresh starts. He needed to know he was loved and accepted no matter how many chairs he threw or tables he jumped on. Did that mean there were no consequences? Of course not. But it did mean we would start fresh after each incident. We all have the basic human need for acceptance no matter where we have been or what we have done. All of us.
So, in efforts to help little wild man, I made this behavior chart for him. I knew he loved trucks and racing so after a particularly hard day, I sped to the nearest store for truck and car stickers. I came in the next day with a plan. A plan that offered fresh starts around every curve and turn and crash. The little guy bought in to it, because is was attainable and doable and just plain FUN. As adults, we may not need a behavior chart with stickers, but we do need to know that one mistake isn't going to ruin us or define us. And one mistake, for heaven's sake, does not have to dictate our entire day. We have to believe that each day is a new start; sometimes each hour. We all have those days. And we have to know that we aren't in this race alone.That behavior chart and little boy taught me a lot. About how to love myself and others more correctly. In case you were wondering, he made it to the end of the day, getting to call his mom to brag and earning a prize before leaving along the way! Proud moment for all of us. I might have cried.
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