Fifth Grade's End

When I "graduated" from fifth grade, my school had a huge celebration for us as we, essentially, moved from being children to pre-teens (or young adults.) I remember this being such a completely surprising rite of passage for me as I perused the changes going on around and within me. We had a convocation, a ceremony of graduation, and a special presentation of those of us who were in choir, a recorder musical group (yes, the old-school instrument that has been revived in our home with our daughter), and the band.

I remember receiving lots of love from many people, from my parents, to peers who I didn't even know liked me, to my principal, who spent time afterwards perched on the edge of the school's stage along with me, listening to how I felt about everything regarding growing up and sharing his fatherly advice. When I arrived home, I went directly to our "family room", the time we spent most of our time together as a family through part of my growing up years. I nestled on the couch, placed my hands behind my head, and thought carefully through all that I had grown up through in my 10 years of life. This introspective care of myself has proven to be indispensable to my growth in Christ. When I take care of myself first (rather than trying to take the speck out of everyone else's eye, dealing with my own plank), whether it be forgiving myself and loving myself by feeding the Spirit of Christ within me (and not the sinful nature), then I am able to walk in love as Jesus did.

This Terebinth Spa adventure has been much different than I thought it would be. I believed I would learn how to make various products, make them, and then sell them, barter, or give them away. What instead has happened...
1. learning about God's creation
2. creating products from this knowledge
3. trying out a Farmer's Market with this in stock...trying out spa parties...trying to garner support and move along...but...
4. frustration and pain as I lacked support from God's people, vision from God, financial abilities
5. crying out to God in the midst of this pain--isn't this what God is calling me to do?
6. His continued love, deliverance, restoration
7. a renewed vision and ability to walk in love--God's way

This, coupled with many other strenuous circumstances in my life that have made me despair of all hope and life, has been the precursor to another "graduation" from emotional toddlerhood to emotional adulthood. Once again, I am sitting on a couch (now at my own home, with my husband and daughter playing nearby) and ruminating on life. Now that I have been set free, I do not desire to go back to those weak and miserable principles of my old way of life. He, God of hope that He is, has filled me with all joy and peace as I trust in Him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

May the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.