Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 8
Why is this gate to God so hard for others to find?
Am I directing anyone towards it?
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Gates
Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
My Protector
This last Saturday my dear Grandpa Brody passed away.
Along with mourning such a immeasurable loss, I noticed there were other feelings of loss that were stirring inside of me. It was more than losing a strong, moral, kind grandpa, but because of his role in my life it feels like the loss of much more.
It brings me back to those little girl desires that it seems were never intended to go away. Our innate desire for our dads, grandpas and our"princes" (and all the other men in our lives) to be our protectors and leaders against all the evil villains in the world. Granted, you grow up and realize their weaknesses and imperfections, but still, when they make the effort to lead or protect, it still can mean the world.
It makes my heart break again when I think of the loss of my Uncle Craig, for so many other reasons, but one being the fact he was a strong man of God that I long to be able to talk with about my faith and hear his advice and counsel. I also think about the recent loss of my dear friend Jarret Wade, who I also looked to as a spiritual leader in my life that I work to live after his example. I even think about Ced, my past boyfriend that I care about and respect, who was so protective over me, but now isn't apart of my life because God lead us different ways.
Sometimes I feel like I am up against the world alone and defenseless.
With all these things pressing heavy on my heart, God intervened and reminded me of truths that were able to sink in like they haven't been able to before. I don't want to go down the path of self protection where I build up walls around my heart and think I'm strong enough to deal with anything life throws at me alone. Instead, humbly, I believe that I am in need of God and I trust that He is my loving and strong protector and leader that is more than anything I will come up against. Other men may play a similar role in my life in the future, but it wont compare. How thankful I am though for those men that have reflected God's character to protect and lead in my life!
Thanking God today especially for my precious Grandpa Brody. I love you so much and will miss you terribly. The impact you've made in raising up our family is the most beautiful gift and I'm so thankful for you. I cannot wait to see you again. <3
Along with mourning such a immeasurable loss, I noticed there were other feelings of loss that were stirring inside of me. It was more than losing a strong, moral, kind grandpa, but because of his role in my life it feels like the loss of much more.
It brings me back to those little girl desires that it seems were never intended to go away. Our innate desire for our dads, grandpas and our"princes" (and all the other men in our lives) to be our protectors and leaders against all the evil villains in the world. Granted, you grow up and realize their weaknesses and imperfections, but still, when they make the effort to lead or protect, it still can mean the world.
It makes my heart break again when I think of the loss of my Uncle Craig, for so many other reasons, but one being the fact he was a strong man of God that I long to be able to talk with about my faith and hear his advice and counsel. I also think about the recent loss of my dear friend Jarret Wade, who I also looked to as a spiritual leader in my life that I work to live after his example. I even think about Ced, my past boyfriend that I care about and respect, who was so protective over me, but now isn't apart of my life because God lead us different ways.
Sometimes I feel like I am up against the world alone and defenseless.
With all these things pressing heavy on my heart, God intervened and reminded me of truths that were able to sink in like they haven't been able to before. I don't want to go down the path of self protection where I build up walls around my heart and think I'm strong enough to deal with anything life throws at me alone. Instead, humbly, I believe that I am in need of God and I trust that He is my loving and strong protector and leader that is more than anything I will come up against. Other men may play a similar role in my life in the future, but it wont compare. How thankful I am though for those men that have reflected God's character to protect and lead in my life!
Thanking God today especially for my precious Grandpa Brody. I love you so much and will miss you terribly. The impact you've made in raising up our family is the most beautiful gift and I'm so thankful for you. I cannot wait to see you again. <3
Saturday, October 15, 2011
I am free.
Be free my precious child from the pressure you feel to have others' approval.
I hear their criticisms and see how it tears your heart apart.
But as the Creator of the Universe to your loving Dad, I need you to know my opinion hasn't changed.
You are loved.
You are treasured.
I desire you.
Be free my sweet daughter from the lies you hear that you're not good enough, pretty enough or talented enough.
You're worth my life.
I have made you wonderfully.
I have gifted you with talents all your own.
Be free from their judgement.
Be free to accept My love.
Be free to live.
I hear their criticisms and see how it tears your heart apart.
But as the Creator of the Universe to your loving Dad, I need you to know my opinion hasn't changed.
You are loved.
You are treasured.
I desire you.
Be free my sweet daughter from the lies you hear that you're not good enough, pretty enough or talented enough.
You're worth my life.
I have made you wonderfully.
I have gifted you with talents all your own.
Be free from their judgement.
Be free to accept My love.
Be free to live.
Friday, May 20, 2011
What "Love is" in Teacher World
I've been reflecting on how teaching is 120% relational and thinking about what 1 Cor. 13 practically means in teacher world. Going to have this right by my desk so I can be reminded!
Love is…
1 Cor. 13
Patient
I don’t know the struggles others are up against.
Take time to learn before you assume.
Kind
Take every opportunity to be kind to others.
People are more important than tasks.
Encouraging
Celebrate other’s accomplishments with them,
sometimes we all need outside perspectives.
Humble
Don’t brag, no one else really cares.
I didn’t accomplish anything by myself.
Polite
Redeem rough situations with kind words.
Communicate how valuable people are.
Team Oriented
Always think about how the work I’m doing
can benefit my whole team and not just myself.
Calm
Take and deep breathe.
Don’t take everything personally.
Forgiving
I’m not perfect either!
Normally people give the best they have to offer.
Protective
Of other’s reputations when they vent.
Unity builds, division destroys.
Trusting
That administrative choices are made
with everyone’s best interest in mind.
Hopeful
That the work I am doing is making
a positive impact in student’s lives.
Persevering
Get back up and try again!
Love is…
1 Cor. 13
Patient
I don’t know the struggles others are up against.
Take time to learn before you assume.
Kind
Take every opportunity to be kind to others.
People are more important than tasks.
Encouraging
Celebrate other’s accomplishments with them,
sometimes we all need outside perspectives.
Humble
Don’t brag, no one else really cares.
I didn’t accomplish anything by myself.
Polite
Redeem rough situations with kind words.
Communicate how valuable people are.
Team Oriented
Always think about how the work I’m doing
can benefit my whole team and not just myself.
Calm
Take and deep breathe.
Don’t take everything personally.
Forgiving
I’m not perfect either!
Normally people give the best they have to offer.
Protective
Of other’s reputations when they vent.
Unity builds, division destroys.
Trusting
That administrative choices are made
with everyone’s best interest in mind.
Hopeful
That the work I am doing is making
a positive impact in student’s lives.
Persevering
Get back up and try again!
"Ms. Duggan"
Another new life transition along with a rainy day inevitably results in reflecting in the blogosphere... and ohh how I've missed it!
Life as "Ms. Duggan" has officially begun, as thankfully, I am going to finally be a teacher this fall! This life goal started when I was 9, playing school with my little cousin and never following through with my promise that she could have her turn being the teacher, she just didn't understand the passion I already had for the profession! ;) I wonder how many people in my position, who like me, already have a stocked "teacher closet" they've excitedly been adding to for years from clearance bins and garage sales for that day when I would finally have my own classroom. It takes a certain kind of person to get excited about post-it notes, books and construction paper, but I am definitely one of them.
This last month and the few ahead have been and will be a wonderful new teacher honeymoon stage. I am aware of it's time limit, but have decided to enjoy it while it's here!! I've had my first interview, first job offer, first class list, first teacher meetings and will be spending the summer loving putting my first classroom together! You can expect that I'll be taking a picture posed by my door as soon as my name is on it!
I am aware I was born with rose colored glasses, and because of them I grew up soaking in every Lifetime movie about teachers that made a dramatic difference in poor, urban schools. (All in under 2 hours!) Thankfully, a little maturity and life experience has set in, I've put my cape back in my closet, and have become much more aware of the struggles my students and I are up against and how much I have to learn. It's going to require an amount of strength that I'll have to stretch for everyday. I imagine this next year is going to be one for the books (and hopefully the blog!).
Life as "Ms. Duggan" has officially begun, as thankfully, I am going to finally be a teacher this fall! This life goal started when I was 9, playing school with my little cousin and never following through with my promise that she could have her turn being the teacher, she just didn't understand the passion I already had for the profession! ;) I wonder how many people in my position, who like me, already have a stocked "teacher closet" they've excitedly been adding to for years from clearance bins and garage sales for that day when I would finally have my own classroom. It takes a certain kind of person to get excited about post-it notes, books and construction paper, but I am definitely one of them.
This last month and the few ahead have been and will be a wonderful new teacher honeymoon stage. I am aware of it's time limit, but have decided to enjoy it while it's here!! I've had my first interview, first job offer, first class list, first teacher meetings and will be spending the summer loving putting my first classroom together! You can expect that I'll be taking a picture posed by my door as soon as my name is on it!
I am aware I was born with rose colored glasses, and because of them I grew up soaking in every Lifetime movie about teachers that made a dramatic difference in poor, urban schools. (All in under 2 hours!) Thankfully, a little maturity and life experience has set in, I've put my cape back in my closet, and have become much more aware of the struggles my students and I are up against and how much I have to learn. It's going to require an amount of strength that I'll have to stretch for everyday. I imagine this next year is going to be one for the books (and hopefully the blog!).
Friday, December 17, 2010
Elisa's Makeover
Yesterday my 4yr old niece Elisa and I had such a fun and sweet memory. We were doing our usual...me hanging out in my room and her taking full advantage of my costume box (everyone has one of those right?) and putting on a new pretend character or music video with each find. She's hilarious, completely crazy and wild, and fearless when it comes to her dancing and signing, such a beautiful sight. She found an old make up bag I had in there, and we had fun figuring out where all these weird powders went, she found that she preferred the 10 layer multicolor lipstick look as well as the eyeshadowed eyebrows. We agreed it was a good look on her. Well, I made the mistake of leaving for awhile, only to come back to her completely naked, with lipstick lines from her lips to her toes, and a lip-stick colored-in bikini top, where she even drew the strings!! HAHAHAHhahahaha!! All I could muster up to do was laugh and say, "Well, it's important that you're creative! So when your mommy sees this, you just tell her that!" So we practiced her line, then, like clockwork, she went down stairs and immediately I heard a big gasp from her mom, and with all the certainty and confidence I heard in her sweet little girl voice, "Mom, it's important that I'm creative!!" Ahahaha, I about lost it. Then my sister's typical response, EMILY!! We had to soak her in the tub for awhile, it turns out cheap old lipstick really sticks well to the body, and the carpet, ohh well, definitely worth it!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Don't Do It
PEDESTRIANS. You're driving along, progressing at a completely legal speed and it happens...
V=T/D + several thousand pound vehical + steel + 6 cylinders + you in the car + blur in the shape of a human walking + split second = BRAKES!
This person, after what must have been a flash hypnotizing from the road's striped lines, dives directly into your path. I do mean dives, you've all seen it. It makes you half-way wonder if, as part of the human moral code, you should stop, give them a hug and tell them they have so much to live for, or at least find a way that's less messy. I'm only kidding.
Then, after slamming on your breaks and screeching to a halt, your forehead to the window, and your mom arm extended, you take a moment to awe at this human wonder. As they progress at the speed of snail in front of you, you have plenty of time to size them up. You realize they appear as a logical person, how could this have happened? Where did their educational experience do them wrong where it told them that it made more sense to demand to go first before a bone crushing machine weighing X1000 times their weight? Could this be the consequences of an educational system too bent on positive reinforcement and confidence boosting? Not to mention this machine also posses the ability to pass this small section of road in split seconds, but you're right, we should all watch your malleable body stroll across the path and admire that you have the ability to make time stand still.
The best is when you've had to come to an obviously abrupt stop to save their life, and they give you this look as they roll their eyes, ... I mean, how dare you enter their space like that?
I'd like to think we could all learn from life when it was simple and the rules of life were basic: T-Rex is on direct route to his prey, little baby raptor is in a hurry to pass him, what happens? Baby raptor goes to the Land of No Time, aka eternity.
I mean, maybe there's more to it than I understand. Maybe people just aren't getting the adventurous rushes in life they desire, I get that. Maybe they think they look really cute that day and just need someone to notice. Maybe they've always wondered what it would feel like to be flat? Quickest way to fit in those jeans again? I don't know, maybe it's not something I will understand until I get older.
V=T/D + several thousand pound vehical + steel + 6 cylinders + you in the car + blur in the shape of a human walking + split second = BRAKES!
This person, after what must have been a flash hypnotizing from the road's striped lines, dives directly into your path. I do mean dives, you've all seen it. It makes you half-way wonder if, as part of the human moral code, you should stop, give them a hug and tell them they have so much to live for, or at least find a way that's less messy. I'm only kidding.
Then, after slamming on your breaks and screeching to a halt, your forehead to the window, and your mom arm extended, you take a moment to awe at this human wonder. As they progress at the speed of snail in front of you, you have plenty of time to size them up. You realize they appear as a logical person, how could this have happened? Where did their educational experience do them wrong where it told them that it made more sense to demand to go first before a bone crushing machine weighing X1000 times their weight? Could this be the consequences of an educational system too bent on positive reinforcement and confidence boosting? Not to mention this machine also posses the ability to pass this small section of road in split seconds, but you're right, we should all watch your malleable body stroll across the path and admire that you have the ability to make time stand still.
The best is when you've had to come to an obviously abrupt stop to save their life, and they give you this look as they roll their eyes, ... I mean, how dare you enter their space like that?
I'd like to think we could all learn from life when it was simple and the rules of life were basic: T-Rex is on direct route to his prey, little baby raptor is in a hurry to pass him, what happens? Baby raptor goes to the Land of No Time, aka eternity.
I mean, maybe there's more to it than I understand. Maybe people just aren't getting the adventurous rushes in life they desire, I get that. Maybe they think they look really cute that day and just need someone to notice. Maybe they've always wondered what it would feel like to be flat? Quickest way to fit in those jeans again? I don't know, maybe it's not something I will understand until I get older.
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