Hey Ya'll. I'm going to warn you straight up that I have had an emotional day... and it's not even half over. So, sorry if I get mushy and personal. For this post I am just going to tell you about a few things that got to me between last night and now... So here it goes!
Last night I went to my first Apples of Gold class. Apples of Gold is a mentoring program that my church does for young women. The older and wiser women give us lessons on cooking and child rearing, as well as how to have the relationship with God, your husband, your kids, and yourself that God intends you to have. I can tell already that I am going to love it and learn a lot, so expect reflective reports after the Tuesday night meetings.
At last night's meeting we talked about personal relationship with God, and how to keep it growing. This is perfect since that has basically been what my posts have been about so far, and it is also something I struggle to make happen because I am selfish. A couple of the tips they gave were the cliche ones that everyone knows and chooses to ignore like: read the Bible, study the Bible, pray, and fellowship with other Christians. Some of them, however dug a little deeper. One of the things I liked a lot and plan on doing is pray and read the Bible out loud. I think that makes so much sense, because that keeps you focused and makes it seem more like a conversation. Another thing I plan to do is pray when I'm driving by myself.
I actually did that last one on my way to HOSTS today (PS I will explain what HOSTS is a little later). I have to tell you, It took all of 30 seconds before I was crying. I seem to always think I'm doing better than I am until I actually talk to God for more than a minute or two. It was incredibly powerful, personal, and eye opening; and I would encourage all of you to give it a try and even make it a habit. So far today, I have felt God with me the whole time, and I finally feel like I am getting to know him as a friend rather than this big scary judge who can smite me at any moment.
Now, HOSTS is something I do on Wednesday mornings. It is a reading improvement program for 2nd and 3rd graders in Wayne township. I work with two kids for 30 minutes each and I absolutely love it. It has probably been the most rewarding thing I have done with my life so far. I mean, you can actually see them improve and see them trust you more and more every week. I work with a 3rd grade boy first, and he is such a cutie. I was so proud of him today. We always read, then do a vocabulary exercise, and play a learning game. He was reading a book about the titanic that was ahead of his reading level because he was really interested in it, and he did really great! He will ask questions and discuss certain parts with me because he genuinely loves to learn. I hope he stays that way. Then, we played the game. When we ran out of time and he was winning, he grabbed his piece and said, "Let's race to the finish." So we did. He clearly won that too, but he insists that we tied so I wouldn't have to lose. I feel like that is so rare in kids this day and age, so it meant the world to me. Getting to know him has been such a blessing.
When I was driving home, I was listening to Eric Church's album Carolina. Now, last summer I saw him in concert when he opened for Jason Aldean, and I really enjoyed it so I bought his CD. However, I didn't really listen to it much because at the time I was partial to Jason Aldean and Jake Owen and rarely played anything else, and then I just forgot about it. So, when I put it in today it was the first time I really listened to it. His lyrics are so powerful! One song in particular, Those I've Loved, really resonated with me. It talks about the people in his life that he loved and lost in some way or another, and how he doesn't regret a moment of loving them, even if it ended badly and broke his heart, because it got him to where he is now. I feel exactly like that about so many people. A few faces immediately came to mind and struck my heart. So, right now I'm all sentimental and reminiscing.
With all that being said, I want thank anyone who reads this and immediately thinks a good memory of me. There are so many people that have come in and out of my life that have made a huge difference: from my childhood best friends, to teachers and small group leaders, to ex boyfriends, and to my best friends now. Some of my friends that I consider to closest to me are those I haven't seen or talked to in months, but they are the ones that make the biggest difference so I thank you the most, I think you know who you are.
It's a really good day :) I'm going to continue to enjoy it.
With enough love until next time,
Jenny!
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