Lords and Ladies

I can't believe I get paid to hang out with the 23 most entertaining, beautiful, and joyful people in my life each day. I am contunually falling more in love with my students and learning profound things from their simplicity.

We have been reading a book called "Sir Galahad" that is about one of King Arthur's knights. The kids were particularly interested in this story and adopted a very lofty sounding, slightly brithish, accent for the week. I feel like I walked around with little lords and ladies for the last few days. Luke announced after "turning a card" (basically it is a system that monitors behavior, changing the color of your card is not good) that it wil "be my last!". I was quite thrilled at his confident declaration but we will see how that pans out...history has a way of repeating itself.

When the student helpers do the morning routine they have the option of praying themselves, or selecting a volunteer who wants to pray if the helper is too shy. Today Ayden announced "I will stand! I will pray!". My what bravery! Then at recess the boys decided that I was the Hydra and they were going to "imaginary slay" me...as David put so gently. Then he plunged an imaginary sword into my loin (vocab word they learned that I think they really would have been fine not knowing ha ha) and I fell backwards in anguish. : ) Later on they are telling the teacher what they did at recess and David says, "Oh you know. Played some soccer, ate some snack, slayed a Hydra..." as he looks at me with an elated face.

I love that they love to get a rise out of me and want to be recognized for their cleverness. I love even more that this week they took pride in pretending to be noble and valiant. They really are so valiant. Over the last few years I have seen them conquer all of their math facts, read books far too advanced for their age, learn kickball and football, befriend the outcasts and lonely, share their snacks and lives, learn about being virtuous, memorize scripture, and live as brave children of the Lord. I am so proud of them. Again, I am so very proud of them. I cannot wait till I meet them years later. The hand that coud barely hold a pencil will one day write poetry and prose and minds that struggled with addition will contemplate the great mysteries of this life. I pray that Luke will be victorious over things he'd like to change, that Ayden will stand and pray for all of his days, and that David will triumph over many thing that stand in his way. Their valiance will cetianly have stories to tell that are equally as impressive as anything King Arthur achieved.

Spherical Grace

The flesh has taught me things that the truth has not. Doubt ought not take hold where hope should prevail. Grace is not one dimensional…it is a perfect sphere that is spinning and swaying over me constantly.

I found myself in the Savior’s arms the other day. Although He was using the body of another human to hold me, it was very much the Lord’s own extension of Himself that I felt most strongly. As I rested there, in a state of gratitude and amazement, a thought so loud and blasphemous entered my mind and tried to take residence.

“This is not real. This is not a gift. You are too full of sin and filth to receive this. You will find this cannot last and you will be hurt…again. Don’t rest here in these arms, they will leave you go any second now. You just wait.”

I want to look Satan in the eyes one day and say to him, “No! You just wait. Your time is coming soon!” He has no place in my head! I have a promise and a hope. I have the way and the light. I have a Savior who cannot fail. One day every valley will be lifted and every mountain be made low. He will come riding in and we shall see the King. And all my hope, each time I rested in grace, and each time I accepted a good and perfect gift will NOT prove to be in vein.

My God cannot lie, but Satan and my flesh can. They can tell me that the cross was not enough and that my trespasses have far exceeded the crimson price He paid for me. They tell me that I am not worthy of blessings even though my Father looks on me with compassion and deems me beautiful.But grace is not one dimensional. It is not circumstantial. And it is not to be undermined. The grace of the Lord is overflowing and never-ending. It always comes full circle.