Support, to me means being there when needed to hold me up, to be available and ready to be a part of my world. The challenge that might be coming for me: searching for another school to teach in. My son wants me to move closer to him and his wife. That would mean moving, I have lived in this house for 22 years, finding another place to live, finding a new job, etc., etc.
My support comes from my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and my relationship with God the Father. When stressors come, and I have had several in the last few weeks, I know my Father knows and will hold me and strengthen me for the tasks that need to be done and to calm my spirit.
Because of my faith, I have had so many opportunities to serve people and travel. My faith took me to West Africa, Australia, Old Mexico, to Canada and all across the USA in service. I had never been to Africa, but hopped on a plane in 2002 and flew to a “destination unknown” at least to me. God knew what was ahead for me but I had no clue. If I had known, I might have given it much more thought than I did.
When I was in school at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, I had two professors that kept trying to discourage me saying I was too old and that I could not learn another language. At the end of the class, they had to give me an A. I spend more time praying about that class than I did studying. Then God sent me to another difficult school, the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi for French Language Immersion to learn to speak French in 13 months. He is my support, my driving force that keeps me going. My faith means everything to me.
I do have another significant support in my youngest son and his wife. When I get discouraged, I call William and he always says, “Do not worry about it MOM we will work it out”. He has been the crutch that I have leaned on since the divorce in ‘91. My daughter is supportive most of the time but she lives so far away that it is hard for her to relate to what I am going through. My church family is supportive and caring. My minister answers my e-mails when I have questions and is very encouraging.
Every day of my life, I know that God is with me to support me in my teaching, my driving to work, my studies and my life. We had for a while a little girl in class who was very defiant and violent at times. She kicked every teacher at one time or another. When I would get frustrated and not know what to do next, I would tell the other teachers I had to go to the bathroom. I would sit in there and pray, “God calm my spirit” and “calm B’s spirit” and then I would be ready to go back to the classroom and proceed with the day.
I work with a great team of teachers: my co-teacher is a great supporter. He listens, he talks, and he will advise when needed. He is a friend and a good example for the children. He has a dry sense of humor which I enjoy. We make a good team. He is young but very mature for his age. He treats me as an equal even though there is forty years difference in our ages. Both he and my son are supportive of my finishing my Master’s Degree. There are times I have gotten discouraged and wonder if I made the right decision to pursue this journey, both of them say, ”Of course, keep going.”
I cannot even imagine what my life would be like if I did not have Jesus as my best friend and sustainer. I have been asked if I was ready to go back overseas to work. I always say, “If God calls, I will answer, but He is not calling me”. With the health issues I have a long-term mission assignment would not be advisable. But I have said I would go on short-term trips and be ready to serve. To go to the mission field again would mean raising funds, hours and hours of speaking before crowds of people pointing out the importance of the mission. It would mean closing my house again and preparing my sister or my friends to care for my stateside expenses while I was gone. This is a huge task, I do not think I am ready for this again. I do not mean to preach but that is where my life is and where my support comes from.
Barbara,
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me so much of myself. My family and church are very important factors in supporting me in my daily life. I think we all have to have someone to depend on and I think God put those people for various reasons.
I believe within my heart that you are a good person and have done so much for others. I know that the people who lives you have touched would not be where they are had it not been for your love for God and doing God' will. You have made a tremendous impact in their lives as well.
I really enjoyed reading your post. The privilege to have a relationship with Our Father really makes all the different. I feel that you are doing the mission or works that God has designed for you to do. We all go through stress ors but, we can't allow them to steal or take from us the joy within. We are and can be equipped to handle them head on. Your post has really touched me because I find myself doing the exact same things. I even takes walks down the hall way just praying quietly. Prayer equip us and changes everything. We must keep praying till something happens. :)
ReplyDeleteNice post Barbara. As I was waiting for your page to load I was curious as to where your children would fit in. The opportunity to move closer to family is exciting and scary at the same time. As you do with everything else, pray about it and then be quiet enough to hear the answer. Stressing over it will do nothing but get you tied up into knots....He will take of the rest. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteDear Barbara
ReplyDeleteYou do not have to apologize to me. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is my support of all supports. He is always there when I need Him. I too experienced being divorced by my ex-husband years and years ago. I suddenly found myself being a single mother with two daughters that were very heart broken. I started working as a preschool teacher for the YMCA. One night when I got hoe from work, I was so exhausted. I told the Lord that I loved Him and I didn't want to leave Him out of my day. I politely asked Him to speak to me quickly because I was so tired. So when I opened my bible, my eyes landed on "Have you not read, have you not heard? The God of Israel never sleeps and He never gets tired. He gives strength to the faint." Wow! That is why I say God is my support of all supports!
Hi Barbara and I enjoyed learning about how God plays an important role in your daily life and continues to support you through lifes trials and tribulations. Not being especially religious myself, it is difficult to relate, but I do have faith in myself, my ability to overcome life's challenges and know that my gut will see me through. I congratulate you for having such strong faith and nuturing support network!
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
ReplyDeleteYour relationship with God is obviously very dear to your heart and a huge support for you. While I am not particularly religious, I have a strong spiritual "instinct" that I call on in similar ways that you do with Jesus. Your relationship with God has also opened up many doors for you to be able to experience additional relationships that likely would never have happened. I was happy to read also about the support that your son and his wife provide to you. Thank you for sharing.
~Shawn