If I Start to Hyperventilate, Please Pass Me a Paper Bag!

Breathe! Breathe!

Lately I must consistently remind myself to take deep breaths and not be beleaguered by the considerable task before me.

Just breathe!

I have warned Mike that if I begin to hyperventilate, there is a logical reason for it.

I have never hyperventilated in my life, despite some stressful times. I remember during my earliest days as a mom, I would suddenly awake from sleep almost overwhelmed with the fact that I was now responsible for the upbringing of a child.

Later, as leader of a local Mother of Preschoolers (MOPS) group, the strain of a heavy workload and the dependency upon others to work well together and fulfill commitments threatened to steal my sanity.

Although I have never needed to breathe into a brown paper bag, I now wonder if I should have purchased a pack of these lunch sacs on a recent run to Target, just in case. Maybe if I am found hyperventilating, someone will have one at hand and be kind enough to pass it my way.

Why do I feel such pressure now? Life is easy in so many ways. I have an amazingly wonderful husband and three healthy, happy sons. We are not experiencing terrible trials, and in fact, have fun together and appreciate one another.

Yet as I prepare for a new school year to begin this Monday, the intense magnitude of my job as a homeschool mom weighs heavily on my mind.

Brandon will be taking high school courses, which necessitate not only using specific texts and materials, but also keeping meticulous records and precise grades. Countless hours have been spent evaluating curriculum options, researching requirements, and making lesson plans.

And when I think I understand it all, another twist materializes.

Breathe! Just breathe!

After commanding myself to take in air, I quickly follow with a plea to the Lord for His help.

God is my air! (I have never yet hyperventilated!)

He comforts, reminds, sustains, and provides. He has called me to this task and will accomplish it through me, even as I face numerous unknowns and inevitable mistakes.

Already, he has made up for my shortcomings. He has provided me with a loving and supportive husband who assures me that the task can be successfully accomplished. My brother-in-law, a high school principal, has listened to my tentative plans and shared his knowledge and experiences.

Godly ladies who have traveled this path before with similar goals for their own college-bound children have steered me in much-needed directions by passing along valuable advice and encouragement.

Even as I struggle at times to breathe, convinced that I will fail, God is faithful. I am not without error or mistake, but God is, and He will perfect His work in me. My moments of panic are followed by inexplicable peace. Yes, I can do this… with the Lord.

When I rely upon God and trust His ability to accomplish the task He has given me despite my fears and inadequacies, tranquility and confidence fill my soul. The road ahead remains daunting, yet doable when led by a God who loves me.

If you see me start to hyperventilate, please pass me a paper bag! But also remind me of God’s promises and provisions. He’s all I really need!

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:32

To Brandon: On Becoming a Teenager

Happy 13th Birthday, Brandon! Welcome to the teen years!

Expectations for teenagers can be somewhat confusing. Many books are written about the years spanning ages 13-19. This stage of life is said to be wrought with hormones, mood swings, disrespect, and defiance. Multiple resources offer counsel for these years, yet hold your peers in low regard, deeming them incapable of surviving this time with their dignity intact and their faith strong.

Yet the concept of a teenager and even the word itself dates back only about one hundred years to the early twentieth century. Prior to that time, a child took on adult duties by the age of 13 or 14. With the birth of child labor laws and mandated high school education, the years prior to adulthood were extended.

If throughout most of history these years indicated responsibility and maturity, why would they now be considered by society as dreadful? Perhaps low expectations explain the reason for this relatively new viewpoint.

Even though the Bible does not speak specifically about teenagers, it does offer guidance and direction for those in their teen years. In fact, the book of Proverbs is written by a father speaking to his son as he approaches independence, which in those days often came around the age you are now turning.

Because the Bible is applicable for all people, regardless of age, we will always direct you to God’s Word first for any stage of life you are in or any problems or decisions you may be facing.

Society’s low expectations often represent teenagers as moody, withdrawn, manipulative, and unmanageable. None of these traits are approved by the Lord in His Word. When it comes to following Him, God offers no exceptions for teenagers.

As a Christian, you must seek much greater potential for your teen years than our culture’s dismal perspective offers. You must seek to fulfill God’s purpose for your life, a purpose that includes loving and following Him.

Over the course of the next few years, we expect to see growth – not regression - in many of areas of your life. In the past months, we have seen considerable maturity.

We are proud not only of your commitment as a leader in the Awana program at church, but also of your genuine fondness and compassion for the young children you lead. Your assistance after the devastating tornadoes this spring, as well as the eagerness and enthusiasm with which you worked, pleased and impressed us. The increased responsibilities you have taken on at home have been invaluable to our family.

While these years may be challenging as you sort through various relationships, see an increase in the amount and difficulty of your school work, and face important decisions that may affect your life many years down the road, we know you will tackle each task with great effort and enthusiasm, working diligently and successfully as you allow the Lord to lead you.

Keep your focus on God and continue to develop your relationship with Him by spending time in His Word and in prayer. Pay attention to all He is doing in your life, and never forget the great sacrifice of His Son Jesus that was made for you.

God has great plans for your life, Brandon. We refuse to lower our expectations by accepting society’s standards rather than God’s standards for these teenage years. Stand firm in your faith and follow Him every day of your life.

We love you!
Mom and Dad

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.” Proverbs 4:23-26

Finding Purpose

The Bible is filled with a wealth of valuable wisdom, pertinent instruction, and evidence of everlasting love. This message from God to His creation could be no less. Narrowing down my favorite books, chapters, and verses is next to impossible. However, I find myself constantly drawn to and inspired by Deuteronomy’s earlier chapters.

After quite a dramatic life, Moses’ last days are quickly approaching. The passion and urgency with which he speaks gives evidence to the fact he knows his end is drawing near. His message to a rebelliously inclined people is crucial as they prepare to enter the Promised Land without their steadfast, dependable leader.

Moses’ rousing, God-inspired sermon reminds me of my purpose in life and motivates me to action. The climax, found in chapter six, is the command to love God with all my heart, soul, and strength. Fulfilling this task makes all others possible. If I love the Lord – with my words, my thoughts, and my actions – any other assignment from God should be quite simple, merely an outward display of my great love for my Him.

I am instructed to obey God, not only because it glorifies Him, but also for my own good. His rules are not merely a test of obedience, but are always for my benefit.

However, I am a wretched sinner saved only by the grace of God, and my words, thoughts, and actions are too often motivated by selfishness and pride.

Yet in this Old Testament book, God through Moses reminds hearers of His mercy even before He has sent His Son as the sacrifice for sin. God is just, but also forgiving to a disobedient, defiant people who will turn from their iniquitous ways and seek Him. Even hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, God is proclaiming that our righteous acts cannot save us; only He can.

How nice it is to be a recipient of God’s grace!

Out of our love for God and because of his great mercy towards us, we are commanded to remember Him and all He has done for us. Furthermore, God charges parents and grandparents with the task of teaching the next generation about Him. As a mom, this mandate speaks to me directly.

Deuteronomy 6 and subsequent chapters challenge me to examine how well I am doing in teaching my children about God. As I evaluate, I recognize how grateful I am for the privilege of homeschooling, which provides the ideal atmosphere for carrying out this charge.

My children are in our home for instruction in all subjects as they prepare for college life and eventually a career many years from now. No topic could be more vital than the Lord and His Word. Lessons in history, science, literature, grammar, and even math provide opportunities for teaching about God, the Creator of all of these subjects and life itself. Additionally, because my children surround me most of their waking hours, multiple opportunities – some planned, others impromptu - arise each day to teach God’s Word and His ways.

I make no claims that homeschooling is the only way to fulfill God’s command in Deuteronomy 6:7. I simply realize that for me, it is in fact the easiest way. And when the task of homeschooling that God has given to me – not to everyone –seems overwhelming, these verses encourage me to persevere because of the benefits this educational option offers.

While some trudge through Old Testament books, or avoid them altogether, Deuteronomy motivates me to persevere in the purpose God has for my life, a purpose that includes teaching my children, remembering God’s great deeds, obeying His commands, and loving Him with every ounce of my being.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” Deuteronomy 6:5-6

Thanks, Dad!

Summer is a season of celebrations, including three very special ones for my dad: Father’s Day, a wedding anniversary, and a birthday. With the latter just hours away, today seems like a fitting time to share a few thoughts from days past and present about how special Dad is to our family.

Calm and patient, my dad has rarely ever raised his voice, even with his somewhat feisty and temperamental young daughter. His discipline was always firm, yet loving, and therefore, quite effective. Now, as a parent, I respect his incredible ability to exert self-control in those years of raising children, appreciating it in a way I never could have as a child.

As the faithful provider for our family, Dad worked diligently. Yet he recognized the need to balance his job with his family. He took time for picnics in the park during his lunch hour, a Saturday trip to an amusement park, and vacations at the beach or in the mountains. Occasionally, we were even privileged to tag along on a business trip.

Dad also coached my church basketball team, not halfheartedly in order to fulfill some obligation, but with enthusiasm and a desire to see his daughter and her teammates learn and improve with a Christ-like attitude.

The year before I entered high school, my dad had a difficult decision to make. He was transferred to a location an hour away from the only home his children had ever known. The daily commute was inconvenient and tiresome. Despite the tears and pleas from my brother and me, the choice was made to move closer to his new workplace.

I understand now, as a parent, how hard that decision was for my dad. Even when making a wise and reasonable choice, it hurts to see your children distressed and unhappy. Yet he kept our family together and himself closer to us by cutting out the two hour daily commute. Furthermore, we attended a top-notch high school that prepared us well for college. We learned new skills, made close friends, and gained valuable experiences because of the move.

Dad made sure any need we had was met, if not exceeded. He provided my brother and me with our first cars, treasures not to be taken for granted. He paid for our entire pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, enabling us to leave home without the burden of college loans.

And when Mike approached my dad to ask not for my hand in marriage (he did that a year earlier), but to move our wedding date up a year before my college graduation, Dad relented, even agreeing to continue paying my tuition in exchange for Mike taking care of “room and board”!

Dad took on a new title when Brandon was born: Granddaddy!

He absolutely loves my boys and has made special connections with each of them. His love is not unrequited. My sons eagerly anticipate time with their granddaddy and enjoy trips with him to the movies, bowling, coin stores, and any place that serves ice cream or donuts.

A loyal graduate of the University of South Carolina, Dad passed his devotion to the Gamecocks down to his children and most of his grandchildren. When South Carolina has a big win, I immediately grab the phone to call or text my dad.

With many miles separating us, it would be easy to disconnect from one another. Yet Dad takes the initiative to ask about all we are involved in, especially school and sports. He listens intently while also participating in the conversation.

Over the course of my life, I have not failed to see my dad actively involved in church. I have witnessed him faithfully reading God’s Word and have no doubt that even in his retirement days he is continuing to seek the Lord and know Him better. This aspect of his life, more than any others, is the most treasured!

“The righteous man walks in integrity; His children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7