“’My grace is sufficient for you, for My
power is made perfect in weakness.’” ~2 Corinthians 12:9
I am sitting on my bed feeling achy and
snot-filled. I was reminded of this 2 Corinthians verse earlier this morning.
My mind often says, “Go, go, GO! Do it! You can do it! Keep going!” This
weekend, my body’s natural responses are overpowering my mind’s ability to connive
me into doing lots of stuff and accomplishing many things.
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| The beach w/Brit. |
So, here I rest. This is what I read this
morning in Jesus Calling: “Thank Me
[God] for the conditions that are requiring you to be still. Do not spoil these quiet hours by wishing them away,
waiting impatiently to be active again. Some of the greatest works in My
kingdom have been done from sick beds and prison cells.
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| Brit & I visited Heartline (a pre and post-natal care center for women), with Miquette & Max (pictured) & Irene & baby Grace. |
“Instead of resenting the limitations of a
weakened body, search for My way in the midst of these very circumstances.
Limitations can be liberating when your strongest desire is living close to Me.”
So I say, thank you, Lord, for a cause to
recall how inadequate my bones and flesh are to carry me through life in a solo
dance. I was never meant to dance alone. A dance is meant for two, and here I
am, stepping out to join You, “Lord of the dance.” I require support, rest,
strength—I am not capable of working it up out of my own doing. Thank God!
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| A night out with Ruth & Jen (fellow literary heads/co-workers/friends) |
The past month has been filled with
adventures. I am exploring my home more than last semester and discovering all
kinds of new treasures. I bought my first couple of pieces of Haitian art;
bartered (well, someone bartered for me) for a silk dress in an underground
used clothing market; and drove to the beach with my good friend, Brit, who
came to visit for an entire week. Woot woot!
School-Side:
My 9th graders and I just began
exploring colonization in Africa as we dove into Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe last week. He was a pioneer of
African literature—desiring native people to write and express their cultures
instead of having foreigners become the sole authors and representatives.
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| Cafe Rebo with Brit! |
My 10th graders led a successful
Socratic Seminar last week as they discussed the development of our book, Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. They also turned
in their final drafts of a biographical paper based on someone they know who’s
experienced a crisis (on a personal or large-scale level).
The English Enrichment Class got to
experience Brit’s spoken word poetry while she was here. She performed a spoken
word that she’d written, and many of the students were blown away. The emotion
and heart that comes with an art form like spoken word is powerful and moving.
Several students commented later on how inspired they felt.
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| Dear friends: Linda & Brit. We adventured & hung out. :) |
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| My table at the V-Day dinner. Fellow co-workers. |
The seniors at the school hosted a
Valentine’s Day dinner for the teachers last night. It was a beautiful event
and high enough up in the mountains that I was actually shivering. J
In other news…I have the visit of my mom
and brother Matt to look forward to at the beginning of March! They’ll be here
for an entire week!
I am thankful that I don’t need to
self-sustain. Although I sometimes feel like I’m pretty strong and motivated, I
am unable to do anything on my own.
Lord, remind me of that day by day:
“Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has
nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever.” ~Psalm 73:25-26
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| Bonus Photo: Brit & I out celebrating my birthday before she left. :) |
Dear Precious Daughter, thank you for sharing the grace that has been poured over you during this time of physical and emotional weariness that has led you to our Saviour's arms. Through suffering we can experience grace and in grace celebrate joy, HIS joy. Thank you for the pictures that open the window of my heart and transport me to another place, your place, filled with wonders I have never experienced and breezes that refresh my spirit as if I were right there in your midst. Thank you also for taking the time, each month to share in word and pictures, a snapshot of all that the Lord is sharing with you, in this new home. Wish I could be with Matt and Mom when they come to see you. But I know I will be, in a very real sense, as your Mother and I are one, so as she is with you and sees all the wonders I wlll as well. Love you beyond measure my precious daughter. Xoxo with lots of hugs, dad
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