What if kids make fun of me?

This is a question we have heard so many times from our oldest son. He is in the 5th grade and with his weight and height, he towers above all the other kids. He has been made fun of all of his life, and while we have been mindful of his food intake  since  he was in kindergarten and always made sure he led an active lifestyle, we have come to realize that he will never be "regular sized."

When he came home and mentioned to us that he wanted to play football, we were supportive. I suppressed the idea that there would be that kid who would make fun of my sons' athletic ability because of his size and told him that if he really wanted to, we could go check it out.

My son. His face shined when he ran through the preliminary obstacle course and kept up with the other kid he was racing against. He was so proud of himself and I began to get excited about his future in football.

I walked onto those bleachers as the mom of a 5th grader:

 I walked off as a proud mom to a football player. 

My footballer went to hang out with a friend later that day and it was during that time that I received a call from his coach concerning practice and game times. During this conversation, coach told me that he saw my son come onto the field and immediately told the other coaches that "this kid is mine." His enthusiasm for recruiting his future defensive linebacker was evident in the tone of his voice and my mama pride swelled with each sentence that he spoke. 

Later after I picked up my son from his buddies' house, I was about to break out the good news about his new team when he started to say something. He hesitated, but then managed to utter the words, "Mom, do I need to climb on a treadmill?" It appeared we had encountered that kid. I sidestepped the crying fest that I have dealt with before by only asking minimal questions so as not to give it much emphasis, and told him about the conversation I had with his coach. 

"Coach saw you on the field. He told the other recruiters that he wanted you, and he got you. He said you would be a big part of the team."

His concern about fitting in and not being made fun of because of his size were escorted away because of his newfound acceptance by his coach. As parents, all we want is for him to know that he is an incredible kid with a huge heart and more smarts than we ever had. But for a total stranger to seek him out and say "Come be on my team. We need you," well, it was a game changer, no pun intended.

At the beginning of the school year, I told our son how proud I was of him. No matter what. I also told him to always look for the kid who needs a friend, and found them he has; but on this particular day, it was someone else who found him and I thank God for that. 

As I sit back and think about the days' activities, I can't help but think about how we would all function if we put on that daily armor that lets us know that we are accepted. Today, my sons' confidence rose because he found acceptance in a place where the unknown was scary.

 His fear was replaced with confidence. 

His worry was replaced with certainty. 

His worth was confirmed through the words of an eager coach. 

The Bible tells us in John to "Take heart, for I have overcome the world!"(16:33) Yes, we will have concerns. Yes, we will have insecure moments. Yes, we will be let down. But no, we will not be shaken because our foundation is not built on us, it is built on the belief in Christ. He has sought us out, He has chosen us, and He has said "You belong with me." 

Maybe you are the encourager, like coach: Keep encouraging, because you never know how God is using you to reach someone in a dark place. Maybe you are the insecure 5th grader, seeking acceptance in a world that has dealt you some pretty hard blows: know that you have been handpicked by God to be brave and bold and embrace your acceptance even when it is hard. 

Father God,

I pray for the one who is reading this and wondering if the kind words they said to someone in passing, and if those words matter; let them know that they do. I pray for the one that is seeking you out and trying to find their identity in you and role in your kingdom: place in their heart the knowledge of acceptance you have for them, and the pride you take in them. I pray for the mom's, dad's, grandparents, teachers, ministry workers, coaches,and anyone else that I missed; give us the discernment to know when to speak, when to listen, and how to pray.  

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

I want[ed] bad karma.

First let me say that I don't believe in karma.  I have seen too many good people dealt bad hands for which they didn't deserve. 

Case in point: I had a car accident in 2014 while still wearing a volunteer shirt after cleaning up a plot of land that had been ravaged by tornadoes. If karma existed, my karmic outlook for that day would have won me a guest pass to the pearly gates. Based on that analysis and others I have witnessed, I would feel like a hypocrite if I claimed to believe it. Plus, I am not God, so there's that.

But IF I did believe in it, I would have wanted it during one point in my life and here's why: During the span of these 36 years, I have hit rock bottom. Not necessarily because of something I did, because there has been that, but because life's circumstances decide to rain on my parade. 

At one point in my  life, I was shaken. But it was during this time that I felt the strongest connection to God than ever before. My fear was replaced with calm, my anger was turned to sympathy, and my cries of desperation to be saved from a bad situation did not fall on ears that had turned away, but instead on the heart of  God where the rescue by the Most Almighty Prince came quick. 

Not on a white horse, but instead a Lamb. My world was shaken but my foundation was strong, and I was saved. 

But why me? Why you? 

Not long after my encounter with God, my desperation weakened and I rejoiced in the fact that I had been carried out to the other side where things were solid again. My heart was full of praise and filled with a new song. But later I longed to be back. I longed to feel my Father hold me closely and whisper in my ear again. I wanted to be desperate again.

Beloved, I cannot tell you why bad things happen. I can't tell you why your child went to heaven before you did. I can't tell you why you were given that diagnosis. I can't tell you why your family fell apart. Or why you can't seem to see beyond the everyday blinders that keep you restrained with anxiety and worry. 

But what I can tell you is that God will carry you like he carried me.  There will come a time when you will be able to see it, though it might be hard now. 

And take it from me: you can always be desperate for God. You don't have to have a cataclysmic shift in your life like I did to feel the presence of the One who is always with you. Being desperate for Him can come at any time. I know that there is always a possibility that something could stir things up, but my desperation for an encounter will not change as soon as my roller coaster flies downward at a speed of one-hundred miles per hour. 

I don't believe that God allows bad things to happen to us, but I do think He is capable of making them beautiful. 

Dear God, 

I have friends that are hurting. They are scared. They are in a place where I once was. Now is your time, Lord. I pray protection for them. I pray that even as they read this, they would know that You know their name, You know their situation, and You have everything in the palm of Your hand. Let them truly feel you hugging up next to them and whispering in their ear, "Everything is going to be okay. Trust me. I've got it handled." Let them encounter you, Father. 

And God, thank You. For the trials and the heartaches; for the blessings and assurances; for peace and love. And for responding in our moments of desperation.

Amen.