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A Letter to About-to-be-42-Me

May 1, 2019 by Bethany McMillon

Dear Actual-About-to-be-42-Me,

You’ve been through some stuff and you’ve got some big things to share. You’re an adult-adult now. You’ve been able to drive way longer than you lived before you could drive. You’ve been able to vote longer than you couldn’t. You’ve even been able to enjoy an adult beverage for 21 years. That means your ability to consume alcohol can now consume alcohol. That frontal lobe that was fully formed when you were 25 can drive a car and is preparing for its senior year in high school. Listen, you are such an adult that the milestones to make you an adult are almost all adults! HA!

Do you remember way back in your early twenties striving to grow as a professional? One evening as you sat in a room of professional women, you looked around and saw smiling, competent, put-together adults. You thought, “These women are REAL grown-ups. They have kids and houses and professional experience. They have it TOGETHER. They wear heels and cardigans and know how to walk into a room gracefully. Listen to them. Learn from them.” Well, friend, here you are. You are now a “them!” (Not that you have it completely together, because newsflash: they didn’t either.) You learned from them and so many others!

Even though you’re a beginner at some things now – like sharing your writing and parenting a tween – you’re bringing all of these other experiences, learning, love, loss, successes and failures to this table. It is the time in life when you and your friends have encouragement and support to give. Give it lavishly!

Do you remember Sophie Hudson’s book, Giddy Up, Eunice? How in Chapter 6 she spoke so directly about building relationships across generations? She offered five (hilariously written) ways to build relationships: 1. Shared Interests 2. Genuine Friendship (when you feel the “click” with someone) 3. Regular, low-pressure contact (make plans!) 4. Fun and laughter 5. Extravagant Grace (“God’s grace is lavish and we get to share it with each other”). And then, just a few pages later she reminds you that you don’t have to have a degree to minister to each other! “We can sit around and wait to finally feel ‘ready’ or ‘qualified’ to be that older, wiser voice in a young woman’s life, or we can open the Bible and open our hearts and SHOW UP FOR SOMEBODY.” Since you are now a “them” it’s imperative that YOU make the first move to reach out. Do the inviting!

Self, there is something that I’ve watched you do for years, you’ve collected Scripture in your heart and mind (and in notebooks!). The Words have kept your heart from pounding out of your chest and calmed your fears. They have been words of praise and thanksgiving and reminded you of God’s love and His love for others. My friend, I’ve compiled some here. The ones I’ve heard you repeat countless times. Share them with others in the hopes the Word will calm their hearts as it has yours.

When your heart is anxious and trouble looms…

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:18-19

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent and praiseworthy – think about such things.
Philippians 4:6-8

When you are tired and don’t know where to turn…

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

But the Lord said to her, ‘Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all the details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about – and I won’t take it away from her!’
Luke 10:41-42

When you don’t know exactly who you are or where you fit…

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ, even when we were dead in our transgressions – it is by grace we are saved… (10) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:4-5, 10

… And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.
Micah 6:8

And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:22

When you’ve stumbled and are being helped to your feet…

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19

When you need to look outward instead of being in your own head…

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…
Hebrews 10:24

But you, [woman] of God, flee from this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith.
1 Timothy 6:11

…Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now… holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… be thankful… And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:1-2, 7-17

When you celebrate our Hope, our Help, our Salvation…

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Even though… and though… even if… yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation. The Lord God is my strength…
Habakkuk 3:17-19

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2

It is with love I embrace the learning and growth of your past. It is with hope and faith I look toward your future. You’ve got some good stuff going on and some good thoughts swirling around in your mind. Don’t talk yourself out of saying them aloud. Happy birthday and keep the faith! – Love, Your Heart

*******

Sweet Friends, Almost all of you are adult-adults like me. I want to challenge you to open yourselves up to building some new relationships. Choose people over your to do lists or your timelines or your stress. It will be good for them – and good for you, too! Do the inviting, give encouragement lavishly, share your heart!

For my Wednesday email friends, I sent you a little gift in your email. All the verses above – and 20 more that have spoken to my heart – in a printable .pdf for you. I love to make and have little cards like this. I stick them all over – in my Bible to mark the spot, taped on my car console, inside my toothbrush drawer… Enjoy, my friends!

If you aren’t already a Wednesday email friend and would like this printable, subscribe in the form on this page, confirm your subscription in your email, and the printable will magically appear in your inbox. 🙂

Hugs and love – Bethany

8 Big Opinions on Little Things That No One Asked

April 24, 2019 by Bethany McMillon

Dear friends – I come to you today with a little something different than the last few weeks. Let’s call these “8 opinions” a window into the meditations of my mind… a touch of thought, a touch of fun and lots of love. Enjoy!

1: Dishes should only be done once a day. Pile those dirty dishes all day and then at the end of the day go through the dish washing cycle while you ponder the day (and maybe clean off its mental dirt!) Fill the sink with super hot, soapy water, fully submerge each one, scrub, then let them drip dry. No judgement if sometimes it takes a while to get them back in the cabinet. (If you follow me on Instagram, you know that putting things away is a problem in my life – see this post regarding laundry.)

2: I adore these gray jellypop shoes. They slip on, are crazy comfortable, light as a feather, and inexpensive. I bought them 100% on a whim. I might buy 42 other colors. https://amzn.to/2Jxuwyb

3: I loathe the shopping carts at Lowe’s. Why do they have this extra cart part right under the handle?! I hit my shins on it every. Single. Time. I shop there and have need for a cart. No Bueno!

4: There is nothing better than opening a box of sharpened pencils. It’s like the world is offering you a gift to pick up and get writing. No need to stop at the pencil sharpener.

5: Coffee is best when you drink it from a mug. To be able to hold it in both hands and feel the steam as you take a drink – that is a beautiful, slow moment worth savoring. (PS – This opinion does not hinder my love of coffee from a paper cup!)

6: Paper books feel so much better in my hands than an electronic book. Turning the actual page. The smell of a new book. Plus, they are lendable, and write-inside-able. (I will concede that it can be nice to have a book on your device when traveling just to save your shoulder from a heavy bag. However, I took 3 Harry Potter books to California in my twenties and didn’t regret for one second switching them out of my rolling suitcase when I finished each one (I might feel differently if they had all been in a carry-on)!

7: I am not a fan of lip gloss. I prefer a matte lipstick. On Saturday and Sunday I tried to be fancy and wore a lip gloss. As I walked across the church parking lot in the wind and felt the grit on my lips, I was reminded of my preference. If you have lip gloss tips I’ll take them. How do you make your lips not feel sticky? How do you walk outside and not feel like you have a dirt smile? (I’ll welcome tips in PM or comment below!)

8: I’m about to rock some worlds here… but, I prefer sandals that are not flip flops! I really like sandals that don’t go between my toes! It was not an easy choice to go toe separator free. I had a weird toe hurting thing a couple of summers ago and self-diagnosed that flip flops were to blame. So, sandals with nothing between the toes it is! (Also, feel free to leave links in the comments to cute sandals that follow this criteria.)

So, why am I offering you these 8 opinions today? Well, if you’re following me on Instagram, you know I’m working through a Photo Challenge/Book Club through the month of April. On April 13^th I wrote about practicing a “pause” before answering a question (click here if you’d like to read it again). Not necessarily because I might say something I regret, but more because my natural inclination is to answer something like: “whatever” or “I’m good with whatever you want to do.” Opinions are kind of like decision making or answering a question. I often fall right in the middle of whatever issue is being discussed. I can see each side! This “in the middle-ness” applies to everything – current event hot topics to Mexican food or pizza for dinner! After some self-reflection, I decided it was time to voice my opinion occasionally, though, so there are the first 8. 😊

But, you know, the world spends lots of time these days discussing opinions – many times angry ones, sometimes hurtful ones and often ad nauseum. Television offers us twenty-four-hour coverage of opinions and even people’s opinions on other people’s opinions! Snap judgements are blasted loud when someone doesn’t know – or want to know – the whole story. Angry, red-faced, stick-to-the-talking-points arguments show no love and mercy.

As I reflected, thinking my hesitations through all the way to the end, I understood that’s why I have such a hard time saying what I think. I want people to see the things we have in common, to grow relationships, to offer helpful and loving pieces of themselves. Opinions can be fun to discuss when they are trivial and silly like the ones I offered you today. Opinions can be sources of growth when well-thought out, offered in love and when the listener is open. They can also be deeply personal and meaningful based on past experience, or they can be parroted because that’s what someone has heard or been taught.

Please, hear me say, hold on to thoughtful opinions, examine them. Then, pick up another person’s opinion, examine it thoughtfully. Perhaps, the commonality is greater than the difference. If it is, celebrate it. If it’s not, choose a posture of love and compassion anyway. (You may hate having dishes in your sink and believe that each should be washed immediately, or hate jellypop shoes, or be a die-hard fan of lip gloss and that’s ok. We can disagree without hatred – on trivial opinions or big ones.) Today, I challenge you to ask someone’s opinion, then listen. Instead of offering your opinion first, ask someone else first. Then allow them to pause. Please leave space for their answer and keep these Words in mind as you do. And it’s ok if you need to start with asking how they feel about the shopping carts at Lowe’s:

“Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
James 1:19

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14

Speaking of opinions…

My friends, do you have a favorable opinion on my blog and website? I am just a few days from my 42^nd birthday and have set a goal to grow my email subscriber list by 42 people! Will you subscribe today? My promise to you: a weekly email (usually Wednesday morning) that has the link to encouragement that I’ve written and curated especially for you. (PS: Once you’ve subscribed, don’t forget to confirm from your email.) After that’s all done, think of someone else who may need a weekly note of encouragement and share this website with them. Thank you in advance!

(And also, I’m completely serious about the lip gloss and sandals comments!)

Hugs and blessings, Bethany

How much more?

April 16, 2019 by Bethany McMillon

I lost something precious. Actually, let me rephrase. I LEARNED this week that I lost something precious. My baby sister got married a few weeks ago. As part of the celebration, I loaned her my pearl earrings for her “something borrowed.” Jerry, my husband, gave them to me the night before our wedding and I knew it would be an extra special touch for both my sister and I to have worn them in our weddings. The morning after the wedding, there was much shuffle and packing up and repacking. Lauren, the Bride, brought them to the rental house that morning and thought she gave them to me. I don’t remember having them when we left. My Mom had several other things I’d brought for use in the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception, so I wrongly assumed the earrings were with those things, and she would bring them to me this weekend. When the earrings weren’t there, I searched everywhere that I knew to search. Every bag. Every pocket. Every lining. Every. Single. Place. I cried and sobbed and panicked as I looked. Surely, they would appear. To make it worse, it has been weeks since they’ve been gone. At the time of this writing, I am mourning that they still have not been found. I know they are a material possession, but they were special. My heart is broken to have lost this tangible piece of memories. And we are continuing to search.

I haven’t slept well since I learned they were gone. My subconscious worries about lost earrings through the middle of the night. In the pre-dawn hours this week, I began to remember two parables Jesus told. In Luke 15, we first read Jesus’ story of a shepherd with 100 sheep. He loses one, leaves the 99 to search for the one. When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and then calls friends together to rejoice with him. In the verses immediately following, we read of a woman with ten coins and she loses one. She looks all over, finds it and then calls her friends to celebrate with her. As I lay there thinking about those stories, I thought of a third verse. In Matthew 7, Jesus compares us as parents to God and says,

“How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Though the final verse is in a different context, I think we could apply it to the story of both the lost sheep and the lost coin. The words could say, “If a shepherd searched for one sheep, how much more will God search for us?” Or “If the woman will look for one coin, how much more will God search for us?”

The answer to the “How much more?” question is answered clearly in John 3. He “loved us so much he sent his only son so whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life… not to condemn the world, but that the world may be saved through him.” How much more does the Father love us? The answer is clear in Holy Week. He loves us so much He didn’t call angels to protect Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. So much He stood quiet in front of Pilate. So much He endured flogging, a crown of thorns, the nails, death. Until “It is Finished.” Our debt paid.

How much more does the Father love us? He loves us so much that Death is not the end of the story. Yes, Jesus died, but y’all! He came back. For deserters. For doubters. For the scattered. For the lost sheep. For the lost coin. For us.

If the Shepherd rejoices over finding one sheep and places it joyfully on his shoulders, and the woman rejoices over finding one coin, how much more will the Father rejoice in finding one of us? How much more will He call together the heavens to rejoice in our belief?

Sadly, I may never find my lost earrings as the shepherd found his sheep or as the woman found her coin. I may not be able to celebrate the found, but I can and WILL celebrate the “how much more” love of my Savior Jesus and my Father in Heaven. I hope you’ll join me in those celebrations in this Holy Week.

Many Blessings, Bethany

Room at the Table

April 10, 2019 by Bethany McMillon

Last week I had the incredible gift of two coffee dates (in one day!) with soul-friends. Together, with both of these lovelies, I have shared laughter, tears, dreams and failures. With both, we can quickly fill in the gaps between our visits and dive head first into heart stuff. Thank you, AT for being a cheerleader, for fresh perspective and big laughs. Thank you, TM for incredible wisdom, quiet confidence and joy focus. Days later, I happily agreed to TWO MORE social meals! One with new family friends and the other with precious ladies from my church small group. Each one of these four get-togethers, we clustered around a table and talked. I’ve long held the belief that relationships are built over tables. Last week’s encounters added evidence to my growing hypothesis.

As I came home from my first coffee date, I was remembering an old poem I found a long time ago in a compilation book entitled, “A Little Book of Cherished Poems.” The poem, “There is Always a Place for You”, is by Anne Campbell and reads like this:

There is always a place for you at my table,
You need never to be invited.
I’ll share every crust as long as I’m able,
And know you will be delighted.
There is always a place for you by my fire,
And though it may burn to embers,
If warmth and good cheer are your desire
The friend of your heart remembers!
There is always a place for you by my side,
And should the years tear us apart,
I will face lonely moments more satisfied
With a place for you in my heart!

A place for you at my table. That’s how I want to live. Warmth, good cheer, a spirit of delight. Family. Friends. Laughter and support. I’m so thankful as I look back on my life so far. Each chapter of my life has been blessed with loving friendships. Sometimes, those friendships span decades. Other times they were just a season, but I can truly say I face lonely moments more satisfied with those friends in my heart.

Alicia Britt Chole, in her book 40 Days of Decrease, had me thinking in another avenue about friendship recently. On the journey to the Cross Jesus spent several evenings with friends and family – the time in Bethany with Lazarus, the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Indulge my imagination a little as we consider His times with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. They were treasured friends. The gospels mention three separate occasions in which Jesus visited their home. We don’t know the details on how they met or the beginning of their relationship. Perhaps they were childhood friends or met early on in His ministry? We do know He chided Martha lovingly for her propensity toward being a busy-body. (Luke 10) Later, He had wept upon seeing Mary and Martha’s grief at their brother’s passing. Then, instead of simply preventing Lazarus from dying, He raised Lazarus from the dead to our benefit that we may all believe! (John 11)

At his third and final recorded visit, I can imagine that He greeted them with a full, but weary, smile. (Have you ever known someone who smiled with their whole face, even their eyes lit up and twinkled? Can’t you just picture the Son of God like this?!) I envision that He looked across to his friend Mary, who had shared the story of Lazarus’ resurrection with so many (v 45), and knew she would stand at the foot of the Cross with his mom and his aunt. The full heart He must have felt at her love, devotion and friendship, as she anointed His feet with perfume (12:3). I imagine He took Mary’s face in His hands, kissed both cheeks in a final goodbye, whispered “well done, my good and faithful friend.” She didn’t know He was thanking her in advance for being at the foot of the Cross, for going quickly to the tomb in the morning after the Sabbath, for sharing the story of HIS resurrection. Perhaps, she only thought the “well done” was for dinner, for choosing His company over preparation, or for the controversial use of her perfume. He was approaching the Cross. In just days he would prod his disciples to the Garden because His “soul was troubled.” He knew The Hour was coming. He was not simply God sent to do a job. In his complete humanity, He loved his family, friends and disciples deeply; and I can imagine He cherished their love and relationship.

We don’t know where Lazarus was during the Crucifixion or after the Resurrection, but we do know that in His last days, Jesus enjoyed a meal at their table. There was room at their table for the Savior. There was room at the Savior’s table for old friends.

This season, as part of Lenten practice, so many have “given up” different things – caffeine, chocolate, social media. But today, I offer you a different kind of practice. Intentionally add in deepening friendships, add in sharing your table, add in face to face interaction. Purposefully make time to make a place for someone in your heart.

Many Blessings, Bethany

Lean In and Remember

April 3, 2019 by Bethany McMillon

Welcome to April, sweet friends. There are flowers blooming, birds chirping, the sky is a gorgeous blue (most days, unless… well, hail! And a windchill of 39! Hasn’t this been Texas weather at its best?! or worst?!). I spy tiny buds on my favorite weeping tree in the backyard and when I hop into my car after it’s been sitting a while it is warm and toasty. The sun is reaching deep into my soul and thawing my insides!

In all the warmth, though, my mind has, oddly, shifted to Christmas. To the divide and connection between our Christmas celebrations and our celebrations of the Resurrection. We cannot have one without the other. Without the empty tomb, the manger birth would be unworthy of mention – a poor, young mother, a long time ago, and a simple illegitimate son.

We masterfully focus on the Real Story of Christmas. We balance the fun and “magic” of the season – Christmas trees, Santa, stockings, musical jingles and elves – with the beauty and joy of our Savior’s arrival – a journey, a manger, a Baby and a heavenly host. The whole Holiday Season begins with costumes and candy, continues with a month of Thanksgiving and another of joy (and stress). We are filled with activity – trees to decorate, gifts to buy, sweets to bake, parties to attend. Each year, I plan ways to make the season memorable, magical even. I often stumble across a calendar or blog and try to recreate that author’s day to day kindness (or family bonding or spiritual or cooking) activities, or, I make my own calendar of holiday “To-Do”. If I’m honest, this often leads me to feeling overwhelmed and sometimes like a failure. So, through the wisdom of my husband’s guidance, I decipher what’s a priority, focus on those things and then back off a bit and try to settle in and enjoy. Well, at least I try!

Easter, by contrast, tends to sneak up on us. Even if our church places major emphasis on the Lenten calendar and offers services to focus our minds or requires fasting or sacrifice to focus our bodies, somehow our hearts and intentions can miss the spirit of Easter. Perhaps it has been this way since the beginning of the story. Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and others “in the know” experienced great buildup to His birth. Angel visits, family visits, an almost-called-off-betrothal, forty weeks of preparation. By contrast, the crucifixion – and resurrection – came quickly, unexpectedly to those that surrounded Jesus. Only a week prior, He was hailed and celebrated with the waving of palm leaves! Truly, it is easier to soak in the joy of a new baby than it is to understand the horror of the cross. A baby in a manger fills our ears with sweet, peaceful hymns and promises of peace on earth. Death on a cross breaks our hearts and leaves us as scattered as the Eleven. But… Resurrection. Resurrection redeems and forges the narrow path to relationship with the Father. We must give attention to the Real Story of Easter – decipher what’s a priority, focus on those things – but instead of backing off and enjoying, we lean in and remember.

This year, as April begins, in all its springtime glory, I challenge you to prepare yourself, perhaps even lead your family, to refocus on the Real Story of Easter.

Today, I’ll offer you 3 simple ways to lean in and remember.

First, read one of the gospels. Open the Scripture not to study verse by verse for life application, instead as the redemptive love story for which it was written. Consider Matthew or Luke as they are both full life accounts of Jesus. Read Matthew, written from the perspective of one who was there or Luke, a compilation to strengthen the faith of early believers. If you don’t think you can sit and read one of the books, listen to it being read to you as you would a podcast or an audio book. (The Youversion Bible app is free and includes audio.)

Second, find silence. Wait, don’t dismiss this one… even you, Mommas of littles… silence is there, I promise, just look. This week as I visited with a friend, I mentioned kind of a funny way I found silence even when I was teaching full time and it began when William was tiny…. William was a notoriously short napper, so would frequently fall asleep in the car on the way home. When he fell asleep in the car, I would often pull into the garage, turn off the car, and just sit in silence until he woke up. Sometimes, I would read, or grade papers (or nap!). But, many days, I would simply sit. I still do this sometimes after a busy day. Last week, twice, William did the same. Choosing to sit in the car to finish a chapter, and another day a math problem. Finding quiet before he jumped into the next moment of busyness.

Where can you find silence? In the morning, before your house arises? In the midday, choosing to turn off the TV or the radio or the ever-present socials? At bedtime, lingering just a moment after the breathing of your little gives signal of deep sleep? It doesn’t have to be long, just a moment.

When you find your moment, don’t fill it. Take a deep breath, open your palms, relax your shoulders and lift your head. Simply stay in silence. Then, thank Jesus for his long walk to the cross, for His defeat of death and strength to rise.

Third, notice. Open your eyes and your heart to the incredible gift Jesus gave us. Every step toward the cross, we were on his mind. He continues to give those gifts now. Sometimes the gifts are natural – a sunrise or sunset, the distinct beauty of the pink crepe myrtles against the blue sky. Sometimes it is the smile of a stranger or the hug or kind word of a friend. In her book, The Next Right Thing, Emily P. Freeman reminds us, “Jesus works in small surprises in the midst of the long haul – through people, through connection, through his body, the church.”

Perhaps, you will even have a moment to do all three practices at once. Quietly watch the sunrise while reading the Scripture.

Friends, I hope you lean in this season and remember. As a point of note, I intentionally kept these suggestions short and simple. My heart longs to connect you to the story, not to overwhelm with another “to do”, another way to feel you’ve failed, another straw to balance on your back. Be encouraged as you spend quiet moments alone this week.

Many Blessings – Bethany

What’s YOUR Biscuit Book? (& Book Reviews!)

March 27, 2019 by Bethany McMillon

Her brow furrows as she slowly and deliberately makes the sounds for each letter, purposely combining them to decipher the new word. The next word is one she knows by sight so it comes easily. With each sentence, she rereads, carefully checking that she understands what she’s read. My teacher heart bursts with pride! This is what we’ve been working on for months and her skills are improving with each word, each sentence, each page.

The next morning, after she has flipped through almost every book in the classroom library, she bounces up grinning from ear to ear. “I’ve been waiting for this one to be there!” and she waves it in my face. A Biscuit book (they are about a cute little dog, whose name is Biscuit for those that aren’t familiar). “Will you help me read it?” she implores. “Of course!” I answer, “I’ll read it to you during part of our reading conference.” Her brow furrows like I’ve seen her do so many times in concentration and her voice drops to a whisper, “No, I want to read it by MYSELF. I just want you to help me with the ones I don’t know.” Ah, I think. She might not be ready, but INTEREST in what you are reading is as important to growth as knowing the words. Saying she was interested didn’t fit the situation. Determined. Stead-fast. Strong. Now those fit a little more closely.

At each conference over the next week, we combed through the book together. She would reread each page she already knew, and we’d work through new pages together. The next time she bounded up waving the book in my face, her smile was even wider! She had finished it – by herself! And within weeks she’d finished every Biscuit book in my collection.

This tiny learner was in my class several years ago, but I can hardly think of Biscuit without seeing her beaming as she’d overcome this challenge. Maybe this sense of accomplishment is one of the reasons I love reading so much. Perhaps reading came easily to you at first, or maybe it didn’t. But, now, for me, it represents starting something – and finishing it. Persistence, working through challenges, and accepting guidance when it’s time to learn new things.

In my life, right now, there are so many things that are cyclical. I do them every day, every week. But a book… start it… enjoy it… finish it.

What about you? What’s your “Biscuit Book”? What challenging thing has caught your eye? Do you need to start? Or finish?

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus was referred to as Teacher and many times as we read, we see him teaching in the synagogue. John Mark tells us as Jesus was going away to rest, a great crowd ran to meet him.

“When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”
Mark 6

Allow me to take some liberty as I examine this story as a former teacher. Teachers don’t see our tiny learners as a great crowd. We see them as individuals! In classrooms, it isn’t that they all need to learn to read. It is “A. is working on long vowel sounds.” “H. is working on figuring out the words from the pictures.” “E. is working on retelling what she has just read.”

I believe, with all my heart, Jesus sees us the same way! “B. is filled with worry.” “K. struggles with insecurity.” “M. doesn’t know how she’ll pay this month’s bills.” His compassion was not for the great crowd. It was for me – and you – as individuals.

Do you need to sit at the feet of The Teacher and let Him lovingly prompt you to grasp what you might not understand? Do the hard work today. You may not finish it but imagine His joy as you step forward in faith.

***

Speaking of reading and after a few friends have asked what I’m reading, I decided to do a quarterly round-up of books I’ve completed during that time frame. I’ll do a quick recap (solemnly swearing to never give up an ending) and give a quick opinion or two. I probably won’t give “stars” or “tomatoes”, but instead will give some instructions that will range from “Get thyself to the Barnes & Noble immediately, don’t even wait on the Amazon Prime Two-Day shipping, trust me it’s worth the drive to an actual store” to “don’t even pick this up, turn your eyes away from this garbage”. I, actually, will probably very rarely ever or maybe never say that, because every book is someone’s hard spent time, effort and energy. (And plus, I’m an Enneagram 2, which includes praise and people-pleasing, so saying calling something “garbage” just hurts my heart.)

Onward! To 2019 Winter Book list…

The Girl from Everywhere, H. Heilel – (https://amzn.to/2XWWr3T) – The premise of this book is fantastically imaginative. The heroine, Nix, and her father travel through time and space on their ship with the use of any new map. I appreciated the concept of Heilel’s story and her exploration of the daughter/father relationship, but parts of the story-telling fell flat. I was confused in various parts by the actions of the characters. The ending was satisfying, but not “lay the book in your lap and close your eyes, sigh, and enjoy the beauty” kind of satisfying. If you see this book at HPB and your basket isn’t full, pick it up – especially if it’s summer and you need something to read by the pool.

How Do I Love Thee? Ladies of History Book 4, N. Moser – (https://amzn.to/32cfPsU) – Based on the story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s romance and eventual marriage to Robert Browning, this story was somewhat slow to start and a few chapters could have been cut shorter (me: alrighty… yep… we know she fears her dad… yep… we know… we got it), but I believe the writing intentionally repeated so that we could understand the depth of EBB’s despair and the expectations of ladies at that time to adhere to the wishes of their fathers. I didn’t know the story of EBB and her beloved, only that they were both poets. This book is full of heart, grief and eventually love overcoming that grief. It is inspiring and sweet, full of historical perspective and we see the characters for the humans that they are. I would absolutely read another of Moser’s books, especially within this “Ladies of History” series and often look for them when I’m browsing at HPB.

Marie Antoinette Serial Killer, K. Alender – (https://amzn.to/2JqRZ44) – Y’all this book was so fun! It’s a quick read full of teenage love, angst and mean girls. Alender uses a class trip to France to seamlessly weave a connection to the French Revolution. Readers will cheer for Collette, the heroine, to save the day and figure out what is happening with the murderous, pale faced ghost in a beautiful gown. I chose this book based on the review of my friend, Michelle I. Mason (Her book, “Your Life has been Delayed”, is to be released Winter, 2021! If you love YA, check her out at michelleimason.com) If you see this one, or your teenager brings it home, snatch it – and enjoy it!

Red, The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood and Rump, The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, both by L. Shurtliff – (https://amzn.to/329BYYR and https://amzn.to/2xyV6kY) – Teachers! If these books are not in your library, get thyself on Prime or Scholastic or Wishlist and add them immediately! They are perfect for upper elementary readers and would be the most enjoyable chapter book read-alouds. The characters are (clearly) based on fairy tale characters, but Shurtliff writes the backstory of the character or what led up to the events of the fairy tale. Both books lend themselves to comparing and contrasting, discussions on character change, and character traits. Red is lively and spunky, but threaded throughout her character is worry. Rump is grouchy and a victim of circumstance, but longs to be the hero of his own destiny. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these quick reads and will always scope out Shurtliff’s writing at HPB. (Don’t be surprised if you see Jack and Grump from this same series in my spring list!)

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, L. Murphy – (https://amzn.to/2LEtsLj) – Even remembering enough about this book to write a quick review pains me. I don’t know why I picked it up. It wasn’t on my list but caught my eye (maybe because I was loving Shurtliff’s book – see above – and this title was also fairty-tale-ish), but as lively and light-hearted as those were, this one was dark and heart-breaking. Set in Nazi Germany, Murphy interlaces the basic premise of the fairy tale into a tale of the survival of two children, renamed Hansel and Gretel to hide their Jewish heritage, who have been separated from their father and living with an old woman who took them in. There were times I had to set this book down and walk away. There are two scenes of this book that still haunt me. People hurt others in terrifying ways during this time in history and none of it is sugar-coated in Murphy’s writing. While it is not ACTUALLY the true story, it could be. I was thankful for a redeeming ending. If you like historical fiction and don’t mind being haunted by characters and events of WWII, this book is for you. If you are an empath who can’t stop seeing scenes months after the book has been sold back to HPB, and fights the villains in her dreams for weeks afterward… well, I’ll leave that up to you.

My favorite chapter: Thirteen! “Don’t Rush Clarity”

The Next Right Thing, E. Freeman – (https://amzn.to/30nE71j) – It is impossible for me to explain how much I enjoyed this book. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you may already know I had the privilege of serving on the launch team for this book. So, I received an electronic version in pre-release (and then an early hard copy!). Emily’s book came at the perfect time for me, as I was feeling overwhelmed with “What’s next?” kind of questions. She writes specifically for those who are weighed down with a difficult decision or simply suffering from decision fatigue from the litany of daily decisions. In each chapter, she offers a path to decision making in beautifully written prose, a practice and a prayer. Her words walked me to a peaceful place of settling in and seeing “all the miraculous ways Jesus works in small surprises in the midst of the long haul…” Emily’s book is still available for preorder until its official release date on April 2^nd. If you preorder, you can also receive the book in audio format and her Discern and Decide class. Preorder it today, click this link to claim your freebies. I promise you will not regret it! (NextRightThingBook.com.)

Red Queen, V. Aveyard (https://amzn.to/2LEkw8R) – I am late to the game on this one, my friends! Aveyard weaves a tale that is somewhere between Hunger Games and Victorian era politics. If you haven’t read this first book in the series, take time to get it done! I held my breath as Mare, the Red main character fell into the life of the supernatural Silver royalty. In a lightning fast moment, her world was turned upside down and she struggles to maneuver her new role and stay true to what she believes is right. Aveyard’s descriptions of the disparity between Red and Silver living conditions, her portrayal of the heart-racing face-offs and the final showdown of this book made this a quick, heart-racing, and fun read. If you haven’t read the first book in Aveyard’s series, you should!

Sermon on the Mount (9 Session Video Based Bible Study and Workbook), Jen Wilkin (https://amzn.to/2LBo8IR)– Friends, I tell you what… I have learned some THINGS in this Bible Study. As many of you know, I grew up in church, have heard countless lessons on the Sermon on the Mount and could easily have quoted various parts. But, to study it – as a whole – brought new meaning to Jesus’ words. In studying each word as it was meant in the Jewish language and tradition, I glimpsed the heart of the Teacher in a new way. Wilkin masterfully guides through thought and study. I will jump at the chance to do another of her studies, and I hope you will too! (Bonus: she encourages the use of colored pens!! My favorite!)

I hope you enjoyed the story of the strength in the tiny learner and my reviews of what I’ve been reading! Please reach out and let me know your thoughts on any of these books or if you decide to read them soon.

Many Blessings and Happy Reading, – Bethany