This Too Shall Pass

Sapped strength. Hateful attitudes. Weary souls. People who get paid to aggravate you every week. Bad news. Wicked spirits. Health setbacks. Petty insults. Unexpected losses. Political clowns. Wrongful employment terminations. Hate crimes. Justice not being properly served. Financial strains and setbacks. The death of loved ones and so much more, are all different things that may be contributing to storms and stress and pressures in your own life and/or in the lives of different people you know.

We’re all going through something.

I’ve personally experienced seasons where things were falling apart to the point where I’d cry out, God, why am I going through this? I don’t deserve this. Things should be better than this…

Stormy seasons can be stressful, isolating, and massively painful.

And trying to function as you normally would as if things were moving along just fine can be challenging when storms slide through. During stormy seasons, I sometimes think about David, the Psalms he wrote, and the moments he cried out to God during challenging and discouraging times.

Psalm 39:12 reads, “Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping.”

I don’t believe it’s God’s will for any of us to be miserable. Or in perpetual states of stress, fear, or pressure.

I believe He wants us to have peace and to live abundant lives filled with purpose and joy. And while it’s naive to expect perfection or a life without challenges or pain or loss, I know He wants the best for us and is with us through life’s storms. As difficult as things might seem sometimes, know that you are not alone. And if you’re reading this and in the midst of a storm of any kind, I hope you will be encouraged. I hope you know this too shall pass. Where you’re at and what you’re going through is not the end for you. There is a new beginning that awaits you and this is a vital time to draw near to God, listen to what He instructs you to do, and then move accordingly.

A Year Of Being Ghosted

Ghosting: the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. I’ve been ghosted by every guy I’ve met within the past two years. About six to be exact. · The first guy pursued me and then got shady whenever I asked him about what he did for a living and where he lived. When he started dodging and avoiding questions, wouldn’t initiate dates, and slowly stopped keeping in touch with me altogether, eventually, all communication ceased. · The second guy was someone I met through a family member. He was super cool, very smart, handsome, and funny, but didn’t want to be in a relationship and acted like he didn’t want to be seen with me publicly. When we had plans to meet for an outing, he didn’t show up, and then texted me about a week later with an apology. We chilled at my place a few times, had a few phone conversations, and exchanged occasional texts, but eventually he stopped responding to me

Teacher Table Talk: When Parents Attack

As an English teacher, a core belief I’ve held close since the beginning of my career has been the importance of relationship building. I believe that if great relationships between teachers, students, and parents are established at the beginning of the school year, everything else will fall into place. Authentically modeling, practicing, and establishing mutually respectful and professional relationships within my classroom has been the bridge for effective communication, solid classroom management, and creating a safe and effective learning environment that fits each of my student’s needs. And though I’ve seen and experienced the benefits of great relationship building, unfortunately, there have been times when some students and parents have not been receptive or interested in my efforts to establish connections that would best serve all parties involved. I’ve also noticed and shared spaces with other educators, school counselors, and administrators who’ve experienced the same. And

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken things too far

Making Waves