I need to find a better way to start these blogs, I guess the formality will come with practice. Anyways, I sat down to write this blog and I couldn’t stop thinking about this little girl at work today. She was obviously scared to leave her mom and she was uncomfortable without her but as soon as she got in the classroom I asked her if she liked reading and she told me that she did, so she went over to the bookshelf to pick out a book for me to read to her, she picked this book about the many questions we have for God. An example being “Why doesn’t God talk to us out loud?” and “What does God look like?” A lot of the questions that were asked in this book were hard for me to answer and it reminded me that now matter how much I think I know, I will always encounter this childlike faith that humbles me and allows me to kind of get on the same level as the kids that I work with and I’m so grateful that even when I’m supposed to be teaching them, a lot of the time they’re teaching me. The way that this little girl clung to her mom but as soon as we started talking about the Lord she opened up and was able to enjoy the presence of others was so amazing and I think I can speak on the behalf of my entire squad when I say that were all scared to leave our home and our family and the comfort of familiarity but this one common goal to share Jesus’ love is something that is going to bond us in so many incredible ways and were going to be able to open up to each other and to the children and families we get to pour into, it is so cool to see the Lord showing up in these ways for me and for the kids I get to lead.
I met this amazing guy at work today. In the short time we talked he opened up to me about his story and I was able to talk to him about my plans with this mission trip and I got this feeling like the Lord was telling me that this person was supposed to be in my life. We exchanged numbers and were able to talk more and I am so excited and grateful for this new friendship!! ANOTHER super awesome thing that is happening … I’M GETTING BAPTIZED!!! As I am getting older and as I enter this new season of life spiritually I am realizing that commitment is not an option, a lot of my relationship with Jesus has been selfish in that I would only go to Him when I was desperate or needed to repent and it just wasn’t healthy. Preparing for this gap year doesn’t just entail physical preparation, a lot of it is mental and spiritual and I am just so ready to declare Jesus Christ as my LORD AND SAVIOR on May 20th. I’m ready to commit and I know that when things get tough I will be able to look back on the memory of being baptized and know that everything will work out the way the Lord planned for it to.
I can’t explain how ready I am for High School to be over. It has been an eye opening journey and I’m thankful for the friendships made and the lessons it has taught me. In one short month I will be a graduate!!! It’s weird to think about this chapter of my life ending and I’m scared to see what will happen with the many friends I’ve made. Most of them are going to college, some still don’t know what they want to do. I find comfort knowing that God has a plan for all of them and I’m so excited to be a part of that. I get so sappy when I talk about my friends but I have been truly blessed. In the beginning of high school I prayed for friends I would be able to talk about Jesus with, the Lord provided but He also gave me friends I could help and not only talk about Him with but teach about Him and I am so thankful because they have helped me realize that I have a passion about sharing the good news of the gospel! Iv’e also had the friendships that have helped me realize what kind of person I want to be and don’t want to be. He has blessed me with the friendships that have taught me lessons I will never forget; good and bad. As high school comes to an end and I’m able to reflect on the person I was and the person I have become I am truly proud. Proud of the mistakes I’ve made and the way I have handled things. I can say that my freshman year of high school I was scared of so much and thankfully in my senior year I am finally realizing that with OUR God as a father there is nothing to be afraid of because we are so loved and protected by Him and with Him and through Him anything is possible.
Now is usually the time I would ask for you to pray for me and my squad but tonight I’m asking that you guys pray for a special friend of mine named John Thomas who is and has been battling cancer for 5 years. I talked about him earlier in the post but I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be a Christian battling a life threatening disease. I know if it were me I would probably be very confused. During the short conversation we had today I was able to gather that he is extremely wise and I have a lot to learn from him. The way that he uses his circumstance for good and to spread the good news of Jesus was just inspiring.
With a humble heart,
Lucy Jackson
