What I've Learned from Johannah!
I'm a planner...there, I said it. I'm not just a planner at heart, half of my job is planning. I keep up with a church calendar, events, publications of events, logistics... I could go on and on. And some days, I wish I wasn't a planner. I wish I could fly by the seat of my pants and just go with it. It would be so awesome if I didn't think about meals for the week, clothes for the next day, what I'm going to get done in the 4 hours at home each night. Really, I'm quite ridiculous. And, its gotten worse as I've gotten older. I'm pretty sure that one day if we have children, they will either cure me of my planning and break me or I'll just get crazy worse. It is a sickness really. My husband does not plan the way I plan, and this can get me into some attitude trouble. But you don't need to know all that, you just need to know that I"m a sick, messed-up planner. And if I haven't convinced you enough, buying a new Lily Pulitzer or Spartina planner could quite possibly be the highlight of my year. #nerd.
Lesson #1- As a planner its okay to feel disappointment and frustration when a plan doesn't work out or isn't how you wanted it... but don't hold on to it, get your attitude right with Jesus and move on.
Johannah had a plan. Or at least she had one from the moment she saw me and waved... Johannah is Russian, adopted and precious! She's probably my favorite kid at church, but don't tell the other kids and all you mommas out there don't be mad at me. Johannah is my favorite because she is the wisest, smartest, and used more by the Holy Spirit than any kid I know. Last Sunday night (I'm sure with plan in hand), Johannah wanted to sit with Bryan and I as she sometimes does and for whatever reason I told her no. "Johannah, you have to sit with your mom tonight." That was less than thrilling for her heart and she promptly crossed her arms, stuck out her lips and did a slight march back to her mom. This is her sassy face. I've seen it a few times before, although not often and it usually fades pretty quick. I have a sassy face too, but I keep it on the inside most of the time and only let it out by snide remarks, criticism, and lets face it, occasional pouting (no comments Bryan). My sassy face effects my heart. But as I watched Johannah obediently march back to her momma, she was singing to herself. No surprise there. But what was cute and made me laugh was WHAT she was singing... "Let it Go." "Let it go, let it goooo... " (I'll spare you the rest of the song, just so you don't get Frozen stuck in your head for tomorrow). I just sat there and chuckled. Hurt heart and a little disappointed, she was singing, "Let it Go."
As we later left church I was upset about a small matter, a plan that didn't go my way and it was as if the Holy Spirit brought up the picture of Johannah singing, Let it Go. She wasn't necessarily happy about having to sit with mom, but she was obeying her authority and working on her attitude by singing her song. She was working on her attitude in her own way. I sat there and wondered how often I hold on to things, get upset, work myself into utter frustration... but not Johannah, she is going to sing her song and just move along. By the end of church, Johannah was smiling, happy and had her precious heart in check. Lesson #1...get your heart in check Whit, no matter how much you plan.
Lesson #2-Worship with out hesitation, fear, or thought of anyone other than Jesus. The Son of the one true living God deserves my worship...all of my worship.
You see part of children's church at our church involves the kids coming in for worship and praise. They are typically in the sanctuary for 15-20 minutes and once the music is over they quietly, or sometimes not so quietly exit to their classes. Johannah sits on the front row with all the other kids with her adorable bow and dress each Sunday and sings her heart out! She doesn't just sing, she sings at the top of her lungs with complete and utter abandonment. She's not concerned for anything or anyone. When she is singing, nothing is a distraction. The key of the song does not matter to her, sometimes the words don't even matter. Johannah does sign language too and even if she doesn't know the correct signs to the song she makes up her own. Occasionally she will get so worked up that her worship almost turns to a dance frenzy a full 3 feet in front of the pew and one of the children's workers will gently pull her back toward the group.
If I look around to see if others are watching her they often are and typically are smiling at her joy. But when I first saw her and realized what she was doing I teared up. You see I cannot watch Johannah in church without crying. My worship does not look like hers. Ashamed and embarrassed because of my pride and hesitation in giving the Son of God true worship and adoration...I cry. If only I could be like Johannah. Johannah is not embarrassed. Johannah is not ashamed. She forces me to think about what my heart, my church and what we as Believers would look like if we truly worshipped, the way her heart does. Imagine a church full of Johannahs. Lesson #2...just worship Whit, who cares what you look like and who is watching.
Some days how I long to have a heart like Johannah's and am thankful for this small, unique and God-given child and her lessons she is teaching me. I am thankful she calls me friend.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Beautiful Feet
Lesson #1- As a planner its okay to feel disappointment and frustration when a plan doesn't work out or isn't how you wanted it... but don't hold on to it, get your attitude right with Jesus and move on.
Johannah had a plan. Or at least she had one from the moment she saw me and waved... Johannah is Russian, adopted and precious! She's probably my favorite kid at church, but don't tell the other kids and all you mommas out there don't be mad at me. Johannah is my favorite because she is the wisest, smartest, and used more by the Holy Spirit than any kid I know. Last Sunday night (I'm sure with plan in hand), Johannah wanted to sit with Bryan and I as she sometimes does and for whatever reason I told her no. "Johannah, you have to sit with your mom tonight." That was less than thrilling for her heart and she promptly crossed her arms, stuck out her lips and did a slight march back to her mom. This is her sassy face. I've seen it a few times before, although not often and it usually fades pretty quick. I have a sassy face too, but I keep it on the inside most of the time and only let it out by snide remarks, criticism, and lets face it, occasional pouting (no comments Bryan). My sassy face effects my heart. But as I watched Johannah obediently march back to her momma, she was singing to herself. No surprise there. But what was cute and made me laugh was WHAT she was singing... "Let it Go." "Let it go, let it goooo... " (I'll spare you the rest of the song, just so you don't get Frozen stuck in your head for tomorrow). I just sat there and chuckled. Hurt heart and a little disappointed, she was singing, "Let it Go."As we later left church I was upset about a small matter, a plan that didn't go my way and it was as if the Holy Spirit brought up the picture of Johannah singing, Let it Go. She wasn't necessarily happy about having to sit with mom, but she was obeying her authority and working on her attitude by singing her song. She was working on her attitude in her own way. I sat there and wondered how often I hold on to things, get upset, work myself into utter frustration... but not Johannah, she is going to sing her song and just move along. By the end of church, Johannah was smiling, happy and had her precious heart in check. Lesson #1...get your heart in check Whit, no matter how much you plan.
Lesson #2-Worship with out hesitation, fear, or thought of anyone other than Jesus. The Son of the one true living God deserves my worship...all of my worship.You see part of children's church at our church involves the kids coming in for worship and praise. They are typically in the sanctuary for 15-20 minutes and once the music is over they quietly, or sometimes not so quietly exit to their classes. Johannah sits on the front row with all the other kids with her adorable bow and dress each Sunday and sings her heart out! She doesn't just sing, she sings at the top of her lungs with complete and utter abandonment. She's not concerned for anything or anyone. When she is singing, nothing is a distraction. The key of the song does not matter to her, sometimes the words don't even matter. Johannah does sign language too and even if she doesn't know the correct signs to the song she makes up her own. Occasionally she will get so worked up that her worship almost turns to a dance frenzy a full 3 feet in front of the pew and one of the children's workers will gently pull her back toward the group.
If I look around to see if others are watching her they often are and typically are smiling at her joy. But when I first saw her and realized what she was doing I teared up. You see I cannot watch Johannah in church without crying. My worship does not look like hers. Ashamed and embarrassed because of my pride and hesitation in giving the Son of God true worship and adoration...I cry. If only I could be like Johannah. Johannah is not embarrassed. Johannah is not ashamed. She forces me to think about what my heart, my church and what we as Believers would look like if we truly worshipped, the way her heart does. Imagine a church full of Johannahs. Lesson #2...just worship Whit, who cares what you look like and who is watching.
Some days how I long to have a heart like Johannah's and am thankful for this small, unique and God-given child and her lessons she is teaching me. I am thankful she calls me friend.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Beautiful Feet
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