Inspired by Lyndsay, in this video, I prayed for my clients on my way to work today. The drive from our house to the office is a solid half hour at best, so I have plenty of quiet time before the noise of the day begins. I prayed today specifically for the people I knew I would interact with, either by phone or in person, I prayed for co-workers I knew I would see, and I prayed for clients who I knew I wouldn't see, but who were on my heart. The difference it made was unbelievable!!! My attitude toward my clients was different, my feelings toward them were different. My heart was softer toward those certain few who always seem to know how to rub me the wrong way or drain me. My words and actions were probably even different. And as a result, they probably reacted to me differently as well. When I began my job almost a year and a half ago, I was diligent in praying for the people I met and worked with each day. I guess as I have become comfortable. I have become TOO comfortable and passive. Or some days, I am just overwhelmed, and feel as though the LAST thing I want to do is even think about work... let alone set aside enough time and energy to pray about it!
Like me, Lyndsay has a fairly "common" job. She is a teacher; there are lots of those out there. And there are both good and bad ones. I am a social worker. There are lots of us floating about also, and some are great while others are not so great. Lyndsay is exceptional at what she does. Because she loves in an exceptional way... in a way that is foreign to this world.
If we all could, and would, love like this... day in and day out... through the stressful through the mundane... We will make an extraordinary difference. That is what Christ's extraordinary love does. It changes us, and it changes those with whom we come in contact. If we pour His love onto others, we will be blessed beyond what we can imagine. And they will see love, possibly in a way they have never seen it before. "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." - Ephesians 3:20.
Maybe it is kind of like a flow chart: When we pray, God's love is activated in us. It is moved to action, and through our actions of displaying God's love to those around us, He will, through His power, do more than we can ask with the love that we share... "according to His power!" And I learned this morning that prayer is the key to accessing and activating that power. Prayer opens the door for Christ to move on in!
Warren Barfield sings, "Love is not a place where we can come and go as we please. It is a house that we go in and never leave." As Christians, every moment of our lives should be lived in love. His life in us should be undeniable.
And then, we would be extraordinary teachers, social workers, mothers, fathers, doctors... Our love, displayed through word and deed, is Christ to those who may never see Him anywhere else in their worlds. Love may be the only shelter some people ever know; the only constant in a world of change, trials, hunger, relentless sunshine, or bitter cold, soup kitchens and welfare lines, street ditches, or highway bridges. The love of Christ reaches through all these things, all these places. It changes and heals. And we have it in us. It is our calling to give it away.
Showing posts with label social work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social work. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
So Much for NOT Blogging
I worked really hard today. I was out most of the week last week... thanks to a horrific migraine. So today was my "catch up" day. And it was Friday! (:
In working so hard today (making up for lost time), I learned something. There are lots of things that I can do as a social worker. I even posted several months ago about what a social worker makes in a day's work. In that post, I said this:
Until Monday, that is. (:
So... until Monday, let us all be the best PEOPLE we can be. And then on Monday, we can resume being the best SOCIAL WORKERS (or receptionists, or teachers, or baby-sitters, or dentists, or doctors, or stay-at-home moms, or housewives, or lawyers, or grocery clerks, or crossing guards, or whatevers.) that we can be!
HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!
In working so hard today (making up for lost time), I learned something. There are lots of things that I can do as a social worker. I even posted several months ago about what a social worker makes in a day's work. In that post, I said this:
Social workers bring to light possibilities that people did not know existed. They make referrals. They make connections. They make changes. They make time. They make room. They make allowances. They make notes. They make phone calls. They make a difference.And today I was reminded there are many things social workers do not, and cannot make.
- Social workers cannot make miracles. We can only fight for change on the behalf of others.
- Social workers cannot make people change. We can only help bring to light the need for change.
- We cannot make people work hard. We can only point them toward the proper tools, and maybe show them how to use them.
- We cannot make everyone happy, nor can we make everyone like us. We can only do the best jobs that we can, and be the best social workers we can be... day in and day out. But not necessarily on Sunday, because...
- We cannot make more days in a week. There is a reason God came up with the seven day week, and there is a reason He inserted a Day of Rest into that week. We can take a day just to chill... and "chilling" not only means being physically away from the workplace, but mentally and emotionally away as well...
Until Monday, that is. (:
So... until Monday, let us all be the best PEOPLE we can be. And then on Monday, we can resume being the best SOCIAL WORKERS (or receptionists, or teachers, or baby-sitters, or dentists, or doctors, or stay-at-home moms, or housewives, or lawyers, or grocery clerks, or crossing guards, or whatevers.) that we can be!
HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Miracle
I truly love my job. Well, as with most other jobs I guess, I love it most of the time. That being said, my job has me a bit disillusioned... particularly this week.
Until I actually started working in the field as a social worker, I guess I thought that all human beings had a natural desire inside of them to grow, to change, and to become the best versions of themselves possible. I thought that people who lacked this internal drive were the minority, the exception. Now, I have realized that it is really the other way around. Most of us are okay with maintaining an equilibrium; we are okay with, and we prefer, the status quot. We are okay with getting by, and not doing much more than just that.
I left work today (Friday) totally brokenhearted. And now, two hours later, I have moved past feeling brokenhearted to feeling absolutely, emotionally depleted. Beyond brokenhearted... just exhausted.
So much of America lives in poverty. So many live lives that are so empty in every way, and they do not even realize it. There are children growing up in cycles of addiction, of poverty, of bad choices. There are children growing up in houses that have meth labs where kitchens should be; palates on a hardwood floor to sleep on instead of beds; men coming in and out of their homes to have private visits with their moms. Outside of the grace of God, they may never know that there is more; that there is true life that can be experienced. But outside of a redeeming Savior drawing us to Himself, we are a hopeless people.
It hurts me to see people living in the hopelessness, and not knowing any better than to accept that hopeless as an inevitable reality. It hurts me to not be able to speak the love that is MY Savior over them (there are strict ethical guidelines regarding conversations surrounding faith).
My God transforms. He heals. He saves. I have no choice but to believe that He will somehow draw children of poverty to Him; that He can reach them where they are... no matter where that is. That is my hope for them. That is my hope for the people I met today. That is my hope for each of my clients, no matter their age, no matter the poor choices they have made over the courses of their lifetimes. That has to be my hope. And my faith has to be in that hope, and in that Savior. Otherwise, I cannot continue to do the job that I do.
Until I actually started working in the field as a social worker, I guess I thought that all human beings had a natural desire inside of them to grow, to change, and to become the best versions of themselves possible. I thought that people who lacked this internal drive were the minority, the exception. Now, I have realized that it is really the other way around. Most of us are okay with maintaining an equilibrium; we are okay with, and we prefer, the status quot. We are okay with getting by, and not doing much more than just that.
I left work today (Friday) totally brokenhearted. And now, two hours later, I have moved past feeling brokenhearted to feeling absolutely, emotionally depleted. Beyond brokenhearted... just exhausted.
So much of America lives in poverty. So many live lives that are so empty in every way, and they do not even realize it. There are children growing up in cycles of addiction, of poverty, of bad choices. There are children growing up in houses that have meth labs where kitchens should be; palates on a hardwood floor to sleep on instead of beds; men coming in and out of their homes to have private visits with their moms. Outside of the grace of God, they may never know that there is more; that there is true life that can be experienced. But outside of a redeeming Savior drawing us to Himself, we are a hopeless people.
It hurts me to see people living in the hopelessness, and not knowing any better than to accept that hopeless as an inevitable reality. It hurts me to not be able to speak the love that is MY Savior over them (there are strict ethical guidelines regarding conversations surrounding faith).
My God transforms. He heals. He saves. I have no choice but to believe that He will somehow draw children of poverty to Him; that He can reach them where they are... no matter where that is. That is my hope for them. That is my hope for the people I met today. That is my hope for each of my clients, no matter their age, no matter the poor choices they have made over the courses of their lifetimes. That has to be my hope. And my faith has to be in that hope, and in that Savior. Otherwise, I cannot continue to do the job that I do.
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| Picture from here |
Now it's the weekend, Andrew is coming home tonight to be in a wedding tomorrow, and I will not let work, or thoughts about work, seep into my weekend! :)
Monday, May 23, 2011
Happy Monday :)
I wish I could figure out an appropriate way to convey this message to certain clients of mine...
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Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Two, four, six, eight...
"I've learned people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
The past few weeks, my job has left me feeling incredibly drained. There is a particular situation that has been going on with a client that has totally affected my life at work, and even when I am physically away from work. I have woken up in the middle of the night thinking about this situation, what the solution may be, what I should have done or should be doing differently, etc. Even when my body is not at work, that is where my mind has been.
And today I read this:
When I feel responsible FOR others...
I fix.
Protect.
Rescue.
Control.
Carry their feelings.
Don't listen.
I feel...
Tired.
Anxious.
Fearful.
Liable.
I am concerned with:
The solution.
Answers.
Circumstances.
Being right.
Details.
Performance.
I am a manipulator.
I expect the person to live up to my expectations.
When I feel responsible TO others...
I show empathy.
Encourage.
Share.
Confront.
Level.
Am sensitive.
Listen.
I feel...
Relaxed.
Free.
Aware.
High self-esteem.
I am concerned with:
Relating person to person.
Feelings.
The person.
I believe if I just share myself, the other person has enough to make it.
I am a helper-guide.
I expect the person to be responsible for himself and his own actions.
I can trust and let go.
I have read similar things before, and these are things I know, but today they really resonated. I have crossed certain boundary lines with this particular client that I told myself I would not cross. I learned a lesson. And I am now reminded that I am not responsible FOR my client. I am TO be the best social worker, encourager, and guide, that I can be. But I am not to make decisions FOR, or do things FOR my client, and I should not feel responsible FOR the things this client chooses to do or not to do. And it certainly should not rob me of my personal time, time with my husband, and sleeping time! If I feel responsible FOR a client, it seeps into my personal life and negatively impacts those around me. I have learned my lesson and will not let this happen again. I will not let a client have such power over my mind and emotions, and I will not attempt to have that kind of power or control over a client... even in the name of "helping" him.
"We are all something, but none of us are everything." - Blaise Pascal
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Cookies for a Cause
"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." - Lao Tzu
This kind of leading is also the most difficult. Speaking for myself, I am often tempted to simply do things FOR my clients instead of letting go a little, moving at a slower pace, and empowering them to do things themselves. This is one of my weaknesses, and I must daily pray against the tendency to do things for my clients instead of with them. It is so important to allow people to work toward their goals. This helps them claim the goals as their own, and when they do this, they are more motivated to truly work to reach the goal, and they feel better about themselves when they finally do reach the goal. So, lots of times, my most important role is to sit back, relax, and let go.
In a way, this is what Casey's parents did. They could have coddled her, sheltered her, and never made her work a day in her life. This would have been the easy way to deal with their situation. They did not do that. Instead, they created Casey's Cookies.
Through the creation of Casey's Cookies, Casey's parents have empowered Casey and others to work and to have the satisfaction that they are doing something themselves; that they are capable of doing SO MANY things by themselves. They had a vision that extended beyond just Casey, and beyond just their family. Through their business, they are touching the lives of so many others. Casey's parents have created training and jobs for people who have disabilities but desire to work. They have created a profound thing. They have created futures for those whom the world may have rejected.
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. - Lao Tzu
Their website makes it easy (and tempting!) to order cookies... and to make a difference.
This kind of leading is also the most difficult. Speaking for myself, I am often tempted to simply do things FOR my clients instead of letting go a little, moving at a slower pace, and empowering them to do things themselves. This is one of my weaknesses, and I must daily pray against the tendency to do things for my clients instead of with them. It is so important to allow people to work toward their goals. This helps them claim the goals as their own, and when they do this, they are more motivated to truly work to reach the goal, and they feel better about themselves when they finally do reach the goal. So, lots of times, my most important role is to sit back, relax, and let go.
In a way, this is what Casey's parents did. They could have coddled her, sheltered her, and never made her work a day in her life. This would have been the easy way to deal with their situation. They did not do that. Instead, they created Casey's Cookies.
Through the creation of Casey's Cookies, Casey's parents have empowered Casey and others to work and to have the satisfaction that they are doing something themselves; that they are capable of doing SO MANY things by themselves. They had a vision that extended beyond just Casey, and beyond just their family. Through their business, they are touching the lives of so many others. Casey's parents have created training and jobs for people who have disabilities but desire to work. They have created a profound thing. They have created futures for those whom the world may have rejected.
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. - Lao Tzu
Their website makes it easy (and tempting!) to order cookies... and to make a difference.
Friday, February 18, 2011
My Own Little World
In the same way that it is inappropriate for teachers to have favorite students, it is inappropriate for social worker to have favorite clients. But, just as it it next to impossible (I would assume) for teachers to NOT have favorite students, it is next to impossible for social workers to NOT have favorite clients. Well, maybe that isn't fair to say. It is fair, and accurate, to say that THIS social worker definitely has her favorites. And... my least favorites.
I think this is important to acknowledge. These feelings must be recognized so that they can be handled correctly. Otherwise, both positive and negative feelings toward clients will negatively impact the way in which I serve each client. I must own up to the draw I have to certain people and the aversion I have to certain others in order to sensor those feelings.
Now that we have that settled, one of my favorite clients died very recently. I found out nt through a phone call from one of her friends or family members, but through my regular reading of the local obituaries, which made the pill even harder to swallow. Since meeting this client about seven months ago, she has truly touched my heart. She was a wonderful woman with a profoundly interesting story. She loved animals, but especially dogs, as much as I do... times about a million! She also loved history. She enjoyed American history, but she relished her family history. She devoted incredible amounts of time to the study of her geneology. To her, nothing was more important than knowing where you come from. And knowing this should affect the way you live, and the value you put on your own life.
Since I began working in the field, I have invested a lot of time, energy, and heart, into a lot of people. Sometimes, when it is all said and done, I feel like my effots have been wasted. But just as often, I realize that the people I set out to help have truly helped me in return, without even knowing it. Yes, it is cliche, but it is so true that when you help others, you get so much back in return.
Investing seven months of my life into this client was so worth it. And I am honored to have been able to share some of her last days with her.
Bottom line: Opening up our hearts and sharing in the lives of others is worth the dissapointments and frustrations we may encounter along the way! And no matter how much I give, it will always pale in comparisson to what Christ gave to me, and what He continues to give to me each day.
I think this is important to acknowledge. These feelings must be recognized so that they can be handled correctly. Otherwise, both positive and negative feelings toward clients will negatively impact the way in which I serve each client. I must own up to the draw I have to certain people and the aversion I have to certain others in order to sensor those feelings.
Now that we have that settled, one of my favorite clients died very recently. I found out nt through a phone call from one of her friends or family members, but through my regular reading of the local obituaries, which made the pill even harder to swallow. Since meeting this client about seven months ago, she has truly touched my heart. She was a wonderful woman with a profoundly interesting story. She loved animals, but especially dogs, as much as I do... times about a million! She also loved history. She enjoyed American history, but she relished her family history. She devoted incredible amounts of time to the study of her geneology. To her, nothing was more important than knowing where you come from. And knowing this should affect the way you live, and the value you put on your own life.
Since I began working in the field, I have invested a lot of time, energy, and heart, into a lot of people. Sometimes, when it is all said and done, I feel like my effots have been wasted. But just as often, I realize that the people I set out to help have truly helped me in return, without even knowing it. Yes, it is cliche, but it is so true that when you help others, you get so much back in return.
Investing seven months of my life into this client was so worth it. And I am honored to have been able to share some of her last days with her.
Bottom line: Opening up our hearts and sharing in the lives of others is worth the dissapointments and frustrations we may encounter along the way! And no matter how much I give, it will always pale in comparisson to what Christ gave to me, and what He continues to give to me each day.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27
"Be kind and compassionate to one another; forgiving each other just as I have forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:32
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." - Colossians 3:12
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." - Colossians 3:12
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Power of Words
Here are some words of wisdom from one of my favorite pastime: Word searches!
I do not know how well you can read the second one; it is a little small. Michael Johns' words truly capture my ideal of what social work is... or what it needs to be. He says this:
"Economic development is not about getting foreign governments or agencies to build new bridges for third world nations; it is about helping unleash the individual in these societies so that he may build these bridges himself."
Before writing this blog post, I had no clue who Michael Johns' was. I did not want to appear to endorse someone with whom I was totally unfamiliar, so I did a little Googling. Michael Johns is a health care executive, and a conservative policy analyst and writer. He also happens to be one of several founders and leaders of the U.S. Tea Party Movement. Pretty spiffy, huh? Judging from the "About" section of his blog (which is worth taking a look at, even though it has not been updated since October), he is quite a great man.
In my Googling, I also discovered that there is a Michael Johns who was a contestant on American Idol's 7th Season. Please do not be confused. The two are not one in the same! The singer Michael Johns is actually from Australia, and you can find his American Idol audition video here.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Snow, Snow... Go Away
When it comes to work, and probably to life in general, I am definitely a type A personality: a goer, a doer, a list maker. I love the feeling of satisfaction when I make a checklist of things to do at the beginning of the day and, by the end of the day, each item on the list is marked off.
Beautiful.
With that being said, the snow has kind of thrown a kink into what would normally be a "going" and "doing" kind of week. Instead of home visits and doctors' appointments, my week has consisted of paperwork and phone calls. Toward about the middle of the day yesterday, these phone calls, and spending minute after minute on the phone with clients began to seem a bit...
Pointless.
And then, while I was particularly bored during one conversation with a client, I read this, from The Upper Room:
"LET ME DESCRIBE what it means to be truly present. Being present involves letting go of our constant preoccupations, immersing ourselves in the here and now, and giving ourselves wholeheartedly to whatever is at hand. . . . It’s about becoming more aware, alert, awake to the fullness of the immediate moment. If we are with another person, it means engaging with him or her with all of our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength. Such wholehearted attention requires patience, time, and disciplined effort. And it is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to those around us."
Wow. Talk about stepping on toes. It was more like punching in the face. If all I am going to be doing for eight hours straight is making phone calls to people whose lives I am supposedly interested in improving, then I ought to be as present as present can be.
Anyone can spend a day making a few phone calls and typing down a few notes regarding anything "important" the person on the other end of the line may have said. But people, no matter their age, can tell when you are really listening. They can tell when you really care, and when you are just counting down the minutes on the clock. They can tell when you love them. And that is what matters.
Beautiful.
With that being said, the snow has kind of thrown a kink into what would normally be a "going" and "doing" kind of week. Instead of home visits and doctors' appointments, my week has consisted of paperwork and phone calls. Toward about the middle of the day yesterday, these phone calls, and spending minute after minute on the phone with clients began to seem a bit...
Pointless.
And then, while I was particularly bored during one conversation with a client, I read this, from The Upper Room:
"LET ME DESCRIBE what it means to be truly present. Being present involves letting go of our constant preoccupations, immersing ourselves in the here and now, and giving ourselves wholeheartedly to whatever is at hand. . . . It’s about becoming more aware, alert, awake to the fullness of the immediate moment. If we are with another person, it means engaging with him or her with all of our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength. Such wholehearted attention requires patience, time, and disciplined effort. And it is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to those around us."
- Trevor Hudson
A Mile in My Shoes
A Mile in My Shoes
Wow. Talk about stepping on toes. It was more like punching in the face. If all I am going to be doing for eight hours straight is making phone calls to people whose lives I am supposedly interested in improving, then I ought to be as present as present can be.
The excerpt above reminded me of a quote from Mother Teresa that reads, ""It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters." - Mother Teresa
Anyone can spend a day making a few phone calls and typing down a few notes regarding anything "important" the person on the other end of the line may have said. But people, no matter their age, can tell when you are really listening. They can tell when you really care, and when you are just counting down the minutes on the clock. They can tell when you love them. And that is what matters.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Theater of the mind
Trying to keep up to date with current events, here is a little miracle that happened for someone today.
2 Samuel 22:3
"My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior- from violent people you save me."
"My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior- from violent people you save me."
Friday, July 16, 2010
Quick Recap
After having taken such a hiatus from blogging, this blank screen, just waiting to be typed on, is quite intimidating. There is a lot in my head that I would love to share, but I am struggling to articulate all of those thoughts into actual words.
I think I will start with a list.
Short.
Sweet.
To the point.
Here are some things I have done since my last post, in no particular order:
Begun moving into a new apartment.
Watched fireworks with three of my favorite people.
Baked some cakes.
Baked lots of cupcakes.
Ruined even more cupcakes.... It's a long story.
Attempted grilling.
And failed.
Pretty miserably. Not a long story, but a sad one. No pictures.
Decorated cookies.
Did not fail.
Caught up with friends.
Mostly via bridal showers.
Played the travel version of Connect 4 (which I was given at one of the afore mentioned bridal showers), while not actually traveling.
Rescued blackberries from the dark depths of the forest.
And put them into cobbler... A feat that ended up being much more difficult than it sounds, or that it should have been.
Gotten in sync with nature.
That happened while I was in the dark depths of the forest picking blackberries.
Or, more accurately, while I was standing on a path, near the edge of the forest, picking blackberries.
But close enough.
Unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence of this endeavor, as I was much to busy fighting off forest beasts (aka: bugs) to care anything about taking pictures.
There was, at one point, other evidence that blackberries were actually picked; however, said evidence got eaten.
But back to the list.
Finished pre-marital counseling. Thank God.
Started going to a new church, with my soon-to-be-new husband.
Paid more bills than I have ever had to pay before.
And to this, I also say, "Thank you, God," because that means we had money with which to pay bills.
Opened a new savings account.
Been happier than I ever remember being.
Ever.
And that is saying something, because I am generally a pretty darn happy girl.
Since my job is fairly new, several people have been interested in knowing what I make.
So here goes another list; a list of what I have made so far.
I have made lots of mistakes.
I have made time.
I have made contacts.
I have made friends.
I have made phone calls. Lots of them. Many of which go unanswered and unreturned.
Lots of referrals.
Lots of home visits.
A few hospital visits.
Now, what do I hope to make?
As cliche as it sounds, I hope to make a difference. I hope to make a small, positive impact on the people with whom I come in contact each day. I hope to make their lives a little bit easier, a little bit sweeter.
This is a hope I carry with me, not only in regards to work, but in regards to everyday life... and in regards toevery person that I meet, or live life with, whether I walk past them in the parking lot for a moment, stand behind them in the check out line for three minutes, or come home to them at the end of each day.
I want to make people feel significant.
Because they are.
Have a happy weekend.
I think I will start with a list.
Short.
Sweet.
To the point.
Here are some things I have done since my last post, in no particular order:
Begun moving into a new apartment.
Watched fireworks with three of my favorite people.
Baked some cakes.
Baked lots of cupcakes.
Ruined even more cupcakes.... It's a long story.
Attempted grilling.
And failed.
Pretty miserably. Not a long story, but a sad one. No pictures.
Decorated cookies.
Did not fail.
Caught up with friends.
Mostly via bridal showers.
Played the travel version of Connect 4 (which I was given at one of the afore mentioned bridal showers), while not actually traveling.
Rescued blackberries from the dark depths of the forest.
And put them into cobbler... A feat that ended up being much more difficult than it sounds, or that it should have been.
Gotten in sync with nature.
That happened while I was in the dark depths of the forest picking blackberries.
Or, more accurately, while I was standing on a path, near the edge of the forest, picking blackberries.
But close enough.
Unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence of this endeavor, as I was much to busy fighting off forest beasts (aka: bugs) to care anything about taking pictures.
There was, at one point, other evidence that blackberries were actually picked; however, said evidence got eaten.
But back to the list.
Finished pre-marital counseling. Thank God.
Started going to a new church, with my soon-to-be-new husband.
Paid more bills than I have ever had to pay before.
And to this, I also say, "Thank you, God," because that means we had money with which to pay bills.
Opened a new savings account.
Been happier than I ever remember being.
Ever.
And that is saying something, because I am generally a pretty darn happy girl.
Since my job is fairly new, several people have been interested in knowing what I make.
So here goes another list; a list of what I have made so far.
I have made lots of mistakes.
I have made time.
I have made contacts.
I have made friends.
I have made phone calls. Lots of them. Many of which go unanswered and unreturned.
Lots of referrals.
Lots of home visits.
A few hospital visits.
Now, what do I hope to make?
As cliche as it sounds, I hope to make a difference. I hope to make a small, positive impact on the people with whom I come in contact each day. I hope to make their lives a little bit easier, a little bit sweeter.
This is a hope I carry with me, not only in regards to work, but in regards to everyday life... and in regards toevery person that I meet, or live life with, whether I walk past them in the parking lot for a moment, stand behind them in the check out line for three minutes, or come home to them at the end of each day.
I want to make people feel significant.
Because they are.
Have a happy weekend.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Words for the Weekend
Courtesy of several sweet souls who gave me money recently for my birthday, I took myself purse shopping today. Only minutes into my purse search, I began to have a difficult time focusing just on purses. My eyes were darting to racks of clothing that I did not need; my feet began walking automatically to the shoe section. And I found myself doubly tempted, because everything seemed to be on sale.
At first, I was baffled by my spastic movements, and my grabbing hands. Then I realized something: Until today, I had not been shopping for anything non-wedding-related in months. Reason being? An unaccommodating budget, both time-wise, and money-wise. Even my perpetual window shopping had gone by the wayside!
I have always considered myself to be fairly stylish; however, I have fallen behind! In the midst of adjust to a new job, getting used to having bills to pay, and planning a wedding, I have forgotten some of the things I used to love.
Scrapbooking. (I am disgustingly behind...)
Reading. (I used to read chapter after chapter after chapter before falling asleep each night; now I am lucky to make it through a paragraph or two before drifting off to dreamland!)
Shopping. (Which generally consists of people watching, browsing, trying on, brainstorming, and leaving on the rack outside the dressing room.)
Goodwill (or any thrift store) hunting. (One of my favorite stress relievers!)
Cleaning. (I so enjoy the feeling of knowing where everything is and exactly what condition it is in!)
Closet Shopping (Sadly enough, I have been rolling out of bed in the mornings and throwing things mindlessly on my body, only paying attention to whether I am appropriately covered).
And, something I would really like to invest more time into? Blogging... I would really like to get good at it!
This picture comes from one of my favorite blogs. Each time I read one of Emily's posts, I feel like she is giving me a little peek into the window of her life. And if you know me, you know how much I adore listening to, knowing about, and watching, people and things which I have no business listening to, knowing about, or watching! Emily makes a living doing what she loves to do: blogging, taking pictures, shopping, traveling, and living her life.
I love my job. But there are days when I cannot help but think I would rather be doing something else: something creative; something that inspires me; something colorful; something that inspires others; something hands on.
Social work is creative and hands-on in its own way. Social workers bring to light possibilities that people did not know existed. They make referrals. They make connections. They make changes. They make time. They make room. They make allowances. They make notes. They make phone calls. They make a difference. So in its own way, social work is a creative entity.
At first, I was baffled by my spastic movements, and my grabbing hands. Then I realized something: Until today, I had not been shopping for anything non-wedding-related in months. Reason being? An unaccommodating budget, both time-wise, and money-wise. Even my perpetual window shopping had gone by the wayside!
I have always considered myself to be fairly stylish; however, I have fallen behind! In the midst of adjust to a new job, getting used to having bills to pay, and planning a wedding, I have forgotten some of the things I used to love.
Scrapbooking. (I am disgustingly behind...)
Reading. (I used to read chapter after chapter after chapter before falling asleep each night; now I am lucky to make it through a paragraph or two before drifting off to dreamland!)
Shopping. (Which generally consists of people watching, browsing, trying on, brainstorming, and leaving on the rack outside the dressing room.)
Goodwill (or any thrift store) hunting. (One of my favorite stress relievers!)
Cleaning. (I so enjoy the feeling of knowing where everything is and exactly what condition it is in!)
Closet Shopping (Sadly enough, I have been rolling out of bed in the mornings and throwing things mindlessly on my body, only paying attention to whether I am appropriately covered).
And, something I would really like to invest more time into? Blogging... I would really like to get good at it!
This picture comes from one of my favorite blogs. Each time I read one of Emily's posts, I feel like she is giving me a little peek into the window of her life. And if you know me, you know how much I adore listening to, knowing about, and watching, people and things which I have no business listening to, knowing about, or watching! Emily makes a living doing what she loves to do: blogging, taking pictures, shopping, traveling, and living her life.I love my job. But there are days when I cannot help but think I would rather be doing something else: something creative; something that inspires me; something colorful; something that inspires others; something hands on.
But then I look at pictures, and meet people, like this:
from here
And I suddenly remember why it is that I do what I do.
The last years of a person's life are precious. Those last moments can be so sweet.
Social work is creative and hands-on in its own way. Social workers bring to light possibilities that people did not know existed. They make referrals. They make connections. They make changes. They make time. They make room. They make allowances. They make notes. They make phone calls. They make a difference. So in its own way, social work is a creative entity.
By the way, you can click here to see the purse I finally decided on. :)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Coupon Queen
I spent my afternoon with a client today. She and I went to the grocery store together. And she completely inspired me! She walked out of Kroger having paid only twenty-three dollars for an entire buggy-full of grocery items! The shopping process was painfully drawn out, and she was incredibly meticulous; however, she did not purchase even one thing that she did not have a coupon for, or that was not already on sale... or, in most cases, both!
The client walked into the store with a very specific agenda: buy more; pay less. She knew exactly which food items were on sale this week, and she had her coupons in her hand, at the ready. Accompanying those coupons, she had a list. After combining already-on-sale items with her coupons, she ended up paying next to nothing for the bulk of the groceries that she purchased.
Twenty-three dollars for more groceries than one person could possibly eat in weeks.
I was shocked.
And I suddenly realized something:
Bargain shopping takes work. It takes brains. It takes planning ahead. It takes time. It takes organization.
I am a terrible coupon clipper.
Wait... Correction...
I am a great coupon clipper; a terrible coupon user.
I tend to find coupons crumpled up at the bottom of my purse about two months after their expiration dates. Or I hoard coupons until I have so many that I could not possibly NEED to purchase all of the items that said coupons pertain to. Or I carefully guard an "important" coupon until I desperately need it (or until I think I desperately need it), and then, when I am pumped up, and ready to use it, excited for the sense of satisfaction and accomplish that I am sure is just around the corner, I realize that I left it in my other bag, or in the car, or on the kitchen counter. Or, I dig frantically through my purse in search of this all-important coupon, the entire time I am standing in the grocery store checkout line, still not having found it by the time I reach the register, flustered because I know I have a mob of angry shoppers waiting in line behind me, and finally giving up. Then, when I get in the car, I resume my thorough search through my purse (searching less frantically now), and find the coupon in the exact spot where I should have known it would have been all along.
Obviously, my coupon using skills leave much to be desired.
And all these years I thought I was thrifty. Boy, did this client prove me wrong. What she displayed today was sheer talent: Practiced, well-developed, unmatched (at least by me)... talent.
I am inspired.
It is time to turn over a new leaf.
The client walked into the store with a very specific agenda: buy more; pay less. She knew exactly which food items were on sale this week, and she had her coupons in her hand, at the ready. Accompanying those coupons, she had a list. After combining already-on-sale items with her coupons, she ended up paying next to nothing for the bulk of the groceries that she purchased.
Twenty-three dollars for more groceries than one person could possibly eat in weeks.
I was shocked.
And I suddenly realized something:
Bargain shopping takes work. It takes brains. It takes planning ahead. It takes time. It takes organization.
I am a terrible coupon clipper.
Wait... Correction...
I am a great coupon clipper; a terrible coupon user.
I tend to find coupons crumpled up at the bottom of my purse about two months after their expiration dates. Or I hoard coupons until I have so many that I could not possibly NEED to purchase all of the items that said coupons pertain to. Or I carefully guard an "important" coupon until I desperately need it (or until I think I desperately need it), and then, when I am pumped up, and ready to use it, excited for the sense of satisfaction and accomplish that I am sure is just around the corner, I realize that I left it in my other bag, or in the car, or on the kitchen counter. Or, I dig frantically through my purse in search of this all-important coupon, the entire time I am standing in the grocery store checkout line, still not having found it by the time I reach the register, flustered because I know I have a mob of angry shoppers waiting in line behind me, and finally giving up. Then, when I get in the car, I resume my thorough search through my purse (searching less frantically now), and find the coupon in the exact spot where I should have known it would have been all along.
Obviously, my coupon using skills leave much to be desired.
And all these years I thought I was thrifty. Boy, did this client prove me wrong. What she displayed today was sheer talent: Practiced, well-developed, unmatched (at least by me)... talent.
I am inspired.
It is time to turn over a new leaf.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Playing Catch-Up
Well, I am sure that, by now, the people who have tried to keep up with my blog have totally given up on me. And I cannot say that I blame them; I have been incredibly inconsistent lately!
Here is a brief overview of what you have missed over the past week and a half:
The D.C trip was great. We were able to see all of my favorites: The Museum of American History, The Washington Monument, Williamsburg, and The Holocaust Museum. I could have spent days in the Holocaust Museum; however, Andrew's attention span did well to last the few hours that it did :)
I was also able to go some places I had never been before: The National Art Gallery (which was really cool for the first thirty minutes or so, but got a little mundane after that. Of course, I am neither a proficient, knowledgeable, or cultured artist. If I were, I am sure I would have appreciated it more), Ford's Theater (which I completely fell in love with. My biggest complaint is that they only gave visitors thirty minutes in the museum before we had to begin finding seats for an informational speech. I was barely able to see anything in the museum before it was time to leave!), and Arlington. We went to Arlington because Andrew really wanted to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which, I will admit, I had never even heard of until Andrew mentioned it. Strangely enough, it turned out to be one of my favorite sites of the entire trip!
The only thing I would have changed about the trip would have been the weather. If it was not raining, it was cold, and visa versa.... A little inconvenient for tourists who parked their car at the beginning of the trip, with the intention of walking to every destination.
Mind you, we did follow through with our commitment to walk everywhere. We just walked at a less leisurely pace than we would have in more accommodating weather conditions.
Pre- Washington D.C trip I graduated from college.
Post- Washington D.C trip (just yesterday actually) I started my first real job! After Day 2, I am feeling slightly overwhelmed, and more than slightly under-qualified. A man called me today needing a wheelchair, and you would have thought he had asked me to perform open heart surgery on him. That's about how clueless I was! The crisis has been averted for now, and the wheelchair is in the works. Looking on the bright side: At least I was not truly asked to perform open heart surgery on him. Talk about clueless and under-qualified; I would have killed the man. Instead, I am meeting with him tomorrow afternoon. And between now and then, I will be researching every possible affordable wheelchair resource in the area... along with every possible wheelchair funding resource in the area (which might take a bit of creativity). This is the place I where I feel so inept. Others seem to know resources, companies, phone numbers, addresses, and policies, off the top of their heads. I know nothing! I am so ignorant of so many things, and am referring either to written/electronic guides, or to people CONSTANTLY.
Something else that was kind of daunting and intimidating was signing insurance forms, deciding on which packages I wanted, being given a company cell phone, being shown my workspace, and then being let loose. It feels strange not having a professor, or a parent, or someone, to keep in touch with on a regular basis. I do have a supervisor, but our contact will actually be fairly limited. I feel like I am in just a tad over my head. With that being said, though, I am incredibly excited and nervous. I am going to love the job. It is more than I would have dared hope for.
Working makes me sleepy! I have been ready for bed for about the past two hours... So that is where I am headed!
Here is a brief overview of what you have missed over the past week and a half:
The D.C trip was great. We were able to see all of my favorites: The Museum of American History, The Washington Monument, Williamsburg, and The Holocaust Museum. I could have spent days in the Holocaust Museum; however, Andrew's attention span did well to last the few hours that it did :)
I was also able to go some places I had never been before: The National Art Gallery (which was really cool for the first thirty minutes or so, but got a little mundane after that. Of course, I am neither a proficient, knowledgeable, or cultured artist. If I were, I am sure I would have appreciated it more), Ford's Theater (which I completely fell in love with. My biggest complaint is that they only gave visitors thirty minutes in the museum before we had to begin finding seats for an informational speech. I was barely able to see anything in the museum before it was time to leave!), and Arlington. We went to Arlington because Andrew really wanted to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which, I will admit, I had never even heard of until Andrew mentioned it. Strangely enough, it turned out to be one of my favorite sites of the entire trip!
The only thing I would have changed about the trip would have been the weather. If it was not raining, it was cold, and visa versa.... A little inconvenient for tourists who parked their car at the beginning of the trip, with the intention of walking to every destination.
Mind you, we did follow through with our commitment to walk everywhere. We just walked at a less leisurely pace than we would have in more accommodating weather conditions.
Pre- Washington D.C trip I graduated from college.
Post- Washington D.C trip (just yesterday actually) I started my first real job! After Day 2, I am feeling slightly overwhelmed, and more than slightly under-qualified. A man called me today needing a wheelchair, and you would have thought he had asked me to perform open heart surgery on him. That's about how clueless I was! The crisis has been averted for now, and the wheelchair is in the works. Looking on the bright side: At least I was not truly asked to perform open heart surgery on him. Talk about clueless and under-qualified; I would have killed the man. Instead, I am meeting with him tomorrow afternoon. And between now and then, I will be researching every possible affordable wheelchair resource in the area... along with every possible wheelchair funding resource in the area (which might take a bit of creativity). This is the place I where I feel so inept. Others seem to know resources, companies, phone numbers, addresses, and policies, off the top of their heads. I know nothing! I am so ignorant of so many things, and am referring either to written/electronic guides, or to people CONSTANTLY.
Something else that was kind of daunting and intimidating was signing insurance forms, deciding on which packages I wanted, being given a company cell phone, being shown my workspace, and then being let loose. It feels strange not having a professor, or a parent, or someone, to keep in touch with on a regular basis. I do have a supervisor, but our contact will actually be fairly limited. I feel like I am in just a tad over my head. With that being said, though, I am incredibly excited and nervous. I am going to love the job. It is more than I would have dared hope for.
Working makes me sleepy! I have been ready for bed for about the past two hours... So that is where I am headed!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Love All, Always.
In class today, we talked about diversity. At the end of class, the professor showed this video...
I do not agree with everything Tony Campolo says or does. In fact, there are many things he says that I do not agree with; however, I do agree with this: Everyone is worth loving. Everyone. Period.
There are times when social work is discouraging because, in social work, as in most other ministries, we sow many seeds, but are often unable to see the harvest of those seeds. We may never know the extent of the impact we make on the lives of certain people.
Tony Campolo may never know how his birthday party affected Agnes. Did it impact her life, long term, in any way, or was it something that provided her with a good story to tell, and a nice memory, but not much more? There is no way of knowing. But one thing is certain: Had he not done anything for her, he undoubtedly would not have made an impact on her at all.
Sometimes we cannot know how much, or how little, will be made of the love we give. But what a shame to let that be our excuse for not giving love at all.
How have we treated the 'Agneses' in our lives? Have we taken the time to truly enter into their lives with hearts of compassion? Or have we side-stepped them by giving them food, money, or clothing, without ever really showing them love? Have we treated them as charity cases; nothing more, nothing less? Or have we ignored them all together?
Truly loving someone takes time. It takes effort. It takes making the conscious choice to love them, even when we could be taking that time and effort to do something else instead. Tony Campolo could have easily left the diner that first night without giving Agnes a second thought. Easily. But he did not. He could have left only after having tossed a twenty dollar bill her way and telling her to go buy herself something nice for her birthday. That would have been easy. But he did not do that either. He reached into her life and made a difference; even if that difference lasted only as long as the cake did.
Tony Campolo put it this way: "We have to do more than just give them bread and clothes. We've got to bring love and joy into their lives."
Mother Teresa put it beautifully when she said, "Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough. Money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go."
Jesus Christ commands us, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18)."
This was the mission of Christ during the time the He walked this earth. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10)." And it is the commission with which He left us (Matthew 28:16-20).
1 Peter 4:8-11 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should sue whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ..."
There are times when social work is discouraging because, in social work, as in most other ministries, we sow many seeds, but are often unable to see the harvest of those seeds. We may never know the extent of the impact we make on the lives of certain people.
Tony Campolo may never know how his birthday party affected Agnes. Did it impact her life, long term, in any way, or was it something that provided her with a good story to tell, and a nice memory, but not much more? There is no way of knowing. But one thing is certain: Had he not done anything for her, he undoubtedly would not have made an impact on her at all.
Sometimes we cannot know how much, or how little, will be made of the love we give. But what a shame to let that be our excuse for not giving love at all.
How have we treated the 'Agneses' in our lives? Have we taken the time to truly enter into their lives with hearts of compassion? Or have we side-stepped them by giving them food, money, or clothing, without ever really showing them love? Have we treated them as charity cases; nothing more, nothing less? Or have we ignored them all together?
Truly loving someone takes time. It takes effort. It takes making the conscious choice to love them, even when we could be taking that time and effort to do something else instead. Tony Campolo could have easily left the diner that first night without giving Agnes a second thought. Easily. But he did not. He could have left only after having tossed a twenty dollar bill her way and telling her to go buy herself something nice for her birthday. That would have been easy. But he did not do that either. He reached into her life and made a difference; even if that difference lasted only as long as the cake did.
Tony Campolo put it this way: "We have to do more than just give them bread and clothes. We've got to bring love and joy into their lives."
Mother Teresa put it beautifully when she said, "Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough. Money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go."
Jesus Christ commands us, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18)."
This was the mission of Christ during the time the He walked this earth. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10)." And it is the commission with which He left us (Matthew 28:16-20).
1 Peter 4:8-11 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should sue whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ..."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
One of Those Days
Everything went wrong today. No. That is not totally true. My day actually got off to a great start. So let me rephrase that:
It breaks my heart to see someone be given chance after chance after chance, and to blow it every time by making poor decisions. Not knowing the best way to help them long-term breaks my heart even more. Not knowing how to equip her to be able to help herself is so frustrating. Paying her $75 deposit, or even paying her entire water bill (which is what we ended up doing), is only going to help her immediate need; it is not going to teach her how to prevent the same thing from happening again next month, and the next, and the next. I almost feel that "helping" her by paying her water bill is not helping her at all; only enabling her to continue in her poor money management and poor choices.
So how do I feel today? Defeated, overwhelmed, slightly angry at myself.
Icing on the cake: Last night I finished about a ten page long assignment. Tonight, I went to my computer to print this assignment and realized that only the first half of it is saved onto my computer; apparently, I forgot to save the second half of my work. This paper is due first thing tomorrow morning.
Here is the cherry on top: This paper is actually a process recording. I taped an interview with a client, and typed out, verbatim, the entire interview. Every cough, every laugh, every paper shuffle, every pause, etc. After I typed this, for the sake of confidentiality, I erased the interview from my voice recorder; therefore, I have no way of knowing exactly what was said during the second half of the interview.
What a great night.
After all of that griping, here is a truly wonderful thing that happened today (it at least has the potential of being a wonderful thing): I had a job interview with an agency that I completed a practicum with about a year ago. I loved my experience there, and when I saw that they were hiring, I jumped on it. The position is only part time, but that would be perfect if I decide to go to graduate school in the Fall. The hours would work perfectly, I would be working with lovely people, and I would be doing what I love to do. The girl who interviewed me also said that the agency is really good about working with students. If I get the job, I will have the option of also doing my field placement there for grad school. I could intern in a different department than the one I work in, and the part-time position would work around my intern position. The job title is "In-Home Specialist." I would be spending time with elderly clients, taking them grocery shopping, going grocery shopping for them, cooking, cleaning, etc. It sounds like something I would really enjoy, and it would be great job experience! Plus, I love that agency, all that they stand for, and the attitudes of their employees.
I now feel slightly convicted for spending this entire post venting about my bad day. It was really not that bad at all! I had a great morning, and a great afternoon too! Plus, the weather was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS today. I am so blessed... beyond what I deserve, and beyond what I could ever earn.
There is more where that came from here.
Just hop on over here for more cute dog photos.
Something happened today that made me feel like I am terrible at my job; like I am horribly inadequate, and like I let someone down tremendously. Do you ever have those days?
I had a home visit with a client just a week ago. She seemed okay: talked a little about struggling financially, mentioned a hearing with Section 8 in regards to her monthly rent, and vented some about her issues with the landlord (whom she basically hates). I noticed a few red flags, and asked her what resources she had tried in order to get some financial help. Other than that, I did not offer much help or advice. I knew that our program could not help her financially, because we are only able to help clients monetarily one time each year. We helped her with a water bill in November.
I got a phone call today from this same client saying that she received a 24- hour cut- off notice today from the water company. She said she tried every community resource that she could think of. I named other places to her; she had already tried those too. She even tried churches near her neighborhood. Most had the funds, but were unwilling to help (that is a different story altogether... Don't even get me started).
How did I miss this last week? Why did I not see it coming? Why did we not discuss her immediate financial needs in greater detail? I could tell that she wanted to, and I purposefully avoided it, knowing that I would not be able to help her as immediately and directly as she would have liked. I should have stayed with her and watched her make phone calls to any and all organizations that offer, or would even for a brief moment consider offering, emergency financial assistance. I should have discussed any and all options with her. I should have encouraged some kind of positive change in her. Instead, I side-stepped around the issue as much has I possibly could.
To top it all off, all this lady needs to keep her water on for a few more weeks is to make a deposit of $75 to the water company. That's it! That $75 will only keep her water on through the end of the month, and then she has to make the rest of the payment. $75. I could write a check to her for $75 and not miss that money for a second (Technically, I could not do that, because that would be seriously crossing some boundaries...) That breaks my heart.
So how do I feel today? Defeated, overwhelmed, slightly angry at myself.
Icing on the cake: Last night I finished about a ten page long assignment. Tonight, I went to my computer to print this assignment and realized that only the first half of it is saved onto my computer; apparently, I forgot to save the second half of my work. This paper is due first thing tomorrow morning.
Here is the cherry on top: This paper is actually a process recording. I taped an interview with a client, and typed out, verbatim, the entire interview. Every cough, every laugh, every paper shuffle, every pause, etc. After I typed this, for the sake of confidentiality, I erased the interview from my voice recorder; therefore, I have no way of knowing exactly what was said during the second half of the interview.
What a great night.
After all of that griping, here is a truly wonderful thing that happened today (it at least has the potential of being a wonderful thing): I had a job interview with an agency that I completed a practicum with about a year ago. I loved my experience there, and when I saw that they were hiring, I jumped on it. The position is only part time, but that would be perfect if I decide to go to graduate school in the Fall. The hours would work perfectly, I would be working with lovely people, and I would be doing what I love to do. The girl who interviewed me also said that the agency is really good about working with students. If I get the job, I will have the option of also doing my field placement there for grad school. I could intern in a different department than the one I work in, and the part-time position would work around my intern position. The job title is "In-Home Specialist." I would be spending time with elderly clients, taking them grocery shopping, going grocery shopping for them, cooking, cleaning, etc. It sounds like something I would really enjoy, and it would be great job experience! Plus, I love that agency, all that they stand for, and the attitudes of their employees.
I now feel slightly convicted for spending this entire post venting about my bad day. It was really not that bad at all! I had a great morning, and a great afternoon too! Plus, the weather was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS today. I am so blessed... beyond what I deserve, and beyond what I could ever earn.
"Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-6
Here are some things that made me happy...
There is more where that came from here.
Just hop on over here for more cute dog photos.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Happy Almost Friday!
When I was younger, and our extended family on my mom's side would get together, my cousins and I would spend hours playing outside. My grandmother had a big blue shed in her backyard, and behind that shed was a plot of dirt. "Us kids" loved to dig in that dirt! And for whatever reason, we never dug with our hands; we used metal spoons from Granny's kitchen. While some of us were competing to see who could dig the deepest, or the biggest whole, or who could dig the fastest, my main goal usually seemed to be to be able to dig alongside everyone else without getting a single speck of dirt on my hands or my clothes. I would dig as slowly and meticulously as necessary in order to avoid getting messy. I would not even sit down while I dug; I hovered over the ground in kind of a squatting position. I wanted to be included in what was going on around me, but I did not particularly want to be very involved. I wanted to be near the mess and the dirt without actually being in it.
As we grew older, my sister began helping my grandmother in the kitchen. I would cringe at the prospect of helping in the kitchen. I hated getting my hands sticky; I hated smelling funny. I would not touch uncooked chicken breast because of its yucky smell and slimy texture. I would help in a distant, far-removed manner: stirring, rinsing, setting the oven timer, but never touching the mess. I gave the appearance of helping, but compared to what I could have been doing, I really was not helping much at all. I made my services in the kitchen available, but with lots of contingencies attached.
I am sure you know where I am going with this by now...
Thank God that He is not this way! We serve a God who is not afraid to reach into the broken places of our lives and transform them. The messiness of our hearts does not stop Him from loving us. The God of the universe humbled Himself to the point of death: the death of the lowest of criminals. He was not too proud to get involved in the disgusting, repulsive parts of our lives. And where I would be today without His grace, I do not know.
He has transformed my heart. He is continuing to transform my heart. Because of His redemption in my life, I no longer hold the messiness of others at bay. I want to become involved in the broken pieces of other people's lives so that I can share with them the hope that I have. Whereas I was once repulsed by unclean things, I am now drawn toward those things and those people that may be, by the world's standards, unlovable. I live for days that I am able to reach into someone's life and help them produce change.
In the field of social work, I am rarely able to express my faith verbally, but that does not mean I am unable to express it directly. My actions may be the only picture of Christ that certain individuals and families ever experience (2 Corinthians 3:3). I serve a God who associated with the lowly and the dirty. I serve a God who is not afraid to get His hands messy. As I was reminded of Sunday, I serve a God who helps those who cannot help themselves. And none of us can. If we could help ourselves, Christ would have come and died for naught. How dare I even begin to think that I can help myself? How dare I try to maintain control of my own life when the King of the world has asked that I relinquish that control to Him?
Thank God for redeeming me. He summoned me from complacency to a life of compassion. Thank God that He was not too mighty or too powerful to consider Himself lower than the lowest of sinners. Thank God for healing the places of my heart that no one else knew needed healing. Thank God that every broken place in my life is an opportunity for grace and for transformation.
As we grew older, my sister began helping my grandmother in the kitchen. I would cringe at the prospect of helping in the kitchen. I hated getting my hands sticky; I hated smelling funny. I would not touch uncooked chicken breast because of its yucky smell and slimy texture. I would help in a distant, far-removed manner: stirring, rinsing, setting the oven timer, but never touching the mess. I gave the appearance of helping, but compared to what I could have been doing, I really was not helping much at all. I made my services in the kitchen available, but with lots of contingencies attached.
I am sure you know where I am going with this by now...
Thank God that He is not this way! We serve a God who is not afraid to reach into the broken places of our lives and transform them. The messiness of our hearts does not stop Him from loving us. The God of the universe humbled Himself to the point of death: the death of the lowest of criminals. He was not too proud to get involved in the disgusting, repulsive parts of our lives. And where I would be today without His grace, I do not know.
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!"
- Philippians 2:6-8
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Philippians 2:6-8
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
He has transformed my heart. He is continuing to transform my heart. Because of His redemption in my life, I no longer hold the messiness of others at bay. I want to become involved in the broken pieces of other people's lives so that I can share with them the hope that I have. Whereas I was once repulsed by unclean things, I am now drawn toward those things and those people that may be, by the world's standards, unlovable. I live for days that I am able to reach into someone's life and help them produce change.
In the field of social work, I am rarely able to express my faith verbally, but that does not mean I am unable to express it directly. My actions may be the only picture of Christ that certain individuals and families ever experience (2 Corinthians 3:3). I serve a God who associated with the lowly and the dirty. I serve a God who is not afraid to get His hands messy. As I was reminded of Sunday, I serve a God who helps those who cannot help themselves. And none of us can. If we could help ourselves, Christ would have come and died for naught. How dare I even begin to think that I can help myself? How dare I try to maintain control of my own life when the King of the world has asked that I relinquish that control to Him?
"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved... For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."
- Ephesians 2:4,5,8
- Ephesians 2:4,5,8
Thank God for redeeming me. He summoned me from complacency to a life of compassion. Thank God that He was not too mighty or too powerful to consider Himself lower than the lowest of sinners. Thank God for healing the places of my heart that no one else knew needed healing. Thank God that every broken place in my life is an opportunity for grace and for transformation.
Psalm 71:23- "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed."
Sunday, March 14, 2010
You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile- Martin Charnin
You can smile.
When you can't say a word, you can smile,
Though you may not be heard.
You can smile, whether sunny or fair.
You can smile anytime, anywhere.
When you can't say a word, you can smile,
Though you may not be heard.
You can smile, whether sunny or fair.
You can smile anytime, anywhere.
My mom taught my sister and me that song when we were little girls. And these people prove that it is true, you can smile anytime, anywhere. If they can muster up smiles, then so can I!
from here
"The biggest sin we commit is underestimating how much pain is hidden behind the smiles of the people we'll meet today." (My mom gave me this quote, too!)
"The biggest sin we commit is underestimating how much pain is hidden behind the smiles of the people we'll meet today." (My mom gave me this quote, too!)
from here... and this whole blog is amazing, actually!
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. " - Mother Teresa
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. " - Mother Teresa
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Why We Do What We Do
Some days, we just need a little reminder of why we do what we do. At least, that is how it is in social work. I assume everyone needs an extra dose of encouragement, or extra affirmation that they are doing something right, or something worthwhile. That is what God gave me today... A reminder of why I do what I do.
And here are the reasons why I am a social worker...
And here are the reasons why I am a social worker...
Matthew 25:34-36;40
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Isaiah 61:1-8
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.
For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them."
James 1:27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
1 John 3:17,18
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in Him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
1 Timothy 5:3
"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need."
Proverbs 31:8,9
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs22:2,9
"Rich and poor have this is common: The Lord is the Maker of them all...
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."
Proverbs 14:21,31
"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy...
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Isaiah 61:1-8
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.
For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them."
James 1:27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
1 John 3:17,18
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in Him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
1 Timothy 5:3
"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need."
Proverbs 31:8,9
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs22:2,9
"Rich and poor have this is common: The Lord is the Maker of them all...
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."
Proverbs 14:21,31
"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy...
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
John 13:34-35
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Proverbs 11:24,25
"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
Today, I was refreshed! Thank you, Jesus, for my little blessing today!
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Proverbs 11:24,25
"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
Today, I was refreshed! Thank you, Jesus, for my little blessing today!
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