The Almighty Protector

The following post was sent to me by a student of mine. I thought it was incredibly powerful, I guess you connect with Clifford when you have small children...I asked if I could share this on my blog, the person graciously consented.

When I was little I used to be obsessed with collecting stuffed animals. I’m an animal lover so I always loved pretending that the animal was real and was my pet or something like that. Hours of my time were spent playing with them with my friends or by myself. To this day I can’t make myself get rid of any of them- even though I have about five hundred- because of the memories and stories behind each one.

Each one had special assets to them that I loved about them, but there was one specific animal that held a special place in my heart. It was a Clifford dog that I think my mom had gotten while she was still teaching. I’ve never been able to figure out what made him so different from the others that made me love him more, but he was definitely my favorite out of the whole lot.

I had to take him everywhere. No matter if we were going to the grocery store five minutes away or on vacation five hours away. He had to come. If I didn’t have him it was trouble. During the day it was ok, I could just deal with it. But when it got to be bedtime, everyone would be searching franticly for Clifford cause they knew the consequences if I didn’t have him.

I had to have him to sleep. I couldn’t sleep without him. I would cry and toss and turn and when I finally would manage to fall asleep I would have bad dreams all throughout the night.

Of course it seems silly to me now, but then I really felt like I needed him to sleep well. It gave me comfort to know that he was there with me all night. Id wrap my arms around him and he’d “sleep” next to me all night, there to chase away the bad dreams and keep the monsters under my bed at bay. At that age, I had no reason not to believe that he would protect me from all my fears and worries, and things that went bump in the night. I could sleep peacefully, not afraid of what was lurking in the shadows.

As I grew older I soon grew out of Clifford, and didn’t require his presence to get a good nights sleep. I realized that as the boogie man and bed bugs weren’t real, neither was my need for a watch dog in the bed with me every night. I still got scared every now and then, but I was old enough to assure myself of the silliness of it, and thus no longer had the need of sweet little Clifford.

Now I’m teenager, and have much bigger problems and worries than what may be hiding in my closet coming to get me just as I fall asleep. I’ve traded my boogie man for worries like what I’m doing about college, and where I’m gonna go. Now, if i cry myself to sleep its not because I don’t have some stuffed animal I think I need, but for the hurt that’s been inside me for one reason or another. It’s now more than ever, when my fears have grown up along with me, that I need something to wrap my arms around and squeeze with all my strength, having confidence that the object can suck up all the bad things and chase away the nightmares, leaving me peaceful so I can actually get a good night’s rest.

Psalms 91:1-6
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… You will not fear the terror of the night… nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness.

Matthew 11: 28
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Psalms 62:5-8
Find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him…. He is my mighty rock, my refuge.


God is kind of like my grown up Clifford. He watches over me as I sleep and chases away my fears and nightmares. He gives me peace and helps me to rest. He’s the Almighty Comforter and Protector. I can take hold of Him when I’m scared, knowing that He will not only quiet my fears, but will go further even to help me conquer them. And I don’t even have to worry about forgetting to pack Him; He’s already there, waiting for me to embrace Him with all my strength and hand over my fears for Him to handle.

Is Evangelicalism Dying?

I've been looking at some different blogs with evangelicalism the last few weeks and I am completely amazed at the diversity of people under the banner, Evangelical. I have a growing suspicion that Evangelicalism as the movement we have known for several decades is waning, but I'm not sure it will ever die out completely. I found this blog by one of the editors of Christianity Today to be very interesting. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/marchweb-only/110-31.0.html?start=1

Giving up Facebook for Lent

I saw this online and thought it was very interesting considering the popularity of social networking sites among teens and college students.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/29/no.facebook.lent/index.html

Middle School Winter Retreat

High School Winter Retreat Slideshow

Some of these pictures are absolutely hilarious!!

Recent Books

I have been doing a lot of reading the last few months. I've read southern fiction, inspirational/biography, spirituality, and end times prophecy, boy that just looks funny listed in the same sentence. Tony Dungy's latest book was an enjoyable read. Someone gave me that for my birthday, so I saved it to read while on the Winter Retreat last week. Several key principles for young men and men especially about living Uncommon lives. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole was a hilarious look at one of the most notable figures of southern literature, Ignatius Reilly. An great read for the characterization of New Orleans as well as a critic on many of the excesses of our society. Every single character is flawed, many in major ways. David Jeremiah's latest book was an informative look at key world events and what they mean for Christians living in 2009. I am now engrossed in 4 books, I can't seem to read one at a time, no matter how hard I try. I hope this weekend you are able to spend a few minutes curled up with a good book.

Georgia Day

Several days ago we got to spend some wonderful family time together in Savannah. It was Georgia Day, so we hoped to make it to the parade to see all the colonial attire, but getting all four of us up, fed, dressed, and out the door is monumental challenge. We made it into town just as the parade was ending so we headed to Forsyth Park with our picnic for a little fun. The weather was perfect! There were several other people out enjoying the sunshine and taking advantage of an early spring-like day. We flew Claire's Barbie kite she got for Christmas, played on the playground, and had a memorable potty break at a local coffee shop, before deciding to walk down Bull Street to find some ice cream. We ended up at The Soda Pop Shop. This is a quaint little snack shop one block from Broughton Street. We ordered our ice cream and Claire and Cyd went out the door while I was handing the man my debit card... the only problem was they only took cash or check. The guy didn't know me plus I had never been in there before, but he graciously said, "We go by the honor code. You can pay me the next time your in here." I was dumbfounded! As I step out the door, I noticed a CVS across the street so I proceeded to get some cash back with a purchase to pay for our ice cream. As we were sitting there we bumped into a cousin who was heading back to the office after a meeting. We also happened upon a dear friend, Jimbo Bass who works with college students among other things at Bull Street Baptist Church in Savannah. We visited with Jimbo, as did half of Savannah as they drove by, pedaled by, or walked by. We then headed back to our car which was parked at Forsyth Park only to head to Mamanon's for some wonderful lasagna. I love the south, especially in the spring. There is something enchanting about a beautiful day in a beautiful city with my three beautiful girls.