Dear Readers,

Every spring time brings new growth. A seed planted in the ground slowly germinates out of its dormant state. The new plant pushes up through the soil to meet the sun for the very first time. It’s like a new baby taking its first breath, though definitely not as traumatic for everyone involved. The plant quietly unearths itself and with care it will flourish into an enormous tree creating a new habitat for wildlife and shade on a hot summer’s day or perhaps it will produce fruit, beautiful flowers or become soft grass for us to walk on.

The challenge for me is stopping long enough to see the changes happening around me. Spring is definitely in the air with flowers blooming, birds singing and the season’s first storms rolling in. Life is happening so fast around me, I feel like I don’t have half the time I use to for putting thought and detail into what I do. Life feels like it’s on auto-pilot for the mundane things, just to keep my head above water, so to speak. And it annoys me not being able to put my usual 100% effort into everything.

The holidays did helped me to rekindle my perspective on things again, or maybe it was just the break that refreshed me. I got the chance to enjoy the pleasure of having family and friends around me for most of it. We had a lovely time together and made so many fun memories. I especially loved just having them close by. So, needless to say, the goodbyes were heart felt and went deep. The past week has been an emotional time as I said goodbye to them.

I remember last month I talked about living one day at a time, taking each moment as it came. Well, I find that I am doing the same now. Taking each day and moment as it comes. But it has changed slightly. Rather than just living to ‘survive’ each moment, I find that I am looking for moments to rejoice in. Moments that are triumphant.

One day’s triumph, though, does not mean it carries over to the next day. That is why it is a moment-by-moment triumph. My job allows me to see this happen frequently. I start each day praying over it, for the students that I work with, that they can have fun and discover a new and exciting way of learning as I help them, and I get the privilege to speak into their lives, calling them up and out. I get to challenge their thinking about themselves, so they see themselves as winners and not by what the world may think of them. As I speak positivity into their lives I am slowly seeing a change in their demeanour; seeing them beginning to believe in their own ability.

This month is all about taking a step back for the situation I’m facing, the moment I am in, and seeing it for the beautiful gift that God has given me. At the start of the week I was reminded that, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength,’ (Nehemiah 8:10). It’s not just a nice phrase, it’s a declaration that I speak over my life. I change it slightly to make it more personal for me and say, ‘The joy of the Lord is my strength.’

God has made each day and it is a gift just for you and me. Let’s take note of the joyful moments and speak joy into the others. Then take pleasure in seeing how God enters each moment with you, creating moments of joy throughout your day.

God bless you this October. I look forward to seeing what our heavenly Father reveals to me this month for me to share with you in November. (On a side note, I can hardly believe that Christmas is just around the corner….again!!! I better get Christmas shopping!!)

Until next month,

Jane Bishop