We all have a board!

I had a different story in mind for my second post, but life happened!  Last Sunday evening, Brian and I picked the twins up from Life Groups (a bible study they participate in with other sixth graders) and they were so excited!  They had a friend stuggling with something, and they were able to use a story I shared with them to help their friend.

2 Corinthians 1:3,4
Praise be to the God and 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.

Here is the story:

We all have a board.  When we are younger, people write on our boards.  They tell us we are pretty, funny, smart, precious, stubborn, awkward, in-the-way..you name it.  As they tell us these things, we take it all in.  They are older, and these things are impressed on our hearts.  They write directly on our board and we believe them.

When the girls were entering Junior High I told them they owned their board and they should not let anyone else write directly on it anymore.  I did tell them they were responsible for hearing criticism and filtering everything through God to see what He says about them.  I told them when they received criticism they should ask two questions: (1) is it true?, (2) if it is not true, is there a reason the other person might think it is true?  I gave them the example that they might say I was selfish.  If they said that I would ask myself, "am I?" and I would say "no."  The next question, "is there a reason the girls might think I am selfish?" and I would have to answer that there might be.  Early on, they had a habit of borrowing my things and not putting them back...hairspray, hairbands, paper, pencil sharpeners, etc.  I learned to buy enough for everyone and then I really did not want to share my things; we all were responsible for keeping track of our own stuff.  That might cause them to think I am selfish, and I could address that with them, but I would not write the word "selfish" on my board.

Where can we find things to write on our board?  Can I encourage you to read Psalm 139 for the truth about who you are...we are fearfully and wonderfully made!  God has precious thoughts for me that outnumber the grains of sand.  I can never get away from God, even if I settle on the far side of the sea, His hand will guide me, and His right hand will hold me fast (He never let's go of us).

Get your marker and eraser out and ask God to help you clean your board and fill it up with His truths about you!