I'm Blessed

The other day, I noticed that my daughter was feeling down. She looked like she had lost her best friend, or maybe someone hurt her feelings. Either, I was concerned, as I always am when it comes to my babies. As a mother, I tried to lift her spirits; I reached out to her to find out what had happened. I tried to get her to talk about what was going on in hopes to help her find the relief she was in search for but, despite all of my efforts she refused to open up.

I reminded her, that in order for her to be freed of this thing holding her down, that she needed to confess - or open up and just let it out - what she was feeling. That by opening up - even just to vent - she would experience relief - just by getting it off her chest. I reminded her that if she kept it inside, it would only make things worst and this thing she was concealing would eventually weigh her spirits down and cause more problems.

After several attempts, I finally made a connection. She explained to me that she was feeling stressed with school, her future, herself and her life overall. Stress with how to work with the teachers in her AP classes (advance placement), stress with what she is going to be when she finishes college, stress with her image and weight and the frustration of life overall.

She said she was feeling pressure from her AP classes - (Advanced Placement) and that the teachers were very difficult to please and despite her efforts she felt as though she was not getting any where with them. She knows the significance of getting a good grade from them as each class will save us $3,000 in college loans and she's carrying two classes now along with her current schedule. We discussed strategies to help her to aquire her goals and came to the conclusion that she may needed to humble herself and accept the criticism and look for ways to improve - for it can only help her in the long road.

We talked about her future - as she's still undecided on the exact career choice in music she wants to acquire. We talked about the tools she can use to help her identify what she is going for and what the job outlook for the future in that industry will offer.

We talked about herself and how she's not happy with her image and her frustrations with weight. I reminded her that it is more important to be healthy than thin and not to confuse herself with the images the media projects. I reminded her that the outer beauty fades and bodies get old - for all of us - and that what ever she does not like about herself she should work on changing to suit herself and no one else. I reminded her that beauty is within and that she is as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside - as a young lady with grace and poise is attractive to a man who is of quality himself and when that time came for her to be involved with a man, she will have all the necessities.

After all of this we discussed, her spirits did lift a little as being reminded is all of what she had been reminded before. But, she was still down and I knew I had to find a way to encourage her. So, I went in my bedroom and saw my pin. I knew this was the time to share with her what I do when I am down. So, I shared with her when my spirits were down, one day her Dad bought me this pin that is made of a dove and has three words of encouragement on it which said, "I am blessed." I shared with her that this served as a constant reminder of who I am and that God accepts me and loves me just as I am. I told her that I keep this with me on my desk where I can see it all the time and it comforts me until my spirits are lifted. So, I gave her permission to carry it with her - only temporarily - but, as for as long as she needed it. I asked her to keep it in her pocket unlatched because the pin piercing her skin would serve as a reminder to her that "She is blessed and accepted by God just as she is." I reminded her the importance of the pin and how much it meant to me - given to me by her Dad - and how its helped me over difficult times.

She kept the pin for a few days and told me that her spirits did lift and her heart was free again. I noticed her attitude changed, the sparkle in her eyes returned and her smile lit up the room again. She said that she felt a peace unlike before and she thanked me for allowing her to carry my pin.

I hope that this story encourages you to help someone you know spirits are down that need uplifting. A simple pin, made of metal, with some paint and three words given to a friend or loved one with a need to be encouraged can free the spirit. It can mean so much to a person and help them get over a difficult time. So I challenge you today to buy a pin, with words of encouragement or that reminds and lend it out to them for their use. It can really change two peoples lives. The friend and you. Both of you will be blessed by the Lord himself. Amen.