The door opened ajar, and in came my daughter, sounding vulnerable, seeking protection, complaining of a bad dream. My natural response was to have her join me in bed, until the reality that she is no longer a tot set in. Dark still, I suggested we move to the living room couch, where we could lounge out in more comfort. As we made our way through the darkness, I asked her to quietly share her bad dream with me. It had been a long while since she last had one.
Though I am not a decipherer of dreams, I can sometimes guess certain meanings or figure out what the overall meaning may be. At the very least, it certainly must be therapeutic to discuss the bad and shed some light on it. She proceeded to share vividly, using lots of detail and color, and I discovered she was right to be scared. Her dream took place at school, after a school trip. You know, school, that institution that is supposed to feel safe. With all of the current and not so current events, it does not surprise me. I still dream about school myself, but the worse occurrence is missing a deadline or realizing I had been gone for some time and returning to a quiz (seems laughable even as I type it). That is as bad as my dreams about school get.
As she carried on with the details that seemed like a plot of a thriller, she finally came to the culminating point where she woke up frightened, confused and seeking refuge where she feels comfort and protection: by my side. Since I figured we still could get some sleep until sunrise, I gave my "review" of her dream with a "thumbs down" and proceeded to do what I know to work best: PRAY.
Certainly, our children must be feeling afraid with all the uncertainty in the news. I did mention she is no longer a toddler; otherwise I would not even expose her to the news. However, she is a teenager as of earlier this year, so current events are discussed in the classroom, without the added benefit of assurance that all will turn out right. Even as parents, we cannot give our children that guarantee; after all, we do not even have the answers in times of tragedy, political unrest, natural disasters, etc. But as Christians, we do have to guide them to prayer and to connect with Christ.
"The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life." (Psalm 121, NIV) I told her that the word “peace” will have even more meaning this Christmas, since it is something we collectively need to ask for in prayer. I pray that the Prince of Peace become known to all, that His message of light and love will prevail. That true good will triumph over evil and that humanity will seek to be humane. I pray that the innocent will not continue to pay with their lives; that our leaders will be enlightened and choose their actions wisely; and that those seeking to do harm, will stop in their tracks and discover God in all His glory. Join me in prayer.
Written by Jesabel Cruz
Office Manager and Case Worker, Red Bank Corps
If your house is anything like mine, the relaxed pace of summer has been replaced by the non-stop frenzy of fall. At work, I'm closing in on fiscal year end activities, my wife has started a new job, our eldest is taking classes at our local community college and working his first job, our middle son is heavily involved in band and taking advanced placement test courses, and our youngest is being challenged by 7th grade. When you throw in church activities and our heavy involvement in Boy Scouts, it seems as if every minute of every day is packed before I even get out of bed. There are days where I wish I could just quit everything and start over, but then I realize that would accomplish nothing, as I seem to be incapable of saying no when asked to volunteer, so I'm sure I'd be quickly back where I started. When I feel like things are truly spinning out of control, I have three activities that help me get centered.
First, I spend some quiet time with God. I admit this isn't easy, but even taking five minutes to shut out the world and focus on God gives me a fresh perspective, renewed strength and less stress. On my phone, I have several go-to Scripture verses bookmarked that help me put my focus back on God. One such passage that I have cherished for more than 30 years is Psalm 46:1-3. In the New American Standard Bible it reads, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride." When I take a few moments to meditate on this passage, the busyness and stress of my day melt away as I recognize that God has got my back, and no matter what I go through, He is in control.
My second strategy is to take a glance through the photo gallery on my phone. I love to take pictures with my family when we're out and about. Even though it annoys them at times, all those memories help me to see that even though we're busy, we have fun! That fun bubbles up to the front of my mind and helps me relax and realize that it's all worth it - after all, you only live once!
Finally, I try to do something physical. I confess that this is my weakest strategy as I never seem to find enough time to exercise, but I do feel better after going for a walk or spending a few minutes on the rowing machine. Even mowing the lawn or pulling weeds can help get some of that anxiety and stress out. I am hopeful that I can make this strategy more of a priority in the next few months as I can benefit from another benefit of exercise - losing a bit of weight.
I hope that you find my experience helpful as you navigate your busy fall. If you're looking for more help with managing the stress and frenzy of your life, I encourage you to visit your local Salvation Army and chat with an officer. If there is not a Salvation Army Corps near you, consider visiting another place of Worship and talking with the minister. It's amazing what happens when you get spiritually centered!
Written by Richard Pease
Divisional Controller
