Forgiveness

Today my 11th grade students worked on a skill, "Listen and build upon others' ideas". Out of all the many topics that were brought up, forgiveness stood out the most to me. We talked about gay marriages, the right to choose your own path in life, etc., but it's forgiveness that leaves me with questions, comments, concerns. My students debated back and forth between "People deserve second chances." "People shouldn't be give second chances." "Why did they mess up to begin with? Doesn't that mean they will do it again?" "I'm sure all of you have been given a second chance at some point in your life." However, I've come to the conclusion, a conclusion that I've heard preached on before. Forgiveness is about the forgiver, not the one being given forgiveness. It's the forgiver who must decide whether or not they are willing, whether or not they are able to let go of the wrong committed against them. If they hold onto the pain, the anger, the hurt how can they heal? Even if the offender never asks for forgiveness in his or her life, isn't it you that suffers in the end? We can't control other's reactions, their feelings, or their thoughts, but we can control our own. Will you allow the transgressions of another imperfect being eat you alive? Will you allow it to affect the way you live? Do you choose to live in fear? Hate? Anger? How do you release those things other than through forgiveness? Who do you need to forgive today as I write this?

Interesting...Very Interesting

Yesterday was such a...DAY!

So my girlfriend's birthday was today; however, she spent the entire weekend partying and I was supposed to go with her on Saturday. But I thought I had this thing for my honor society, Pi Lambda Theta, Sunday morning. So I decided to bail on my friend because I was already tired and didn't want to be MORE tired since I decided to go out. How lame yeah? I know. Anyways, the next day I drove to KPT and found out that The Childrens' Fair was on Saturday, not Sunday. Not only did a miss out on helping my friend celebrate her birthday, I also missed Brys' first football game. I felt so horrible, I wanted to be there for both and I wasn't. Gee golly.

Later on Sunday we went fishing. It was such a beautiful day and I saw two sting rays dancing with each other in the ocean. It was beautiful. I wish that I had thought to use my camera and go take a picture of them. God is so amazing; it was also a beautiful evening there, we fished until appx. 9:00pm then went home. But the beauty of the moon shimmering off the ocean's surface was breath taking. The sillhouette of my husband standing on the reef waiting paitently for his catch was serene. It was beautiful, and I'm amazed at God's grace, that I am blessed to see the things that I see and appreciate them. May I never forget how blessed I am.

Today, driving up to work there was this big truck (like the kind with the stacks) blowing so much smog into the air that it filled the entire valley (between Mililani and Waipio). It was disgusting. How can we be so self-centered that we pollute our air like that, the air that MUST last us for the rest of eternity (however long that is) here on Earth. What a waste. RRR.

-Crystal

15%

That's how many students are failing my class, mainly due to not turning in work. Can anyone tell me what the purpose of coming to class is if you are not going to turn in your homework, do your projects, and write your essays? It just seems ridiculous to me. Why would I (as the student) waste my time going to the class if I wasn't going to put in any effort to pass? At least our tax paying money is paying for your education. It's not like you are loosing anything. It's not like college. So just quit school, get a job, and be all grown up waaaay too fast. OR go get high, live on the beach, beg for money, and steal it if you have to. What's the point right?

This is me concerned...not angry. Amazing! Children are amazing.

God is...

AMAZING. I look at my life and often forget how truly blessed I am. The grass is absolutely greener on my side of the fence, I wish I took the time to realize and look at it more often. Today's message at church was about this topic...in many ways. I am blessed.

So GREAT news!!!! I have one less thing to stress about in my life. Last week I was totally depressed and just worried about our house hunting problems, and today that is all over. My realtor called after church and told us that we got the house we were bidding on in Wahiawa, so now we start the escrow process. This is our 7th bid on a house, but our first in Wahiawa. Through the adventure we have seen how God has moved in this whole ordeal. First I get hired at Mililani High, the LAST school I ever wanted to be at. But then, I saw it as a way of moving home--to Wahiawa. Then we start looking at houses and I thought we couldn't afford anything in Wahiawa (it is rather expensive), so we were making bids in Ewa Beach only to get out bid every time. Finally, we took a chance, made some sacrifices of location over housing space, and we got an absolutely, totally amazing, completely beautiful, renovated 3 bedroom, 1 bath (this is the compromise) home. God you are so amazing. I am completely joyous and relieved at the same time, but best of all, my husband loves the house so much. I can't wait to get in there, start decorating, and beginning our lives where God has destined us to be from the beginning of time.

Lord you are so awesome, so worthy of all praises. Be blessed my dear friends, our God reigns from now until forever. The battles already been won.