Ready, Set, Smile!

Do you ever have the kind of day where you just don't feel like smiling?  It doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong,  although sometimes it does. There could be many reasons why a person doesn't smile.

I think it's important not to equate a smile with happiness.  Unless they choose to tell us, we often have no idea what another person is dealing with in life. In the same way we shouldn't assume someone who isn't smiling is feeling miserable.

 Caroline has an interesting theory about smiles. Whenever we go through the toll plaza, she says, "Smile for the camera!" She claims people get big breaks going through toll booths, and that's how millions of famous people get discovered. The Bray fam always smiles (and giggles) when we cross the Coleman Bridge and head back into Gloucester.
It's highly unlike my toll booth smile will make me famous, but it does have the potential to turn a person's day around.
What if God uses our smiles to bring a ray of hope to others? I don't want to miss that opportunity.  So next time you head home from across the river, SMILE! Because you never know who's watching!

Wait! Should I Turn Left or Right?

Recently I took a trip to Charlottesville for work.  My family was legitimately concerned they would never see me again. And with good reason.  I can't even go to Williamsburg without getting lost. Everyone cracks jokes about it, but for those of you who are directionally challegned, you totally get what I'm saying.  I can get a GPS so confused, it can't even get me back on track.

I wonder what God thinks when we get off the path He intends for us. Psalm 32:8 says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." What a blessing to know that when I lose my way in life, I have a God who watches over me. Whenever I don't know what to do or where to go, He's there to guide me.

I am an expert at getting lost,  and over the years I have never been able to find a GPS that I can't confuse. But I know my God is never confused. He wants me to follow Him. If I allow Him to be my GPS, I may not always know where I am, but I know I will get there soon!

To My Educator Friends: Tomorrow is a New Day

Tomorrow is the first day of school.  What an exciting time! For many, it's a fresh start and a new beginning.  It's always sad to let go of summer,  but it's also exhilarating to get started on the exciting adventures a new year will bring.

This year is different for me. For the first time in 20 years, I will not be starting with a new class of students.  My girls are worried that I'm going to be sad tomorrow,  and I will admit,  there may be a little truth to that. But I am determined to make the most of the new opportunities I have been given.

Last week at Open House, one of my second graders from last year came looking for me. She said she just needed to know where I was in case she needed me. Though she warmed my heart, she also reminded me of the huge impact educators have on students.

You will not find me in a classroom tomorrow, but you will definitely see me at Lee-Jackson Elementary School,  Thomas Hunter Middle School,  and Mathews High School.  I will be welcoming students to a new school year, but in a different capacity. Change is good, and I'm excited for the opportunities I have been given.

So to all my educator friends, remember this: What you do matters.  You have a major role in the lives of our children. Embrace the promises this new school year brings, work hard, love hard, and may each of you have an amazing day tomorrow.

Life Almost Over

Have you ever heard someone say they are just about dead? I say it sometimes, but what does it even mean? Today when I went to grab a paper off the copy machine, there was a message flashing across it saying, "Life almost over." Normally a message like this would have flipped me out, but my predecessor had warned me this could happen. Instead of panicking and planning a copy machine funeral, I knew I needed to order more toner.

Toner is a product that helps copy machines run better. Apparently when the machine runs out of toner, it will die. The great news for the copy machine is that when toner is added,  life can resume as normal.

What about us? Do you ever feel tired, exasperated, or worn out? Do you feel like you need to flash a message to the world saying "Life Almost Over?" You don't need toner, but you do need some Jesus to keep you going.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:22-24, "You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it's deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds,  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

So stop acting like you're half dead. Fill up on God's word, let go of your old ways, and allow Jesus to work in your life.  Before you know it, you won't even feel like "Life is Almost Over"  instead you'll be ready to roll!

Never Share Your Dessert

If you know me at all, you know I don't ever share my dessert. I don't mean it in an ugly way. I just really, really like dessert. I will get you your own, or even make a dessert for you. But please don't ask for mine. I am very upfront and honest about this. People often think I'm joking,  but I am really not. Ask my truest friends, and they will tell you it's a fact.

After we finished dinner tonight,  I asked who wanted dessert. Kathryn said she didn't want dessert because she was too full. In my opinion, this is just crazy talk.  Wanting dessert has nothing to do with being full. I don't care how full I feel, I ALWAYS have room for dessert.  And no, you may not have a bite. Trust me, there isn't enough for you!

As I was pondering what in the world could be wrong with my child, I realized maybe I need to be as passionate about my faith as I am about dessert.  What would happen if I spent the amount of time sharing God's word that I do talking or thinking about dessert? Psalm 119:103 says, "How sweet  are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." God's word is good, so why do I often hold back in sharing it with others? I am working on this,  and I'm thankful for good friends in my life who challenge me to do better.

So the next time someone asks me for a bite of my dessert, I will probably say no. But just maybe I will take the opportunity to share God's word with them. And MAYBE I'll offer them a bite of my dessert too. Or maybe not. After all, I am a work in progress!

One Click Away

As most of you know,  I started a new job a few weeks ago. While I absolutely love the job, there are often times during the day when I need to ask for help. This is hard for me because I prefer to be in a position where I help others.  It puts me out of my comfort zone to be the one who needs help.

Although I'm not a fan of asking for help, here's what I have discovered.  Everyone is more than willing and happy to help me. It was a great idea for God to give us coworkers and friends to help us discover that if we just keep clicking, or keep trying, we can usually find the answer.

I have adopted a motto at work, and I feel like I say it one million times a day. "The answer is just one click away." It's almost always true, but I have to be willing to keep clicking to search for the answer.

  It would serve me well to apply this motto to my life outside of work as well. I know I need God to help me navigate through all aspects of my life. Sometimes that means I need to read my bible or pray, but other times it means I just need to sit still and put myself in a position to hear from God.

What do you need help with today?  Psalm 121:1-2 says, "I lift my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Everyone needs help,  and God is ready and willing to guide our footsteps and direct our path.

So remember,  no matter what's going on in your life, God is only one click away, or one prayer away, or one page away in our bible. Don't miss out on His wisdom or His blessings because you were too uncomfortable to ask.

Also don't miss out on helping those around you. You may be the only person who has the ability to make a difference for that person.  Be the click for someone today, but also allow God to be the click for you.  It will just make the world a better place.

Is Something Burning?

We had some excitement in the hood the other day. Kathryn came home and said a branch had fallen on a power line and it was smoking. The Bray girls sprung into action and went to check out the situation.  When we arrived on the scene, our neighbor had already called the fire department and was anxiously awaiting their arrival.

Here's how it all went down. A small tree had uprooted and fallen on the power line. It was sizzling and popping and smoking.  Sparks were flying, and we just knew any second the whole thing was going to burst into flames.

Just as we heard the fire truck coming, the tree fell again and landed on the bottom line, which is a neutral line. (Who knew???) And just like that, the whole thing was over. No more sparks. The fire truck turned around and went home, as did all the neighbors who had stopped to watch the scene unfold.

Matthew 5:16 says:

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The tree incident turned out to be uneventful,  which, as far as trees are concerned, is a good thing.  I am happy the tree didn't ignite into flames.  But what about my own life? If I don't stay rooted in God's word, I may start to topple over. There may be a time when I spark, but without Jesus Christ as my main power souce, I will simply crackle, pop, and then fizzle out. I don't want to smolder, I want to be on fire for God.

What about you?  Are you plugged in to the right Power Source?  They say, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going." Shine your Light so others may see you burn for God.