Today’s service at Champlin United Methodist Church was amazing. The themes throughout Lent have been focused around our fears. Today was targeting the fear of being enough. Between the song choices, Pastor Max’s sermon and just letting those words “You are enough” soak in during worship and throughout the day were what I needed.

Pastor Max had us think about the many hats we wear during a course of a day. Parent. Spouse. Partner. Grandparent. Sibling. Cousin. Niece. Nephew. Employee. Volunteer. Daughter. Son. Co-worker… and the list goes on. Then he asked if any of us wore those hats perfectly every time. His point was that as long as we are trying our best, it’s ok. It’s not humanly possible to wear all of those hats perfectly every day.

I know my biggest critic is myself. I know how hard I am on me. I know how unrealistic I can be with myself, and I know I am really good at the self-deprecation piece. I have been really working on this the past year.

I even have worked growth mindset, positive self-talk and mindfulness into my lessons at school with my students. Middle school students look at you really crazy when you make them sit down and write positive messages to themselves. They look at you even crazier when you practice mindfulness within your classroom. But, soon, as their teacher, I see glimmers of this as the months go on. I hear them praise each other. I see them telling themselves that they can do it. That they can learn. That they can be a good friend. That they can get good grades. And that is what keeps me going on this track. Having conversations with them and modeling the self-talk they should be saying has been key. And to see them look at themselves in a new light is so joyous and so heartwarming.

I imagine that is how God feels about us when we take the time to forgive ourselves, talk ourselves up and spread His love.

As a teacher, a parent, a spouse, a sister, a daughter, a niece, a cousin, a colleague, a friend, I am pulled in many directions, and I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. Teaching my students to manage this at an earlier age than I realized this is meaningful for them as well as for me.

We are enough. Each time we tell ourselves that, we create a NEW start. A fresh start. A NEW beginning to launch into as we grow in God’s love and in our faith.

Tonight’s photo is the clock in my classroom. It is time to be kind. I know when I made this for my classroom, I was thinking it was time to be kind to others…… but really, it’s just as important to be kind to ourselves. It’s ok to not be perfect. It’s ok to have to start again. It’s ok to move forward. It’s ok if you slip backwards. It’s ok because we are enough. When we are kind to ourselves, we get a new chance. A new beginning. A new shot.

Tonight’s prayer is: God of all blessing, empower me in my baptismal life so that I may use the gifts you have given me and share your love with all the world. In your name, I pray. Amen