When my grandfather died at the end of my 3rd grade school year, I cried. But not because of his death.
I cried because I would miss Mrs. Lowry’s going-away party. I would be in Mississippi at my grandfather’s funeral instead of at West Madison Elementary. (And yes, I still carry irrational guilt about my choice of tears.)
I remained passionate about my teacher and about becoming a teacher for awhile. I would play school in my spare time. I loved receiving educational junk mail to feed my habit and provide me with materials.
As I grew up, my passion to be a teacher faded in the background and other passions took over. Mainly to be a wife and a mom. But since I still needed to pick a career, I chose accounting because I could foresee doing that at home with my kids, if I needed a paying job.
But accounting was never a passion. Marriage and motherhood were.
As life happened, marriage and motherhood took some turns I didn’t anticipate. But the passion stuck. And eventually God worked it all out again, even graciously returning my passion for teaching, as I was given opportunity to homeschool my girls.
But through it all, I’ve learned that whatever our human passions are, coming and going, they are still secondary. Even good passions, like desiring to be a good wife and mother.
The first passion has to be God. Giving him glory in whatever you do.
It’s the inside passion that focuses the others.
Without God at the center of your passion,
your passion is pointless.But with God at the center of your passion,
your passion is purposed.
I’m back to being passionate about a teacher.
Not about Mrs. Lowry. I never saw her again.
But about the best Teacher ever. I’ll live with Him forever.
May this passion never fade.
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
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What are you passionate about?
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21 comments:
I love this, Lisa. I get that passion shifting (which is what I'm writing my post about today!) ... I was also a teacher! But my passions for this life include motherhood and marriage... and serving Him! Great post.
nice...our human passions do change and can change over time...the grounding in god allows that as we bend to his will for our lives...i taught for a few years myself...
I like this prayer. Amen L.
Wow. "Without God at the center of your passion, your passion is pointless. But with God at the center of your passion, your passion is purposed." Amen! As wonderful as passions are, He has to be number one! Thanks, Lisa!
Lisa, your wisdom always helps me along. How easily I can get up in the things I'm passionate about! In the past I've let those good things get a higher place than God.
Thank you so much. God is my passion.
Great thoughts. No matter how fervent our passions, are they waver, and even if the object of our passions is good, it still doesn't satisfy unless it is Him.
This is wonderful, Lisa! This challenge reminded me of my focus, and your post hit the mark for me today. Blessings!
I've gradually figured out that when my passion is centered on His will, life just seems to flow a little easier. Took me long time to figure that out...
So true, Lisa. Whatever our passions are, they become meaningless when we don't do them for God's glory. :-)
Lisa,
You amaze me with your ability to come up with so many pictures. You are so, so cute in these!! :)
I, too, loved one of my teachers so much that I didn't want to go to school when I knew she wouldn't be there. Supposedly I even faked stomachaches. Of course, they were very real to me....at least in my head.
I'm learning more and more that nothing satisfies like Jesus. Great post, my friend.
I want to sit at Jesus' feet and learn too! Great post, from a great teacher yourself!
What a sweet post. You made me remember that my grandfather died when I was in 3rd grade too.
I'm glad you were able to enjoy the passion of teaching while homeschooling. I'm sure your kids have been so blessed!
Love,
Beth
Love, love, love this! So true...without God the passions have no purpose.
How very true. I think God took my love for writing away for a time because I needed to learn to give Him the praise for it. Great thoughts Lisa.
ah, such a good reminder. i am learning this slow and hard. i love how open you are to his leading, friend.
Purposeful passion - Thank You Granny, Lisa ;-)
Much Love, Yaya Jeri...hee hee.
Beautifully said, Lisa! The only passion that really matters, the one that feeds all the others rightly, is our passion for Christ. Thanks for this!
Lisa, Thank you for continually sharing your passion for Jesus in this place. It was such a joy to see your post featured over at TheHighCalling.org earlier this week.
Thanks, Jennifer. Now I’ve signed up to read “Mindfulness” with the group at The High Calling because I just couldn’t help myself; it looks so intriguing. Another book to read—just what I need. ha. That’s what I get for exploring the site over there. :-) It’s all good though.
I loved this post! I'm so glad I stumbled on this particular one from Higher Calling even though I follow you and read many of your posts. I guess I missed this one and it's so good.
I love when you wrote:
"The first passion has to be God. Giving him glory in whatever you do. It’s the inside passion that focuses the others."
I think for too many years I focused on the passions I thought were important. Allowing God to be my passion is where I need to be.
I loved learning more about you!
My passion had been to be married and have children since I was a little girl. However, I was unable to have children. Isn't it interesting that when I had to return to work the Lord opened up a job for me to work with three year old children? How amazing is that?
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Debbie,
I agree with you that God is quite amazing to put you working with little kids. I wish I could see you in action; I’ll just have to imagine it. :-) I know you are a great blessing in their lives because you have definitely been one in mine!
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