You Are More Than Your Past

I saw "Saving Mr. Banks" yesterday with my youngest son.  If you haven't seen it--you should.  It has everything you want in a good movie--great performances, sets, costumes and backgrounds, good music and an interesting story.  I was particularly interested in this film because Mary Poppins was the first movie I saw in the theater; I even got a Mary Poppins doll for Christmas one year, when I was about five years old.  I've always loved Mary Poppins--I especially wanted her ability to snap her fingers and make things put themselves away when I was younger!

The most interesting thing about this film is the depiction of how the past influences the present.  Both Walt Disney and P.L. Travers had issues with their family or origin--and both were influenced by them.  This is an especially powerful film about the influence of fathers on their families--hence the title of the film.  I always have liked what they call in English class dynamic characters--people, who in the course of a book, or a film, change for the better.  This is best illustrated in Mr. Banks in the Mary Poppins movie--he rightly changes his focus to be on his family and children, and, in the end, it also improves his career.  In "Saving Mr. Banks", the turning point in the author's acceptance of the film is this song--it's also the turning point of the film. 

 

I think every dad should see the movie--it's a sobering reminder that we all influence our families--for the good, and in ways that aren't as positive--every day.  As a teacher, I can tell you that I see the influences--positive and negative--every day in the classroom.  The next time you think you aren't making headway with your kids, or that you aren't important, remember this song.

"Saving Mr. Banks" is full of dynamic characters--including Walt Disney and the author P.L. Travers.  One conversation of the movie stuck with me--Walt Disney was telling Mrs. Travers about delivering newspapers in Kansas City when he was eight years old.  He painted a bleak picture--cold, tired, wet, and, in general a most difficult circumstance.  But then he said he wanted to remember something different--that what he had learned from reading the Mary Poppins books was forgiveness, and the ability to make hard things into something beautiful. 

This is exactly what Christ offers us--the ability to trade beauty for ashes.  Through his forgiveness of us, we can forgive ourselves and our origins.  He then can take all of our hard circumstances--the pain, the disappointment, the heartache, and turn it into something good.  He can use these things so that we can help others, so that we can further His kingdom---He really does make everything beautiful in its time.  But we have to let Him do that.  Many times, we, like Emma Thompson's character in "Saving Mr. Banks," we hold on to our hurt, and with it we hurt others.  We refuse to let go and let it turn into something beautiful--and we are the ones who suffer.  So the question today is--what will you do with your past?  What will I do with mine?  Do we hold onto it, and let it poison our relationships--or do we give it to Christ and let him use it for something beautiful?   Giving it to Him, I've found, is a gradual process--and something we have to do daily.  It's a struggle, much like the struggle in the film--but the end result is worth it.

A Tale of Christmas Stress

It's four days until Christmas---and I imagine many of you are stressed right now.  Join the club!  I was reflecting on the causes of stress at this particular time of year--and, with apologies to Dickens, I think there are three causes of the Scrooge known as Christmas Stress:


1.The Ghost of Christmas Past---We often glamorize our memories of Christmas, forgetting the bad and making the good things almost ideal.  Maybe your mother was like mine--presents were always perfectly wrapped under the tree.  We made sugar cookies, and she made fudge--and, fruitcake (which, to her dismay I never liked.  The cookies and fudge more than made up for it, though!).  We all have family traditions around the holidays.  Now, I'm not against traditions, baked goods or wrapped presents; but sometimes all of these lovely things add stress at the holidays.  Christmas will still come if my presents are in bags, I buy cookies from the store, and not all of the decorations get up.  These things are great--but the past has a way of interfering with the present at times.  I have learned that you just have to make this particular Christmas the best one it can be--and let go of the past.  For some of you, Christmas may bring painful memories.  Or, you may have lost a loved one.  We often forget that Christmas is a sad time for many people.  Let's resolve to deal with the pain--but still celebrate what Christmas really is--the birth of the Savior of the world, God coming to be with us in human form.

2. The Ghost of Christmas Present--One of my favorite articles is about the "Tyranny of the Urgent."  The basic premise of this article is that what is urgent often crowds out what is important.  This is so true at Christmas.  Presents need to be wrapped, food needs to be made, shopping needs to be done, the house needs to be cleaned, and a whole other long list of things that are very urgent.  After all, Christmas is in 4 days!  But all of these urgent things take away time for us to reflect on what it means for God to have taken human form--helpless, poor and not heard from for 30 years--and then to die a horrible death so that we could be with Him.  It takes time from us considering the word "Advent;" literally, "coming," focusing on Christ's first coming to earth, and His return again to reign.  This ghost is particularly prone to making us cranky, impatient and ill-tempered, if we let it.  Let's remember the true Gift of Christmas--and give our worries to the one who came as a baby so we could live.

3. The Ghost of the Future---It's so easy to get caught up in the materialism of our society during the holidays.  I was in a store today that had SO many cool things; just the wrong place for impulse shopping.  We tend to keep buying stuff--and forget that we will have to pay for it in the future.  We forget to make times special with our kids when they are little, because they aren't little for long, and are grown in the blink of an eye, it seems.  We forget to appreciate our parents while they are still young enough to do things with our kids--until they are too old or senile or ill to do so.  We need to have an eye on the future as we celebrate, because Jesus is coming again.  That is the best gift ever!

I'll admit that it's been a pretty Scrooge-filled day---but I'm trying to banish these ghosts and enjoy what has always been my favorite time of year.  I hope you are as well.  As Tiny Tim says in A Christmas Carol:  "God bless us, everyone!"    Here's a clip from one of my favorite adaptations of the story--from the Muppets:

True Love Melts a Frozen Heart

I felt good enough to go to a movie today with my 17-year-old son.   He'd already seen the Hobbit movie (I passed on that one because of the big spiders in the preview---yuck!), came home and got me, and we went to see Disney's "Frozen."

I loved the movie---it's an instant classic, with beautiful music, incredible animation and lovable characters.   It harkens back to movies like Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and so many others.  But what I really loved is that this movie demonstrated what true love is---and what it is not.    This movie did not have true love end with a kiss, but with a sacrifice; not with Prince Charming but a loving sister.

I really think we as a society need to understand what true love is.   It's not "happily ever after," but hard work, sacrifice, and putting others first.   It's not "love at first sight," as the movie shows, but commitment.    It's best seen in what Christ did for us on the cross---and the little things we do for each other every day.   Like my son taking his mom to a movie, my husband fixing dinner, or giving someone a warm hug.

For a season that's supposed to be all about giving, we---I----often lose sight of this.   It's so easy to get so wrapped up in our own problems that we, like Elsa in the movie, shut others out.   Let's not forget the power of God's love---true love----and use it to melt our own hearts first, and then those of others.

Speaking of melting your heart, here is the snowman Olaf---singing about summer.  Enjoy!  :)

Warm hugs to all, and a Merry Christmas!

Things I've Learned While Being Sick

I have been sick for the past two weeks, missing an uncharacteristic 7 out of 9 days of work.  This, of course is at a time of year that is extremely busy for music teachers--the two days I was at work were in preparation for a trip to Crown Center with my choir, for instance.  I've had a chance to reflect on some things I've learned during this time--or, in some cases, re-learned.

1. I have the best husband in the world.  He cooks, cleans and works overtime--and makes everything run efficiently, even when I can't help him.  He's amazing! 

2.  I have wonderful boys--they show concern and love for me and are such a great help.

3.  There is nothing good on TV during the day.  Thank goodness for DVD players and movies!  :)

4.  Online shopping is awesome.  Seriously; we wouldn't have Christmas this year without it.

5.  Technology connects us in the world--even when we can't leave our home.  Facebook and Twitter have kept me in the loop with my friends and family; I'm so grateful for that.  It's hard for an outgoing person to be home all day, but social media helps!  :)

6.  Pinterest is amazing;  let's just say that missing that many days with a sub is challenging.  But I found some great ideas on Pinterest, which was most helpful.

7.  YouTube is another amazing thing--I found some great videos for the classroom as well, including some holiday tunes by a super group called Pentatonix.  Check them out!  A capella with beat boxing and drums=a great sound.  Here is their video of "Carol of the Bells:"

8.  You have to let go of things that are not in your control.  I missed the Holiday Sing at my school--the first time in 11 years.  It's one of my favorite events, but I wasn't up to it.

9.   God is in control.  I knew that--but it's always a good reminder.  He has a plan and wants the best for me.  I can trust Him because of that. 

10.  My planning is useful--but the unexpected happens.  You have to be flexible enough to deal with changes in the plans you make, while trying to prepare for what's ahead.  It's a delicate and difficult balance.  I think God sometimes throws a monkey wrench in our plans so we learn to trust Him. 

A song that has spoken to me a lot in the past few weeks is this one by Mandisa:      

 

 

I want to be an Overcomer--don't you?  In fact, that's the most important thing I've learned--God gives us the ability to overcome trials.  I'm so grateful for that today!