Where is Your Focus?

I read an article in USA Today over the Christmas break that talked about a woman who had lost her job a year ago and was living off of unemployment.  Unfortunately, in this day and age that is not unusual.  The part of the article that suck with me most was discovering that this woman was making more money a month living off of unemployment than I make in a month teaching school.  I have to admit that the article made me angry and left me flabbergasted.  I couldn't believe it!

Am I complaining about my salary?  Absolutely not!  I am so thankful to be a teacher.  I adore my students, even my "blessing students," and feel extremely blessed to be doing what I love to do.  But, the fact that this woman makes more money a month doing nothing just proves to me how flawed the system is. 

So as I wrestled with my thoughts about this article this past Tuesday morning, one of my beautiful, smiling, happy, beautiful-on-the-inside-and-outside students came to class first period looking quite distraught.  I asked her what was wrong and she told me that their house had been robbed Monday afternoon.  The intruders took all of their new Christmas presents, their televisions, cameras,  all of the money that she had earned over the Christmas break, and event the new sheets and comforter off of their bed.... and her family was devastated. 

And my heart ached for her.  But, I wasn't alone.  The news quickly spread throughout the high school.  It wasn't long before I received an email explaining what had happened and that our campus would be secretly taking up money to give to the family.

On Friday afternoon, I received another email.  This email explained that our small campus, along with the help from some members from the community and a youth group collected $1155 for the family in 3 days!  Wow!  And my heart rejoiced.   I can't imagine all that the kindness and generosity from friends and faculty meant to that family but I know that it made a difference!

Romans 12:9-13 says,"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality."

I love that!  What a blessing to work with God's people who are "ready to help and always eager to practice hospitality!"  That is worth far more than anything money can buy! The Lord faithfully reminded me that no matter where I sit or stand, my future is in His hands...and I can think of no other place that I would rather be. Held in His very hands...what a humbling yet thrilling thought.

And if I am living in the palm of His very hands, then my focus needs to be on Him and not on all of the yuck. Yes, I can hate what is wrong but continue to hold on to what is good.  And I'd rather focus on the good any day.  Where is your focus? Where is my focus?  And once again, our hearts cry, "Come!  Lord, Jesus, come!"