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Mountains…

…do you have any in your life right now?

As my flight descended into Phoenix a couple of days ago, I looked out the window and saw beautiful mountains.  I got to thinking to myself — I have some “mountains” in my life that don’t seem so lovely.

My mountains?

They look too BIG for me to climb.

They have me feeling unequipped to face.

They seem like more than what this girl can handle.

…I’m not sure I want to climb them.

As I stand at the base of my “mountains” there’s only one thing I know to do, look UP!

For some of us our mountains are:

Relationships…will this ever work?  will this ever be restored?  will I ever be able to trust?

Health…will there be healing? what do I do if I never feel better, how will I cope?

Projects…will the pieces come together to meet a deadline?  Who can I find to help me? Why is this on my plate?

Work…is there something more?  Will I be stuck here forever?  Laid off again, now what? I can’t find a job, I need to make money.

Financially…will this debt ever go away?  How will I be able to survive in my retirement years?  How will I make ends meets?

Emotionally…Why am I feeling anxiety?  How can I snap out of this depression?

Spiritually…Where is my joy?  Is there anything that will make me feel alive?

…the list of mountains can be endless.

Each time I am faced with a mountain in my life, I am reminded of these words in the song, I Will Life My Eyes by Bebo Norman:

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

My questions to you are…

what do you do when you’re faced with a mountain in your life?

Where do you turn for encouragement, hope, direction, strength?

What keeps you willing to keep-on-keeping-on; persevering?

Once we decide to conquer the mountain…the view gets better with EVERY step UP we take!

What do you do when the money runs short
but the bills run long?

when the disease charges fast
but the medicine works slow?

What do you do when life carries on
even when death stops short?

or when joy fights to rise
while bitterness weighs you down?

When you can’t see where you’re going
or the road that lies ahead,
when hope begins to drift away
and despair sinks in instead.

When you’re tramping
and trudging
and trying to hold on,
how do you keep from sinking,
when the trials tarry on?

Friend, hold on to Jesus,
He’s working all things for your good,
He knows just what He’s doing,
Things will turn out as they should.

Sometimes we walk through fires,
That burn up all we love,
But it’s when all of that is missing,
We learn He is enough.

So don’t give up
and don’t give in,
each day He has ordained;
One glorious day you’ll look and see
Your hope He has sustained.

No matter what doubts tempt your mind,
Hold on to the Truth that you know–
You will get through this together,
He will never let you go.

Think about what might have helped you in that situation. A smile? Laughter? Recognition from someone that they have ‘been there’? In some circumstances, when you may be really concerned about the escalation of that parent’s behavior, and maybe even concerned for the safety of that child, what would you do? One recommendation may be to offer a distraction to take that parent out of the heated situation. Kindly interrupt and ask for directions. Compliment them on their clothing, hairstyle, whatever…. ask if they have seen a product. You get the idea. Something completely unrelated to the event, but because you are creating that interruption, it is giving both child and parent time to cool down.

On the other hand, if you are witnessing a violent act against a child, you have the responsibility to alert authorities. Children count on ‘the village’, and if the village fails them when warning signs are there, what is left? Unfortunately we live in a world where there is stress beyond measure. Many of us are feeling the pressures of our finances. For others it might be health issues, or lack of insurance, or a loved one who is deployed. We all have our triggers. I just ask that you, as a concerned citizen, take the responsibility to be the eyes and ears for our children. It really does take a village.

www.preventchildabuse.org
What You Can Do: Reach Out PINWHEELS FOR PREVENTION ™ CAMPAIGN

Anything you do to support kids and parents can help reduce the stress that often leads to abuse and neglect.

Be a friend to a parent you know. Ask how their children are doing. Draw on your own experiences to provide reassurance and support. If a parent seems to be struggling, offer to baby-sit or run errands, or just lend a friendly ear. Show you understand.

Be a friend to a child you know. Remember their names. Smile when you talk with them. Ask them about their day at school. Send them a card in the mail. Show you care.

Talk to your neighbors about looking out for one another’s children. Encourage a supportive spirit among parents in your apartment building or on your block. Show that you are involved.

Give your used clothing, furniture and toys for use by another family. This can help relieve the stress of financial burdens that parents sometimes take out on their kids.

Volunteer your time and money for programs in your community that support children and families, like parent support groups or day care centers.