From Julie Smith, Office Manager
There are two things that come to mind that have changed my heart and soul working at Cup of Cool Water (O.K. way more that that…but it’s these two I will write about today):
“Thy will….not MY will”, and Acceptance.
The acceptance piece comes from many things; one that comes to mind is my own personal character traits of obsession and control. I was in a store and saw a motivational bookmark on acceptance and felt inspired to purchase it for my son. However, as I read through it, I found a typo. Now, I am the kind of person that drives down Division Street and cringes when I see a misspelled reader board. I have to fight the urge to call the business and tell them how to correct the error. My personal flaw…Anyway, this bookmark was flawed and my first reaction was not to purchase it, then I thought, “Oh, I must buy it for my son so he can see that not everything is perfect!” Immediately I realized how controlling that was and thought, “NO! I must buy it for myself to remind myself that not everything is perfect.” I did, in fact, buy it for myself and smile whenever I place it in a book to mark my spot.
But what does that have to do with Cup of Cool Water? Being here has taught me acceptance. I accept the youth that come through our doors and up our stairs unequivocally knowing that they are exactly where they are supposed to be in their lives at any given time according to God’s plan for us. I am where I am supposed to be also, which reminds me that it is “Thy will, not my will” even if I don’t like it.
So this bookmark says:
Acceptance
Is the answer to all my
problems to day.
When I am disturbed,
it is because I find some
person, place, thing or situation…
some fact of my life
unacceptable to me. I can find no
serenity until I accept that person,
place, thing or situation as being exactly
the way it is supposed to
be at this moment.
Nothing, absolutely nothing,
happens in God’s world by mistake.
Unless I accept life completely on life’s terms,
I cannot be happy.
I need to concentrate on
what needs to be changed in
me and my attitudes.
*So did you find the typo?
