...you're STILL a Rabbi!

There are good days, and there are bad days.  Yesterday was one of the bad days.

It was nothing huge; just a bunch of little annoyances that piled up and left me feeling very frustrated, angry, and inferior.  I went to bed feeling defeated.  While today started out great, a couple of things quickly occurred which brought me right back to where I was last night.  Not lovely, I admit.  

It's at this point that I'm going to switch gears on you.  You see, I'm not writing this post to solicit a pity-party for myself, but rather to celebrate encouragement and timely reminders.  I'm going to share a couple of things that made a difference in my morning.  My hope is that you, my friends, will be encouraged next time your day isn't perfect and wonderful.

• I had friends who were praying for me this morning, it was immensely helpful.  Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for prayer and support when you need it!

• I spent some time praising God for His gifts in my life; it's hard to focus on the negative when you're counting your blessings!  

• I actually paused and remembered what we've been learning in Home Group.  We're studying Paul, for crying out loud.  If he could be filled with joy in his circumstances, I could certainly seek joy in my silly little issues.  

• I started singing songs that would lift my spirits.  I was all over the place:  "I Am" (Mark Schultz), "I Will Praise You" (Aaron Gayden), "King of the Jungle" (Steven Curtis Chapman)... you get the idea.  Music is so wonderful.

With my attitude significantly less focused on myself and much more uplifted, I started about the business of the day.  I had to pause and chuckle though, when one final, delightful reference came to mind.

Not many people have heard of the movie, The Frisco Kid; most people who have seen it didn't love it.  It has, however, been one of our family favorites for as long as I can remember.   In it, a Polish Rabbi (played brilliantly by Gene Wilder) named Avram wanders through the Old West in the 1850's on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco.  He teams up with a bank robbing cowboy, Tommy (played by the wonderful Harrison Ford), and together they encounter all kinds of trials on their journey.  

At one point, Avram is very discouraged; he's done some things that he isn't proud of and he doesn't feel worthy to continue on and lead the synagogue.  Tommy grabs Avram, looks him square in the eye and says,

"You are a Rabbi. You can fall in the mud, you can slip on your ass, you can travel in the wrong direction. But even on your ass, even in the mud, even if you go in the wrong direction for a little while, you're STILL a Rabbi! 

THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE!"

I've always loved that quote and today it seemed especially true.  No matter what craziness goes on around me, no matter how up or down I happen to be at any given moment, no matter what life deals me...nothing can change what (who) I am.  I am a Child of God.  I am a wife to a phenomenal husband; a mother to two amazing young men.  I have the best family and friends a girl could ask for.  

I am truly and continually blessed.