New Beginnings

My dearest girls,

We are one week removed from the Easter holiday.  Avaleigh, you are 3 going on 15.  Lindley, you are 1 going on 21.  Little girl, that attitude is something else….but so is that precious smile.

Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  The meaning of Good Friday and Easter is very spiritual and one that I hope you learn from me.  Each year, it reminds me of our Savior’s promise to allow us to start over.  He paid a sacrifice for us so that we might have that ability to begin anew.

That is what I have done in my career.  Recently, I was named superintendent of Marked Tree Schools.  Stills feels weird typing that….you should hear someone say it, too.  Just a little awkward.  Self-doubt is creeping in and I hope I’m making the best move…well, I know I am…mainly because I prayed for God’s will to be done.  I’m try not to worry because I think it shows a lack of faith in God, but I also think is natural.

Girls, I have always been a worrier.  I told myself that I would be principal until they fired me, which was a terrible way of approaching it.  My focus, even as a coach (that is where I feel I had the most success), was on not failing instead of focusing on being successful.  Your mindset should always be to do the things that will make you successful, rather than doing the things that will keep you from getting fired.

Putting myself out there as a principal was scary.  At the time, I knew Ms. Thompson had my back and wouldn’t let me fail.  There was a lot of  hard work and many hours put in.  All in all, I think I did a good job.  At the end, I got really tired and wanted to do something else.  I wish I could have finished that past two years the way the first 7 went. However, I am proud of what was accomplished.

Now, I have put myself out there, again….

No Ms. Thompson.  No due process.  But this time, I think I am bringing a stronger faith and belief in God’s will.  I’m going to succeed, mainly because I am following God’s plan.  That doesn’t mean that things are going to go smooth and that there won’t be rough times.  It doesn’t even mean I won’t get fired.  What it does mean is that I have taken the next step on God’s path for me.  It could lead to retiring here or it could me moving on.  I’m going to just keep praying that God will show me his path for me.  There is a lot for me to do, much more to learn, and listening and looking for God’s counsel.  Whatever I do, is isn’t for me.  I hope I show people that with Christ all things are possible.  That is my only way to describe the run I was lucky enough to have as principal.  This job is much bigger than I am, so I will ask for God’s help and give him all the glory.

Here’s what I want for you to learn….

Be willing to step out there and take risks.  In this world, that is where life is lived.  In your comfort zone, you aren’t pushing yourself.  When you get in the realm of the unknown and make yourself uncomfortable, it is then you realize how things are bigger than you.  Only through risks do you encounter problems.  Problems are important.  If you don’t have problems, you don’t learn.  Mainly, here is what I hope you learn from problems…

You learn to appreciate the work more than the glory, the journey more than the destination, and the fight more than the finish.  Mostly, I hope you learn the fight isn’t your fight to be alone.