Lent 2014
March 13, 2014

 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.–2 Timothy 1:3-7 

Could these verses have been written about you? It may not have been a mother or grandmother who modeled faith for you. It could have been a father or grandfather or pastor or Sunday school teacher or friend, but someone introduced you to God in word or in deed. I do not know what the tears are about but I have a hunch it was at a separation when Timothy was sent out on his own and Paul went in another direction. Does it comfort you to know that someone is praying for you? Does it give you strength and encouragement when someone points out how they have seen your spirit in action? 

Have you inventoried your gifts lately? Are you using them or are some stuck back on the shelf? Do you have some gifts that life just hasn’t seemed to need yet? Could this be the time to pull them out, turn them on, and see where the adventure leads? Your public school could use them. Your church could use them in offering programs for parents. 

Could these verses be written by you? Could you, like Paul, be writing to students or parents who crossed your path telling them how you miss being with them, telling them how you are praying for them, and how very proud you are of them?  

Prayer: Source of all gifts shine a light on what you think I can do to help educate our children, help me to see where and how I can serve. Amen.

The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.