Bring May Flowers

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson 

Jeans - Jcrew; Top - Fab'rik; Shoes - Target

We have all heard the saying time and time again: “April showers bring May flowers…and an excuse to wear white pants and bright colored tops.” Ok, ok.  So, maybe it doesn’t exactly go like that. However, I do feel like whenever May arrives I can officially pull out the white pants without anyone looking at me sideways.  Yes, I realize that I am stuck in my Southern ways with this fashion rule. Maybe one day I will embrace the fact that you can wear white all year long. No judgment from me if you already do. 

The month of May also means that summer is approaching. And for this teacher, that means that I am only days away from sitting by the pool, reading lots of books, and NOT having to set an alarm. This is a good situation.

But, the month of May also means having to say goodbye to 23 students who have become like family over the last year. This is a bittersweet situation.  It’s funny, the school year brings a range of emotions for me.  I go from February, when we are cooped up inside, driving each other crazy, cold, sick and counting down the days until spring break, to May, when I’m cherishing each day, shedding tears, and wanting to hug each amazing kid a little closer.

While saying goodbye to my students is tough, I realize that some of you are dealing with much more difficult situations right now.  I mean, I knew back in August that nine months later I would be saying farewell to yet another class.  It was expected.  Many of the difficult situations, however, are not expected.  And if I dove into all the different types of situations that we encounter on a day-to-day basis—from happy to sad and every stage in between—you would be reading this blog post for days. Nobody wants to do that, so I am keeping it simple.

The point of this post is to help you realize the good in your situation. No matter what it is. There are tiny little miracles happening all around you. Miracles that are sometimes too hard to see because the challenging parts can seem so overpowering. I am 100% guilty of letting the tough times completely get me down – I am human after all.

The amazing thing is that when we allow God to walk with us, we tend to find more of the good than the bad. Or, we look at the bad and can somehow find the good. Instead of dwelling on the hard times, we are able to trust and accept that God is going to show us the good. It doesn’t always happen right away; but, when it does, it is the most uplifting and peaceful feeling to experience.

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.” – Isaiah 54:10

So, no matter what situations you face throughout your day today, I pray that you will let God walk with you through each one. Look at how God is working to shape and mold you into the person he wants you to become every step of the way. He’s got this. And so do you.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to give you a future and hope” – Jeremiah 29:11

Your Go-To

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

We all have that go-to item hanging in our closet. It could be a shirt, a pair of jeans, or even a dress. Whatever it is, we pick it because we know it looks good and feels good.  But, most importantly, we pick it because we know we look good in it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be our go-to.

These pieces of jewelry are my go-to for any occasion. Each piece has a story behind it and represents a time of celebration in my life.  It’s almost as if they provide a sense of comfort when I wear them.

At the end of the day, the “go-to” items in your closet or on your dresser are really just that… items. They hold sentimental value, which is special, but you can continue on without them. Another characteristic of our go-to items is that they tend to change with whatever season or period of life you are in. Something you wear over and over again in the summer isn’t going to be the same thing that you wear in the winter. Unless, of course, you live somewhere tropical. And, if that’s the case, aren’t you lucky! 

Just like the go-to items in our closet, our go-to people change, too. We all have that group or that clique that we know we can go to with anything: to celebrate, to cry, to laugh, or to grab a donut with (because who doesn’t want to do that?). There are members of this “go-to” group that you know will be with you for life. Each member holds a specific place in your heart and carries a special gift.

On the other hand, there are those go-to members of the group who enter your life for a season. During that time in your life, you are going to rely on them to walk with you down a specific path. 

No matter what, we all need a go-to. We are not built to take this journey by ourselves. Even Jesus walked the earth with a go-to group. He had people to pray with, eat with, celebrate with, and travel with.  He even had people to challenge Him. Doesn’t that sound very similar to your “go-to” people?

This week, I encourage you to recognize the gifts in each of your “go-to” people. Take a moment to realize what they offer you. Then, take a moment to think about what you can offer them. Check yourself! Have you been as much of a go-to to them as they have been to you? God has placed people in your life for a reason. So GO TO them!  

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirt, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20

Jump Into Something New

Photography by Madi Floury Henderson

You know that feeling when you find a new trend that works for you and suddenly all you want to do is buy more of that same look? Well, that’s how I currently feel about jumpsuits. At first, I didn’t love the idea. It was a fad I couldn’t quite get on board with. Then, I tried one on and fell head over heels for it. Why did I wait so long to embrace such a fun style? This jumpsuit found me at Nordstrom, and I knew it would be a perfect addition to my collection.

Sometimes we jump into new things, like a new hobby, relationship, job, or pair of jeans. But, sometimes we jump into these new things and forget to jump out of the thing we left behind: our past.

We all have something in our past that impacts our present. It can also impact our future because it is so overpowering that we can’t seem to move on. We allow it to control our hopes and dreams and even relationships. And that’s not what the past is supposed to do. 

Your past is a part of you. It helped shape and mold you into the person you are today. But it doesn’t have to define you. We need to learn from our past but not let it stop us. 

I am not a risk taker. Nine times out of ten, I play it safe. This is probably due to something I encountered in my past: a moment where I failed or didn’t live up to expectations. I let that “play it safe” mentally really define me for a long time. I talked a lot about the things I wanted to do; but, whenever it came time to tackle it, I would back away in fear. I would tell myself that I was content with where I was and what I was doing. Everything was fine – why change it?

But there have been a series of events over the past year or so where I can really feel God pushing me to go for it – to accept the fact that these thoughts can’t just be vivid images in my mind anymore. It’s time to take action. I can no longer let the fear of my past prevent me from living out my future.  

So, whatever it is that you are jumping into these days, I pray that you are doing so knowing that God is jumping in with you. He isn’t worried about what might have happened in the past, He has already forgiven you for that. He is focused on shaping you into the person He created you to be. Just go for it.  

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." - Ecclesiastes 3:11