When I was a freshman, several of my friends were cheerleaders or dancers. I would go to their practices sometimes and help them learn their routines and choreography. Although I had just recently become completely wheelchair dependent, I still had a passion for dance and performing. One day, at a practice, the coach brought up the idea that I might consider being a mascot. I was so excited. I rushed home to ask my mom and she immediately said no. She said she worried it wouldn't be safe for me. I remember being so angry that I yelled at her and laid on my bed and cried about the injustice of it all. Later I heard my mom tell my aunt that she was worried that I would be picked on for being a mascot in a wheelchair and how kids on the other team may be extra cruel about their opposition being disabled. In hindsight, she was probably right and was protecting me. At the time, I didn't understand. I thought that it was her saying that I wasn't good enough or she thought I would...
Sometimes, as Christians we are lead to change major parts of our lifestyle that previously never seemed to be a problem. We, in living by His teachings, sometimes must step away from things we once enjoyed or situations we may have been content with before becoming a follower of Christ. For example, I used to cuss like a sailor. I didn’t really cuss out of malice or hatred, more just for the theatrics of it. It was a way to make the conversation more outrageous, or as I once considered, “colorful”. But once I really began to feel the Holy Spirit and the unlimited kindness and gentleness of Jesus, I realized that even if the intent of those words were not hateful, they still left their mark. Plans are made in human hearts, but from the Lord comes the tongue’s response. All one’s ways are pure in one’s own eyes, but the measurer of motives is the Lord. (Proverbs 16:1-2) Sometimes words, much like our actions, may be intended one way, but may leave a negative impact on our s...