I know kids get tired of hearing things like, “When I was your age, I already had a job and three kids,” or “When I was in school, we didn’t miss because of snow.”

I have turned into the “back in my day” person. But really, things are so different now. Nothing makes sense to me, it seems. I have a lot of stories from “back in the day,” but this one particularly shaped my life on so many levels.

SO MY CHURCH (BRAT) STORY begins:

I was an awkward Junior in High School. I went to Oceana High School. Now, that building is Oceana Middle School, with an exceptional principal named Lori Blevins, who is also my friend.

I had several principals in the four years I went to OHS. All were strict and no-nonsense kind of women. Yeah, my high school principals were women. Tough ol’ birds, to say the least. They did not tolerate being late for school or class. They did not feel sorry for the kids who had to wait for the bus in freezing weather, even though the wind could cut them in half. They didn’t care if there was no snow or a foot of snow (literally!); you went to school.

I can still remember the buses had these huge chains on the tires. I remember the crunch in the snow as they would charge through any amount of snow or ice. Let me tell you, those bus drivers were superheroes. It is a wonder all of us didn’t die on our way to school. Back then, the bus drivers would just as soon smack you upside the head if you were not obeying the rules and could look at you through the overhead mirror; they were tough and didn’t put up with the things that today’s bus drivers have to. They had the power! My bus even had bus patrol, essentially teenagers walking the aisle and telling on you. I was always good on the bus; I saw what happened when you acted up — none of that for me! Believe it or not, I was a quiet kid (at least in public).

I recall one bus driver named “Walter.” To me, it was like Cher — he was just “Walter.” He was an older gentleman, and you could tell he loved driving a bus. He greeted each kid one by one as we got on the bus. He was a huge jokester. He knew us by name but didn’t put up with any shenanigans! When he discovered my name was Wendy, he had a field day with it and tormented me. I would get on the bus, and he would greet me with, “Hey tornado, how are we doing today?” Or “Hey, Stormy, how are you this morning?” My absolute cringe moment was when he said, “Hey, hurricane, what kind of mess did you make today?” He meant well, but I hated it!!!

On this particular day, it had snowed so much the night before; I remember walking to the bus stop, the snow was almost to my knees, and the wind was biting. There was so much ice it was hard to stand up. We all held on to each other at the bus stop until the bus came. I still see those vast tires with massive chains on them. But we got right on that bus and just assumed we would get to school safely. It never dawned on me that we had the potential in that weather to get stuck in the ice and snow or the driver to lose control and wreck. I just got on, freezing and just wanting to get warm. Those tire chains crunched and lurched forward, making the way safer for all of us.

That day, I got on the bus despite the snow being so deep and ice as thick as icing on a wedding cake. I can remember it being so slick that I put one foot on the step to get on the bus, and my other foot slipped, and I looked like, “Elf trying to get up the escalator!“

SIDE NOTE: If you have yet to watch Elf, you gotta watch it. Easily my #1 favorite movie.

Finally, Walter picked up all the kids, and we got to school. The bus went to the back of the school to let us off. There was so much ice on the drop-off that it was shiny, like a shiny pebble that was wet from the ocean. It just glistened! I didn’t think much of it until I put my foot off the bus’s first step and tried to put it on the icy pavement. In one sweeping motion, I stepped off, and my whole body slid under the bus!

Now you have to picture this. I was in a long skirt with boots (I loved those boots) and a thin shirt with a jacket and a coat. My skirt slid up almost over my head (as did my jacket, which meant that the thin shirt was now directly on the ice) on my way under the bus, and the only thing you could see was my boots sticking out from underneath the bus. I was so stunned and embarrassed. I can remember seeing the underside of the bus. I recall being very close to those tire chains (which had cleats on them). The smell was like a burnt offering. I know now it was the fuel I was smelling. I laid there trying to get my skirt and jacket back down, hoping and praying that everyone would be inside until I could get out from under the bus. But that didn’t happen; people on the bus with me went and got friends so everyone could see the boots sticking out. “Lord, just kill me now” was in my thoughts. But I knew I couldn’t stay there all day, and eventually, the bus would have to move.

As I began to try to get out of my predicament, it was so slick there was no traction. Suddenly, someone (I know now it was my best friend coming to my rescue) grabbed me by the boots and pulled me out. It was so icy; it was an easy job. As I was coming out from under the bus, I was trying to pull my skirt and jacket back down. I was a mess. Everyone was just standing around. They were either laughing and pointing at me or tried to look away and couldn’t.

I didn’t want to get out from underneath the bus and face everyone standing around (at this point, there were probably 20+ kids there). I decided to stand up, not look at anyone, and walk into the school with my head held high. It was difficult because I had unknowingly broken the heel of one of my boots. I stood up and right back down I went…again…but this time only half of my body was under the bus. I was done…I just laid there hoping that Jesus would come and take me home! Again, my friend came to my rescue and almost fell on top of me in the process of trying to help. Finally, Walter came out to see the commotion and could not help but laugh at the situation. He reached out his hand and said, “Come on, Snowstorm, let’s get you inside.” I went in, limping, red-faced, embarrassed, and humiliated, but I went in.

The school secretary fixed the heel of my boot. The principal came out, gave me a cup of hot cocoa to drink, and let me miss my first class; I was shocked!! 

The humiliating moment was gone, and I had a hot drink and got to miss my first class of the day.

It ended up being a great day!

WHAT’S ON MY MIND?  GLAD YOU ASKED

We all have those days. Days where nothing seems to work out. Days when we walk in life limping and humiliated by the situations we find ourselves in. Some of it is our fault, and others are beyond our control.

Those are the most hated days; those days that I feel out of control. When I am not in control, one thing is for sure. God is always in control; I just have to let Him be. These are the days I try to fix things myself and forget I have a “best friend” named Jesus who will come along beside me and pick me up as many times as I fall! I have to hold on to the scriptures. Verses such as

Philippians 4:12-13. “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

We can face anything when we learn the secret of facing things. Do you want to know the secret? It is learning that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. This verse has been quoted and used so much it is not impactful anymore. We sling it around like a boomerang. We throw it out and hope it comes back to us. But are we seeing the true meaning of the secret? ALL THINGS. Even the hard things. Even those things that knock us back down after all the struggle and stress of getting up. Jesus is where I get my strength to hold my head up high and keep walking in His strength and grace.

When we remember that His ways are so much more than we can even imagine. So much smarter. So much more than our minds can conceive.

Isaiah 55:9. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my (God) ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

When will we let someone help us? I am so stubborn in that part of my life. I do not want to ask for help. But God has placed people in my life who will grab me and yank me up by my “bootstraps,” they set my face toward my goals. Even when I fall again, they are there, and sometimes, just as Walter came and helped, He will send in reinforcements. I have to just give in to the help that is sent my way. Then, and only then, God will give me a period of peace and contentment. A warm place to feel safe no matter what I have been through. After all, one of the pieces of the fruit of the spirit is peace. I have to believe and rest in knowing it will be okay.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Psalms 29:11 “The Lord gives strength to his people, and the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

I Kings 5:4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.

Find somewhere to be alone with no distactions for a few minutes. I love this worship song. It speaks directly to Jesus. Jeremy Riddle – His Name is Jesus.

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Jesus,
You are peace. You are rest. You are the Alpha and Omega. You are the lily of the valley and the bright morning star. You are Wonderful. You are Counselor. You are Almighty God. You are Jesus.

I give You all of my anxiety. I give You all of my need to control, and I give You all authority in my life. I do not want to be alone, crushed, and humiliated by the devil. I want Your peace and rest and restoration.

Thank you for choosing me to be your daughter (or son). Thank you for constantly reminding me I am not alone. You are with me, sending other people into my life for comfort.

I accept Your will as my own. I want You. Nothing more, nothing less, Jesus, I want You! Be Lord of my life; it is Yours to use as You want to use me. I am broken but willing to allow You to make me whole as I walk in Your grace.

In Your Name

Amen

Added bonus worship song. Oldie but a goodie!