Heather Holleman's Blog, page 52

Sending Them Off

It’s that time of year when parents send their children off to college. Even though it’s my third time dropping off my oldest to college, I still feel the same sadness when I return home. Since I’m about to start reading the book of Exodus, I kept thinking of Moses’ mother sending her own child off down the river. Technically, she put Moses by the reeds near the river bank, but I’ve always loved the picture of Moses floating peacefully down the river while his sister and mother look on.

I didn’t think about Moses, the sister, or the mother this time. I thought about Pharaoh’s daughter who has compassion on Moses, takes care of him, and becomes another mother to Moses. I found myself praying a highly unusual prayer as I said good-bye to my daughter. I prayed that God would send many “Pharaoh’s daughters” to find her, love her, and care for her while I’m not with her. Over and over again, I asked for God to send someone like this.

I realized throughout my life how God has sent older women to find me, have compassion on me, and help me grow. I formed a collection of mother figures and mentors who God sent to draw me out of deep and rushing waters of sin, bad decisions, or unwise behaviors. I remembered all those women and thought of my daughter.

Then I remembered that another mother might be praying this prayer for her child, and I might become the one that finds her child, has compassion, and helps this child grow while the mother is far away.

Send a “Pharaoh’s daughter” was a comforting prayer for me this week and a challenge that I just might that person, too.

Moment By Moment

It’s wonderful to do hard things—things that perhaps make you afraid or anxious. Every time I do something difficult, I feel so much more confident and proud of myself, thankful to God, and happy that I did it.

Today I navigated Pittsburgh, found parking, and managed to move my daughter into her junior year of college. Ash traveled separately in a U-Haul. Normally, I don’t like driving because it hurts my knee, and I don’t enjoy the city traffic. But I discovered the joy of a more modern cruise control system that practically drive the car for me. And I took my time parallel parking on the left side of a one-way street. It was perfectly maneuvered! Moment by moment, I survived the stress of city driving. Sure, this is a small thing compared to larger forms of suffering, but tiny victories over anxiety must be counted. I’m also counting the fact that Ash also parallel-parked the U-Haul! That was a challenge!

God Answers and Is With Us

I love how Jacob describes God in Genesis 35:3. He says, “Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”

God answers us and is with us. He has always been with us. What great comfort as we launch out where God sends us.

Asking for What You Need

Today I applied for two university micro-grants to fund some new initiatives I’m hoping to try in the classroom. One involves an art project and another involves securing the money for a premium Kahoot! license. Why not ask? A micro-grant is something under $500 dollars that funds something you want to try in your classroom at Penn State. Normally, I ignore the emails that invite me to apply for things like this, but today, I figured I would ask. 

Once I asked, I wondered what else I need I might ask for. Money for a field trip? A reduced class size? Does it ever hurt to ask? I’ve loved that phrase, “It doesn’t hurt to ask,” for some time now. And today, I believed it.

God Thinks About Us

This morning, I read these beautiful words in Psalm 40:17, written by David. He writes, “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!” Sometimes we think God has forgotten about us and doesn’t stand ready to help and deliver us. Sometimes we think God doesn’t see or doesn’t care about our situation. David proclaims how God “takes thought” for him; God is thinking about him. Can you imagine this now? That God is thinking about you? I remembered Psalm 33:15 and how God “forms the hearts of all and considers everything they do.” I imagine David needed this truth when he felt alone, forgotten, and overwhelmed. God knows and sees. He is our help and deliverer.

Only Yourself

Today I remembered how the more you you are, the better. As I continue to speak on various stages and interview on the radio, I’m becoming more myself. It’s so much better to be oneself rather than try to be someone else. This applies to everything from how I teach, how I market my books, how I parent, and how I’m a friend. The more I’m me (and not trying to be another person), the more people enjoy being with an authentic presence.

It’s a great practice to ask yourself this: Am I trying to be someone I’m not?

And I remembered this great thought: God doesn’t use you despite your personality; He uses you because of your personality.

Not the Best

My watermelons don’t taste the best. I learned that I’m not the best at growing watermelons. I think that next year, I’ll try different heirloom tomatoes and peppers. I’m so glad I tried my hand at watermelons and pumpkins; now I know it’s not my thing.

I love trying new things and realizing you can’t go wrong. If it works, great. If not, you’ll learn it’s not your thing. The important thing is you tried.

Inquiring

I love how in the book of Genesis, Rebekah is confused about what is happening to her, so she inquires of the Lord (Genesis 25:22). I love the simplicity of it. In present day, when I’m confused, I gather my friends’ wisdom; I read the latest book; I google; I fret; I research. But do I simply and beautifully inquire of the Lord? Do I ask God the question?

What I love about inquiring of the Lord is this: When you approach God with a question, it clarifies exactly what you need. What’s the problem? Where do you need wisdom? What is the struggle? Imagine God saying to you, “I will answer your question.” What question would you ask Him? What a sublime moment to think this can actually happen as we’re told we can approach God with freedom and confidence.

I want to add “inquire of the Lord” into my daily practice. While Rebekah received a clear answer, I know we might not hear any kind of audible voice. But I do know the Holy Spirit can speak to our hearts. I know the Bible can illuminate truth and give us the wisdom we need. And I know God can use wise people to speak into our situation. However God sends His answer, the important point is that He answers.

Little Neighborhood, Big Love

Today I walked around to deliver the containers that held the food and treats my neighbors sent while we were recovering from COVID. Beforehand, I sat at the kitchen table and wrote out thank-you notes to the friends who showed such care for us. I wrote sixteen letters. Sixteen! That’s a lot of families who decided to bless us. The thought of it filled my heart with so much love and joy.

Sometimes I don’t like living in a small, semi-rural town. I think about the lives of people living in glamorous places in big cities. I think about all the fun activities and all the cultural events. What is life like, for example, on the Upper East Side in New York? How do people live in Paris? But today, I didn’t want to live anywhere else. I wanted to live on my little street, in my little neighborhood, where everyone takes care of each other.

Helping Others Flourish

I learn of a beautiful interpretation of The Lord’s Prayer on TikTok from a user (@stormyc_spirit) who I imagine differs greatly from me theologically. While this might seem New Age and not something you’re comfortable with, I still loved the wording. I wrote down his interpretation in my journal.

He prays to God: Carve out a space where Your presence can abide in us. Empower us to bear the fruit of Your mission. Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish. Untie any tangled thread that binds us, and release us from the entanglements of past mistakes. Illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.”

What struck me was this idea that I might have the wisdom to produce and share what another person needs in order to grow and flourish. All day long, I thought of asking God to help me do and say just the right thing to help another person grow. As I connected with a friend by phone, with my daughters and husband, and with a coworker, I kept asking for this beautiful prayer that I could help others grow and flourish by my words. I thought of the stunning statement in Isaiah 50: “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.” I want to speak words that sustain weary people.