Do You Have To Do It To Help Somebody Get Through It?

Today at work I was having a conversation with a coworker. He was saying that he wanted to be a substance abuse counselor someday in the future. He went on to say that he didn't think someone could be effective at helping kids overcome substance abuse if they hadn't done drugs themselves. He went on to say that he thought the best Licence Substance Abuse Counselors (LISAC) he'd ever seen help kids were the ones who were the worst drug addicts when they were younger. I listened to him explain and shared a few of my thoughts.

What do you think? Do you have to do something or be something in order to help someone? Can a single person be an effective marriage counselor? Can you help kids with substance abuse if you've never done drugs yourself? I am very interested in what you think so please comment!

Grateful

Some of the reasons I'm grateful:

The other day I sent my Dad a text:

I need some guidance dad.

I feel a bit lost in my life.

Things aren't too bad I just need a plan.

He called me back and told me I could move home into the extra bedroom. I laughed—which was much better than crying because my dad seems to know exactly what to say. I told him I couldn't move home b/c I'm 31 and people just don't do that. He told me he figured I'd say that and that I would realize things could be much worse. He was right, I was left smiling, and once again Father knows best! This experience is just one of the many reasons I adore and am grateful for my Dad!

I swap shifts with a coworker so I wasn't with my students for two days. Upon returning one of my ragamuffins told me that he missed my meanness! I'll take it! He missed me and for a moment being missed really mattered. I am grateful for being missed!

Along the same vein I left work the other night and notice a note in my purse. I opened and read it and got a little teary-eyed (no I did not cry). It was from an intern who just wanted to let me know that they noticed the difference I make. The validation couldn't have come at a more needed time. I am grateful for people who validate!

I am in the process of sending my book manuscript to publishers. In the wake of things my family has gotten excited and volunteered their services. My mom, a bit worried about my frequent spelling errors, volunteered to be my human spell check and two of my sisters wanted to read a few chapters and give some feedback. I am grateful for a loving and supportive family!

Whenever my roommate comes home she plops herself at the end of my bed, on my desk chair, or on the floor and she shares all the days dealings. I love these moments and know I will theses days in the future. I am grateful for someone who loves me enough to share their life, the exciting things, the drama, and the mundane.

I am sure there are many more things but for now I am just wanted to share my grateful heart!

Faith and Patience

I am trying to have faith—to believe that God has a plan. At times I think I'm failing and then the Lord gives me a tender mercy/validation that I'm on the right path.

In an earlier post I talked about being reject by a wonderful non-profit for a clinician position and at the same time being offered a different position. What I didn't mention is that the job required me to work on Sundays. This isn't an issue for everyone but for me I struggled a bit. The job offered wasn't the best hours but the pay was significantly greatly than I make now and I would have one clinical day a week to work with clients and get clinical experience. I would also be supervising 8-9 people and gain much needed supervision experience.

I talked to many people about whether or not to take this job and everyone had sage advice. The job was offered Wednesday. On Friday I decided I would let the HR know that I'm interested in the job but wouldn't be able to work on Sundays due to previous religious comittments. They responded positively and said they were working out bugs in the schedule and would let me know by the end of next week what they decided.

So I had a questions and prayers in my heart as I headed into General Conference, a broadcast every 6 months where the Prophet speaks to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It didn't take long for the Lord to reassure my heart and my decision about working on Sunday. The very first Conference talk, The Sabbath and the Sacrament, was about keeping the Sabbath (Sunday) day holy and the importance of Sundays. I know that talk was for everyone in the church but I also know that talk was for ME!

Today I got a call from the wonderful non-profit and they let me know that they gave the job to someone who was willing to work Sundays. They were kind to me and told me to keep in touch and that they would for sure let me know if they have a clinician spot that opens up. I thanked them for their time and hung up. Once off the phone I had mixed emotions. I feel like I made the right choice, and that the Lord validated my choice, but sometimes it is difficult to have faith and be patient.

Turning Point

My roommates and I were watching conference together and afterward there was a show called Turning Point that came on BYUTV. We were immediately drawn in by the cinematography, music, and curious about where the show was going. So—we just kept right on watching, crying, and loving every minute of the great 1 hr show.

I hope if you are reading this you take 1 hour out of your busy life and watch this amazing show about 2 different turning points in peoples lives and how those turning points changed and continues to change the lives of so many others.

I think this documentary touched my heart so much because it spoke to my soul. I am passionate about adoption and believe in the power of love. I also work with kids, though not wheelchair bound, who are broken on the inside even though they may look okay on the outside. Like the "Eagle Eye" children, broken on the outside but intelligent on the inside, the kids I work with need a lot of love, patience, and someone to help them learn how to deal with their emotions.

I love how this documentary was filmed. My roommates and I were on pins and needles waiting to see what was going to happen next. I just sat and watched pure goodness and my eyes got a bit leaking. I hope you enjoy!