The Road That Leads To Awesome

On the first day of school I showed my students a video by Kid President Robby Novak. At nine years old, Robby has life wisdom and perspective that most of us lack. And being that Robby has osteogenesis imperfecta (his bones break easily) his outlook is all the more remarkable.

My purpose: To inspire and motivate my seniors to be more than what the world might expect. We are all on a road that leads to somewhere; why not be on the road that leads to awesome?

I wonder what would happen if we all attacked every day with even half of the passion and joy that Robby attacks his days. What would happen if we all woke up tomorrow and said, “Today, I’m taking the road that leads to awesome.”  Can you even imagine what that might look like?

Would it mean that in the drive thru at Starbucks I pay for my coffee and the lady’s behind me?

Would it mean that instead of yelling at the guy that runs the stop sign, I simply sigh and pray he might stay safe?

Would it mean that in that moment when I’m prompted to call my friend I haven’t talked to in three years that I actually do it?

Would it mean that I choose joy instead of anger? Gratitude instead of selfishness? Grace instead of judgment?

Would it mean that I graciously give my children my time and my patience when I have more “mom” jobs to do than time to do them in?

Would it mean that when my husband comes home late, I choose to be gentle and understanding rather than stingy and small?

Would it mean I see beyond the attitude of that senior in my English class to the struggle and heartache beneath?

Would it mean that I try to see with the eyes of Jesus instead of the eyes of Jamie?

Would it mean that I wake up and offer Jesus the control and authority over my day, instead of relying on my own strength and my own understanding?

Would it mean that I err on the side of grace and mercy instead of criticism and judgment?

Would it mean that I give a little extra to my church, trusting in God’s provision?

Would it mean that I choose to support a child through WorldVision or Compassion and sacrifice my weekly Starbucks run?

Would it mean that I choose things that are eternal over things that are not?

Would it mean that I come alongside a fellow Mom of Multiples and be her friend when things are really hard?

Would it mean that I choose to only say those things that will build others up and hold my tongue when I would rather tear someone small?

 Would it mean that I call my dear friend of three small boys whose husband will leave to go back to Iraq for 3 months in a few short days and offer her my time, my ear, my encouragement?

Would it mean that I make myself small so that Jesus might be made big in me?

Awesome isn’t in the big things. Awesome is in the details.

Awesome is a mindset, a choice we make every moment to be the best version of ourselves in that moment. To be Jesus with skin on.

Awesome is continually choosing the fruits of the Spirit, even when it’s so much easier to choose out of them.

Awesome is the single mom who sacrifices her free time to take her kids to soccer practice. And then goes home to make dinner, pack lunches, and put kids to bed. All by herself.

Awesome is the teacher who notices an underprivileged kid in her class and buys him his first brand new backpack. With her own money.

Awesome is the coach who teaches his players not just how to win the game, but also how to lose the game.

Awesome is the teenager who gets a job to support his family because his parents are unemployed. And still goes to school.

Awesome is the friend of mine who is struggling her way through infertility and inspires me with her courage and her perseverance, in spite of her tremendous sorrow.

Awesome is that kid who marches to the beat of his own drummer, who dances to a song of her own making, who wears her princess dress to the grocery store and her tutu to the park.

Awesome is the body of Christ who rallies around a family who has lost a child.

Awesome is the pregnant teenage girl who chooses life instead of death.

Awesome is the mom who lost a child and still gets up in the morning to take her other children to school.

Awesome is the girl who lost her leg and now makes jokes and laughs about life with a prosthetic.

Awesome is the woman who battled breast cancer and won.

Awesome is the single dad who does his daughter's hair in braids for her school pictures.

Awesome is that person who chooses to see the lonely person and sit next to her in church.

Awesome is everywhere. We just have to be looking for it. And when we open our eyes to see the awesome, we will also find ourselves a witness to grace.

Yeah. I wanna be on the road that leads to awesome.

Because really, why not?

Grace Always Rises,

Jamie