Head to Toe

I was teaching 7th grade math at a private Christian school.  One of my sweet students was struggling with anxiety.  How did I know?  This amazing school is a small, tight community.  I had moved up with this group of students after teaching them the previous year in 6th grade.  We had built a rapport, and I had an open door policy.  I wanted to be available for my students with any questions (math or not) when they needed help.  I had also made the effort to partner with their parents.  The momma of this sweet student came to me and let me know of her struggles.  She was helping her daughter learn tools for diffusing an anxiety attack.  She wanted to let me know, and she asked if the student and I could have a secret code, a symbol to let me know she was feeling the anxiety rising.  When I saw the symbol, I would let her leave the classroom to compose herself and use calming strategies.  

During this conversation with the student's mom, I opened up and shared my story.  I, too, had struggled with anxiety, panic attacks, and mental health.  The mom teared up, gave me a hug, and said, "I'm so sorry that you struggle too.  I was so nervous to talk to anyone about this, but the Lord obviously led me to you for a reason.  You understand."  In that moment, I knew.  

I knew that God would use the broken pieces of me to help others.

Then this sweet momma told me about Christy Nockels' album, "Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved"

I downloaded it that very afternoon.  It has become one of my favorite albums to listen to when I need respite.  When I need calm.  When I need reminders of His love for me.  In fact, I began using the first two songs to wake my children for school in the mornings. 

The first song, "Head to Toe" is all about the Armor of God.  As I listened to it again this morning, one phrase stuck out to me.

"His Word will be the sword you keep.  You're covered head to toe."

So as you step into your day, and maybe give this song (or album) a listen, I pray that God's Word would penetrate your heart.  That it would infiltrate every thought you have and spill out into everything you do and say.  

The only way that can happen is if you are actively reading (or listening to) His Word.  My family has started reading one chapter from the New Testament each evening after dinner (thanks to a little encouragement from our school community!)  We're not perfect.  There are nights that we forget or become busy.  So sometimes we double-up later.  And sometimes, as I watch my kids' body language, it seems as if the words are going in one ear and out the other.  I just remind myself that God is using these moments to pour His Truth into our hearts.  And it's a much better use of our time than Netflix could ever be.

So, back to the song and it's uplifting lyrics.  When we spend time in His Word, it becomes our SWORD.  And I don't know about you, but there are days that I really need a weapon like that on my side.

So, dive in, friends!  Let's ARMOR UP!

Link to listen:

YouTube: Head to Toe (Christy Nockels)