Peace That Surpasses All Understanding

I woke up this morning in a panic. I grabbed my mouth and rubbed my fingers over each of my teeth. They were all there and none were loose. This may come across as strange to you, but I was having a moment. That morning, I had the most terrible dream. I can firmly say this morning because I specifically remember when I had this dream. 

Around 5 am, I got out of bed to go use the restroom. I returned to bed afterwards and had a bit of trouble drifting back to sleep. However, without me realizing it, I was sailing into another dream. In my dream, I was at a nighttime cookout with my family. My cousins and I walked out of the house to the back deck and I tickled my front, lower tooth with my tongue. It felt loose. So, I went to feel it with my hand, and it came out of my gums. As I held it, it dissolved in my hand. Panicked, I rubbed the rest of my teeth. A handful came out in my hand and with my tongue, I could feel the missing spaces in my mouth. I threw the teeth down on the ground and my cousins began to laugh. I was so upset that I woke up.

I immediately rolled over and pulled my phone off the charger. I googled, “What does losing teeth in a dream mean?” Several results came up ranging from emotions from losing a family member to depression. However, the ones that really stuck out to me were stress, anxiety, and major changes underway. I feel my stress and anxiety is directly related to the pandemic and the return to school plan.

As you know, I am an assistant principal. As much as I regularly make jokes, last week crushed my spirit. The governor announced that South Carolina schools will have students come back five full days. Our district made a plan and as leaders, we had to develop a feasible plan to ensure students and staff are safe when they return.

Last week, our leadership team met to discuss this plan. The entire week was filled with Zoom. In the past, our leadership week consisted of all the school leaders meeting at the district office devising a plan to create a successful school year. The fellowship among the leaders is encouraging. This year, we lost that camaraderie. You may laugh, but I even miss the ice breakers. I miss meeting the new administrators and making them laugh. This year is going to be different and it has my anxiety on 10.

To help calm my nerves, I decided to go to a place that could give me strength. The bible. I was directed to a passage and I immediately felt my morning soul lighten. Matthew 6:25-34

“25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Biblegateway.com)

I had to remember something. God has placed me exactly where he wanted me to be because he knows that I can handle whatever task lies ahead of me. With this, I gained an internal peace. I am utterly grateful for the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

What do you use for motivation? Comment below!

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