BEING TRANSFORMED, #2: WHAT ABOUT ME?

Good morning, Mini-Women! At last, back to normal. Thank you for your prayers and patience. You're always good that way and I don't take it for granted.

Before we start, just a reminder to be very, very careful not to say anything that might hurt someone's feeings. If you've done that, we forgive ya -- this is just a nudge to think it through before you post anything involving the word "hate!" Sometimes it's appropriate, of course. I hate bullying, for example. Other times it isn't. I don't hate bullies themselves. See the difference? Again, if you make a mistake, not to worry. We're all learning.

How about some prayer requests to get us back in GIA Agent mode? Your fellow mini-women have asked your prayers for:

    EMMA, who has some big tests today. She gets nervous, so please pray for calm so she can concentrate.

    EMMA, whose friends are losing their beloved dog. That can really hurt.

    KATIE, whose family can't seem to fight off this winter bug we all seem to be getting. It's evil!

   Merciful God, please hear the prayers of your Mini-Women -- these and the ones they keep in their hearts.

You have been great about welcoming CHANTEY and MARANDA, so let me join in -- Welcome, both of you! We think you're going to like it here. You've come just in time because we're starting a brand new series. If anyone missed last week's post called BEING TRANSFORMED #1, you're going to want to go back and read that before you start this one so you'll know what's going on.

Two more things before we move on (lots of business today!)

    (1) Thank you SO much for all your title suggestions yesterday. The team will have lots of great ones to choose from. The first book in the series will come out in 2014. You'll be the first ones to know!

    (2) I want to thank Miss Crystal for being so great about keeping you all up to date while I was sick. I don't know what I would do without her as my CFF (that's Tween You and Me code for "Close Friend Forever"). She hasn't been feeling well either, so will you please pray for her? She loves all of you.

All righty, then! Let's move on to our next step in being transformed into the real us! We'll continue with the story of the two sisters and the one hot guy -- Rachel and Leah.

    READ:   Genesis 29:18-28 Two things you'll need to know. One, Laban is Rachel and Leah's dad. Two, Jacob didn't realize he was marrying Leah instead of Rachel because her face was veiled. Like, big time. (If you want more background, read p. 246 of THAT IS SO ME)

    PONDER THIS: Three people in this story had some pretty tough things to face. Can you imagine how JACOB felt when he'd served SEVEN YEARS (that's like from now until the time you're 16 or 17 or 18) and he doesn't get what's promised to him? Is it even possible to know how RACHEL felt, loving Jacob and watching him have to marry her sister? And what about poor LEAH? Wouldn't it be SO hurtful to be secretly married to somebody who wanted your sister, not you? Sit with that for a few minutes and try to feel what each of them felt.

    TURN IT INWARD: Which one of those three people reminds you most of your own situation? Do people make promises to you and then not keep them? Do unfair things happen with your siblings? Do you feel like people only hang out with you because they have to or they feel sorry for you? Ouch, huh?

    TALK TO JESUS ABOUT IT: Don't stay there by yourself for too long. Talk to Jesus about it instead, just like the two of you are sitting down with ice cream sundaes (or some other treat). Pour it all out to him -- either in your mind, or out loud, or in your journal, or while you're drawing.   Don't leave anything out, even the stuff you don't feel so good about (like the times you do things to get your sister in trouble because it seems like she's the favorite). Once you've got it all out -- all of it -- ask him for help. We can't change other people, but we can be changed ourselves. That's the thing to ask him for: whatever needs to happen in you so you can handle that situation better.

        NOW -- Take this little quiz. It's on p. 247 of THAT IS SO ME in case you want to do it there.

        Check any of these areas where you feel resentful, like it just isn't fair at ALL:

     _____ Your brother or sister gets more attention, or gets away with more, than you do.

    _____ A parent makes decisions that make YOU want to scream

    _____ A teacher treats some students better than others

    _____ Everybody flocks to the girls who are "perfect." You have nice qualities too, but few people seem to notice

    _____ Some girls just seem, well, luckier than you are

Transformation doesn't happen until we look at things straight on, and that's what this is about. Keep your answers handy as we go through this week. You might just see some changes begin . . .

    SHARE: You can comment on anything IN THIS POST that you want to (as long as we stay on track). You might want to tell us your answers to the quiz (or you might not!). Or maybe tell us which of the three characters in the story you really identify with (feel like that's you). You can always ask questions too. Like Sophie, in SOPHIE'S DRAMA, we all come up against this stuff from time to time, so remember that we're all in it together, helping each other grow just by listening and loving.

And I DO love you!

 

Blessings,

Nancy Rue     

Comments

[Casey]

great post Mrs. Rue!!!!! glad you are feeling better!!! i would share but........

[Katie]

I love the post Ms. Rue. The person I have always felt like is Jacob. There has been times when I work really hard for something and then I don't get it. So i think I know how he felt.

[Amelia]

WELCOMe, Chantey and Maranda! Y'all will SO love it here!
Praying, all!
I feel like Rachel- I'm the most noticed one in the family *and the following isn't saying I am, just some qualities that people say I have* and the prettiest and talented-est; etc. So, that kinda bounces off the test in THAT IS SO ME!... and I wish I wasn't the favorite. I mean, my parents say, "No, you aren't the favorite. We love each of you the same." but it still feels as if people favor me better than EBNO and EBNT. (eldest bro number one and EBN two)

Please pray for this really sweet lady who has cancer at our Church. Okay, love you, and I'll ttyl!

[emma ;) xoxo]

Praying! Welcome everyone!; D thank you everyone for praying!.

[Mary]

Praying! Also please pray for my grandma; her leg has been hurting her. Welcome, Chantey and Marannda! Great to have you here. :)

Now, for the post... I sort of have a mix of all three of Leah, Rachel, and Jacob in me.

I'm pretty easy-going; I try to make everyone happy. That has some good parts (people usually feel really comfortable around me, I don't really have any enemies, and some friendships have developed from that that being-comfortable-around me), but it also has some bad parts (when someone takes something the wrong way or gets offended I beat myself up - figuratively! - about it and feel absolutely horrible, even if it's really more of their problem)...

So, like Jacob, I work really hard. For school, mostly, and it shows in my grades, but also at extracurricular stuff (can anybody say track?). What really riles me up is when in school, I am not challenged at all and a class is just sooo boring, and when I try to do something about it, people jump on me for it. Hello? Shouldn't every kid have an equal opportunity to learn and be challenged?

And I'm sort of like Leah and Rachel, too, because - not trying to brag here - but to just look at my life, it's pretty perfect. Good grades, good family, etc. Then you get down to the nitty-gritty, and it's pretty hard being me. But I sometimes feel like since I set such a good example, my younger sisters have a really hard time of it, always trying to live up to me and have that pressure. But can I do anything about that...? I don't know.

And I feel I'm also like Leah, in a way. I've made a LOT of new friends-who-used-to-be-aquaintances (see first paragraph) this year, and that's partially amazing and partially complicates my life a whole lot more. And sometimes when a friend just leaves to go talk to/sit with a different, closer friend, and you're left there all alone, it hurts. Even if they didn't mean anything by it.

Wow... just looked that over. Looong post... ;)

[Jesus Freak]

Yay I'm sooooo glad ur feeling better Mrs. Rue!!

Welcome Chantey and Marannda!!!!

I'm like Rachel, Leah, and Jacob like Mary said.

I'm like Rachel becuz: I'm pretty popular at my Co-op. And I've known some boys who have had crushes on me (Ickety ick!!!)

I'm like Leah becuz: Sometimes I feel like my grandparents like my other siblings more then me.

I'm like Jacob becuz: I work really hard for things. Like I babysit to earn money to buy things for the Child that I sponsor.

So ya I'm kinda a mixture.

again I'm Sooooo happy ur better Mrs. Rue!!!

I'll be praying for everyone including Miss Crystal!!!

TTYLXOX

Beth:)

[Baylee]

Welcome Chantey and Mirannda!I'm probably most like Jacob in this story. Like I work really hard for something and then I feel like I don't get enough regenition for it. I don't have to be congradulated all the time but it'ld be nice to be paid back for something (like helping with my sis all the time) once in a while... I have a prayer request for my neighbor and their family. They are all moving to Alaska (wich isn't very close to where I live) but two at a time. So just pray that everything goes well with the move. As always praying for ya'll!

[Baylee]

Oh and the one I checked off was for
* Parents make decisions that make you want to scream
* People flock around the girls who seem "perfect".

I can't wait for the books to come out mrs.rue! I'll be praying for u and mrs.crystal to get better.

[Chantey]

I think I'm most like Jacob. I work a lot at home and I feel like I don't get - uh, what's the word? - recognized. I don't get rewarded, and my sister who works less than I do does.

Thanks for all the welcomes(:

I have a prayer request! My friend, Aly, her sister was in a car crash and lost a lot of blood and broke her leg. I told her I'd pray for her, and maybe you want to help me pray?

So happy you feel better Miss Nancy!!! And I'm SO excited for the books :D

[Jenna]

Welcome Chantey! You're going to love it here :)

I'm probably like Rachel. (not trying to be proud here) But everyone says "you're so beautiful," and all that stuff. Sometimes I don't like getting all the attention-- if you know what I mean.

SO GLAD YOU'RE FEELING BETTER MRS.RUE!

I'll be praying for Miss.Crystal, and Aly's sister.
And anyone else's prayer requests :)

[Esther]

I am back with a new e-mail, Ms. Rue, pls I sent you an e-mail, check it out, PRAY FOR ME have been feeling weak.
BLESSINGS!

[Josie]

Welcome Chantey and Mirannda! Such pretty names... all of you girls have pretty names. I will pray for you girls and Crystal! My sister is now better... thank you for your prayers! Could you please pray for my dad and I as we both have colds.

Your Friend,
Josie

[Jesus Freak]

I have an awesome praise: MY MOM IS FREE OF CANCER!!!!!!
Sorry I'm just soooooo excited!!!!!
Praying!!!

LUV YA'LL

TTYLXOX

Beth:)

[engilish faithgirl AKA Nikita]

THATS GREAT JESUS FREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[engilish faithgirl AKA Nikita]

the 2nd the 3rd and the forth

[Baylee]

that's so awesome Beth!! God is good!!

[Katie]

That is awesome Beth! I have a prayer request. My mom decided to start a group for young girls my age! The group is meant to encourage and help girls grow in there faith. We had the first meeting on Monday and I think it went really good! Please pray that the girls were encouraged and that they will come next month to our next meeting. Thanks!

[Emma ♦♣☺♠☻♥◄☼►1♦♪♫]

Oh my gosh! Beth that is soooo awesome! God, thank you for leting beths mm be better! please please keep her heathy !please heal alys sister and help them! Andfor anyone i am missing! Thank you! I love you! Love Emma

[AnnaRachael]

_check Your brother or sister gets more attention, or gets away with more, than you do.

um, not really... A parent makes decisions that make YOU want to scream

___no, I am home schooled!oh,yeah!BABY!__ A teacher treats some students better than others

_____ no, read reason on the aboveEverybody flocks to the girls who are "perfect." You have nice qualities too, but few people seem to notice

_____yeah. Some girls just seem, well, luckier than you are

[Abigail]

Beth, that's FANTASTIC!!!!
And welcome Chantey and Maranda! :D
I think I'm more of a Leah - person than anybody else. We have only 9 girls in our class (small, right...) and the odd number makes stuff tricky. I don't think 9 chairs at a table is very usual, and so these are my Leah - moments:
- Everybody dashes to the table in a lesson (with eight chairs) really quickly so I'm left standing and all the girls are sitting down. Without me. Even though the teacher switched us, the feeling remained.
- In the cafeteria, another girl takes my place. So I pull a chair up.
I guess I know I'm a misfit... a Christian bookworm/writer... but...
Sorry, a lot of feeling - sorry - for - myself over there. And that shouldn't happen because it's a new day over here in Europe and LOTS OF THINGS LIE AHEAD...
Also, please pray for this: I'm really, really physched because tomorrow I'm starting a Faithgirl! club with my Christian friends at Church! Thank you so much for the idea, Mrs. Rue, on the website www.faithgirlz.com. Please pray that it goes well.
Another thing... how often will this series be posted?