ADD - Update

A few months ago I wrote a blog post about making the very difficult decision to put our son on ADD medicine. Throughout the last several months there have been a few days where we have questioned is this the right decision for our son, but in all honesty, those times have been very infrequent. We have seen our son go from a child who was extremely frustrated because he had such a difficult time understanding his school work, learning and controlling his behavior to a child whose self-esteem has sky-rocketed and who truly LOVES school.

Today he brought home his third report card this year. He has brought up his reading grade from a B- to an A. His other grades all came up and for the first time he made straight A's including a 100% average in math. Almost more amazing to me is his bringing up his conduct grade to an A+. When we put him on medicine we just hoped to not get such frequent reports of misbehavior. But to get NO reports of misbehavior is such a blessing.

I am so grateful that others are seeing in my son what I have always known was there but he just struggled so much to show the world. We are continuing to evaluate things and we don't know that we will always keep him on medicine, but for now we are staying the course. I can't wait to see what he does with his very bright future!

Are you prospering???

What does it mean to prosper??? Is it money in the bank? Is it nice houses, cars, designer clothes? Making sure you get to lunch with the girls, workout at the gym, that round of golf in? Is it living the American dream? For a long time that is how I would have defined prosperity. It is what I have always wanted. Who hasn't! But the more I study scripture, I wonder if that is how God defines prosperity.

The word prosper in Hebrew is the word Dashen which means: to make fat. Prosperity in Hebrew is the word Tobe which means: good, pleasant, agreeable. So prospering means to make fat (having so much to eat that one becomes fat in many cultures equates to wealth). Prosperity means something that is good, pleasant and agreeable. Similar, but not quite the same.

In looking at the story of Joseph in the Bible, we learn that Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers. He eventually came to be a slave in the home of Potiphar. But even as a slave, the scriptures state that: The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:2. Everything in Potiphar's house and work prospered because Joseph was there and lived according to the Word of God. As the story continues, Potiphar was deceived by his wife into believing that Joseph had tried to take advantage of her and Joseph was thrown into jail. But even in jail, scriptures state: The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Genesis 39:23. Joseph again through remaining faithful to the Lord God was blessed while in jail. After a couple of years, Joseph was elevated to second in command to Pharoah. From there Joseph did see great wealth and position and favor. This favor allowed Joseph to be reunited with his father and reconciled with his brothers. So in all things in Joseph's life, whether slave or ruler, God was with him and he prospered.

In examining the life of Joseph, I have come to realize that our current circumstances have nothing to do with whether or not we are prospering. Prosperity has to do with our relationship with the Lord. Joseph was a slave, in prison and a great ruler and in ALL those things he prospered because the Lord was with him, directing his steps and his days. In Proverbs 21:21 it states: He who pursues righteousness and love, finds life, prosperity and honor.

Prosperity is about having a right relationship with God. Prosperity is hearing from the Lord and walking with Him daily. It is God sustaining me even when the circumstances of my life seem pretty dark and full of despair. Prosperity is knowing that I am not walking it alone but God is with me directing my steps and my path. It is loving God with my heart and trusting in HIM alone! And it is knowing that in both tough times and good times that God is working it all out as He promised He would do!