S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d by God

Why is it that growing in the Lord hurts sometimes? I look back to those growing pains of my childhood when my legs would hurt like they were going to fall off. I remember the punishments for wrongs that corrected me and sent me down right instead of wrong paths from my parents. None of that was fun. Today was and was not fun. I taught the first 3-5 year old class in my church which I will be doing with my husband for 3 months at least. The kids were great. The lessons were awesome. Time flew by so quickly as we taught the precious babies that were entrusted to us for an hour. But I have to submit to a very strong woman who is the official new children's minister(they teach ages 6-11) with her very quiet husband who has definite ideas about how she wants the 3-5 class taught-down to when I can and cannot let the children go to the restroom. S-T-R-E-T-C-H. I left the church today and cried. I know I am supposed to be right where I am and I thank God that I have the opportunity to teach these precious children. It is just that I am not used to working with someone who draws such a clear distinction between her role as leader and my role as volunteer in the body of Christ. It just doesn't work that way at our church most of the time. God is teaching me. I am growing. I will be stronger and easier to work with after this. I will be more pliable in the master's hands. I thank him for His strenth and guidence in this and all situations. Maybe someday the growing pains will not hurt so much? Maybe not. But as long as I continue to grow I know it will all be alright.

Amy, Is it wrong to speak assertively to a person who has control issues? I don't think it is. Assertive speech says, "I feel this way about how to run my class....and I feel hurt, angry, upset when you speak to me that way." Speak the truth in love to her, and tell her how she is making you feel with her manner of leadership. Be honest about wanting to serve in Children's Ministry, but not wanting to do so with her way of controlling every little thing. Use "I" statements. Tell her how you cried on the way home because of the conflict within you about this. She may be totally clueless to how she impacts people. It is not a sin to tell the truth to someone. It is more loving to share with her, though it takes a ton of courage to be assertive. If you are unsure of yourself, take a loving sister with you as a witness, or your husband. Speak softly, and lovingly. Compliment her service to the LOrd and to the church, as well as her desire to have the ministry glorify the Lord. I learned those things in eating disorder treatment. Assertive communication is something many of us must learn, as I used to stuff my feelings rather than be honest in confronting someone. My pastor did a sermon on confrontation last week, and I have a ton of verses I can send you if you like. His sermon is available on iTunes, if you get it. They are free. My church is Langhorne Terrace Ministries. You can download them free. Hugs, Trish

Thank you Trish. I will do this if it continues to be a problem, but my husband who was also there says that she did not do anything offensive. He wants me to just work for her and do as she says for now. I am submitting to my husband's wishes right now and I do think it is good to be able to work with different types of people. However, You are right. It is not wrong to stand up for what I think is right or for myself. The bathroom thing really bothers me. If a 3 year old needs to go to the bathroom-you take them-right then. My son was barely potty trained at 3 with #1 and not at all with the other. She has never taught children this young herself and all of her 4 children are adopted so I really do not know if she has ever had a 3 year old or not. My husband says we will do it our way while trying to follow her guidelines, but it will be our class. Thank you for your sage advice. I really do need to work on healthy confrontation because I am either a wimp or really hateful because I have been walked on too long.I will take a look at the sermon. Hugs-Amy

Thank you for the outline-I will study it and the scriptures you provided, Hugs-Amy