Kasey is an educator with a passion for equipping people for success. Whether she is teaching in a classroom or learning lessons from her own husband and children, Kasey is a life-long learner and enjoys sharing the insights God has impressed on her. Kasey’s first book, “7 Ways To Be a S.M.A.R.T.E.R Mom” is available in major bookstores and online. As founder and president of Smarter Moms LLC, Kasey has the opportunity to network with and speak to women’s and mom’s groups across the country. Kasey is married to Matt Johnson, and has three sons: Matthew (8), Tyler (6), James (3) and a puppy – Charlie. Kasey and Matt live in Olathe, KS.
Check out Kasey’s blog for moms at
http://smartermoms.wordpress.com.
We made it!
If your school follows the traditional school calendar you are nearing the end of this year’s academic adventures. Before summer hits we have to see this school year to an end. But sometimes that’s harder than might be expected. Athletes talk about winning their mental game long before they train for the physical challenges they face. As students we have to keep focused on what is in front of us – the projects that need to be finished before we relax into the dog-days of summer.
Staying focused is easier in the beginning. But when something lasts a long time (like an entire school year) we sometimes run out of steam toward the end. My husband works in the media industry and they use the acronym F.L.A.P. when they are coming to the end of an event or a project. The term F.L.A.P. means “Finish Like A Pro”. In other words, don’t sit back and coast through the last few moments of anything – that’s when details get missed, accidents happen and mistakes are made.
As you face the last days of school, the final pages of a paper and the hours before a test are closing in on you, just F.L.A.P.! As women of God, we are held to a higher standard of quality, persistence and commitment – we are called to be pros! We need to know what it means to see something through to the end. I want to challenge you to make these final days of the academic year some of your best. Finishing like a pro in the world of academics means giving our best even when we are tired. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 says it best: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
What an awesome promise! Even when we are exhausted and at the end of our academic, physical and mental ropes we are being renewed each day because Christ is our source of strength and he knows exactly what we need. The grades we earn will never be more important than our “eternal glory,” but how we conduct ourselves at the end of a project will bring glory to God, and we can give Him praise for helping us through the long nights, the tough projects and the lessons we’ll learn along the way.
I have to take just a minute to say THANK YOU for being such wonderful “students” of life, of love, of Christ and for visiting this site faithfully – your comments have been so wonderful to read! I can’t wait to continue this journey with you. Let’s keep talking over the summer and discovering new adventures along the way. You are amazing – enjoy this last month of school and know that I am praying for you and the projects you are finishing. Keep the sisterhood alive with prayers, productivity and pride in a job well done – let’s get “flapping”! :o)
Kasey
I hope you have wonderful adventures planned for this summer and that you share them with all of us as the days go by!