Pack a Heart-Healthy Lunch

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.—Psalm 28:7

After three straight classes, I need this time to relax and refresh—before the next group arrives in 45 minutes. It’s called a planning period, but I find myself doing every other thing but planning—I'm grading papers, writing discipline referrals, reporting on students with special needs, and answering emails from parents.  My desk is littered with paper and my electronic inbox is bursting at the seams. How will I ever get it all done?  And what can I do with my most challenging class—soon to arrive? Just thinking about makes my heart palpitate--despite rhythm-regulating medicine.


Maybe what I need is lunch, some brain food.  I grab my insulated lunch bag and yank on the zipper. Reaching inside, I notice something I’ve never noticed before—letters imprinted on the zipper tape—UR Strong, UR Bold.  Instantly, I remember a Scripture verse.

“Haven’t I ordered you, ‘Be strong, be bold’? So don’t be afraid or downhearted, because Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.”—Joshua 1:9

Purchase your own Heart-Healthy lunch bag at Thirty-One Gifts.

Haha, that’s just like U, God!  LOL!  A midday message tailored directly to me. How quickly had I forgotten about my power-packed help!  While I had read assuring Scripture over breakfast, the cares of my job caused my focus to shift before noon.

 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:6-7

Every emotion begins with a thought. In order to ward off unhealthy emotions, such as fear and anxiety, I need to pray—and fill up on some good brain food—good thoughts.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”—Philippians 4:8

Good brain food is good for the heart—even better when served with a side of humor.

A closer look at the zipper tape revealed a connective pattern. UR Strong [heart] UR Bold [heart] UR True [heart].

LOL! “A merry heart does good, like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

Dear God, Thank You for using humor to remind me that the classroom door is no barrier to You, for You are with me wherever I go. The next time the pressure is piling up around me, help me to follow Your orders to make prayer and positive thoughts my  first-response pattern—the best plan for all my challenges.

I heart U.

Note:  I wrote and titled this post before visiting Thirty-One's online catalog. Imagine my surprise when I saw that "my" lunch bag (thermal tote) now comes embossed with "Heart Healthy" across the front!