In a recent chapel time, our children were given the opportunity to "pay if forward" by helping create the video below. You see, part of the lesson was about thanksgiving and generosity, and that generosity is NOT just about sharing money. It's about being the type of people who share compassion and the wisdom that has been gained through difficulty. The children were encouraged to know that they could help other children handle their big feelings in healthy ways by sharing what they had learned at Intermountain. Trauma-affected children come to Intermountain and learn skills that help them become more resilient and healthier individuals. They are comforted by healthy relationships, and can therefore comfort others. This concept of "paying it forward" is an old one, at least as old as these words from scripture:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
– 2 Corinthians 1:3-6
So, as we enter this holiday season--a season that often brings up overwhelming emotions--how do you cope? If you'd like some ideas of how you can cope in healthy ways, watch the video our children put together and let us know what works for you! And then... pass it on!
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