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Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - Spending Time Wisely
Yesterday I read "Distracted Mothers" at Joni’s blog ‘What Its All About’ (a must read). She really struck a chord with me. Then this morning, I was reading from Helen Widger Middlebrooke’s devotional Lessons for a Supermom (pages 17-18) (you can read some of her work here or here using her name in the archive search) and I was again struck. God was really speaking to me, loud and clear. I am so guilty of missing out on the little things for want of the big picture. I’m losing so much because my focus is on so many other things; getting schoolwork accomplished, chores done, paperwork and other less important distractions. All these things, while important in themselves, have become drudgery and blinded me to what I know will soon be gone, my children at home. Even though I spend everyday with my kids, I am missing them. I have come to realize that the evil one so wants to steal our most valuable thing, time. He wants us to fill it up with the mundane, keeping us from sharing God and ourselves with our families. He shows himself in the most ordinary places: overworked parents, extracurricular activities, favorite television programs, computer time, and other solitary activities. He doesn’t want us to appreciate the moments that we have with each other or to place importance on the simple things. He wants to bog us down with the world and suck us into his abyss of regrets. Having an older son who moved out on his own at 18, I am very aware of how quickly children grow. I am among those who wish yesterday had been different and that I had enjoyed the moments for what they were. So, just for today I plan to make sure that, with God’s guidance, I open my eyes to my children and see them completely, creating a photo album in my heart and enjoy every moment I have with them. Then, if tomorrow comes, I will have no regrets for today. If I do this everyday not only will my heart be full, but my life will be also.
James 4:14-17 (CEV) What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears. You should say, "If the Lord lets us live, we will do these things." Yet you are stupid enough to brag, and it is wrong to be so proud. If you don't do what you know is right, you have sinned
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Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - Blessings
There are days when it seems nothing is going right. We oversleep, burn the toast, and someone has left less than a swallow in the milk jug. The house looks like a wild animal has trampled through it, the kids are in a defiant mood, and try as we might, nothing seems to get accomplished. We feel like failures as a parent, teacher, and homemaker. We just want to give up. As hard as it might be, on days like these, giving thanks for our blessings should be first and foremost on our ‘things to do’ list.
We have a comfortable place to lay our head and rest in peace. We have bread to eat and water to quench our thirst. We have the opportunity to review our possessions and to give to someone less fortunate those things that clutter our lives. Our children have the confidence to speak their minds and we have the authority to correct them. After counting our blessings and remembering His grace, we have accomplished great things. We bring our families and ourselves closer to Him.
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - "Ah-Ha"
Yesterday we experienced one of those “Ah Ha!” moments. My son was working on learning to solve algebraic expressions with variables on both sides of the equation. While we were working the example that all too familiar glassy stare began to emerge across his face and his standard response to my “Do you understand?” of “Yes.” seemed empty. As he began to work the practice problems it became clear that he didn’t understand. We struggled through the first few problems, when out of the blue I felt inspired by God. I stopped him and proceeded to tell him this story:
The Variables and the Numbers cannot live in the same neighborhood. They just can’t seem to get along. The equals sign is the fence that separates each turf. So we have to get each back onto their own property. First the Variables want to jump the fence but they need help. So we bring in Agent Opposite. He neutralizes the Variable so that he can cross the fence invisibly. He joins his brothers and they become one. Then Agent Opposite visits the Numbers and convinces them to hop the fence in the same manner. They too join their brothers and they also become one. Now somehow a spying Co-efficient has snuck over with a Variable. He needs to return to his neighborhood. Enter Agent Opposite. Soon the Variables and the numbers are on their own turfs and peace reigns over the world.
As corny as the story may have been, not only did I have his attention (which these days seems to be a trick in itself) but also he understood. I was so excited. He worked through the problems and got them all right! Thank-you, God, for the “Ah ha” moments!
Job 32:8 But it is the Spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - Time Well Spent
I am reminded of the saying, “The best thing to spend on children is time”. As a home school parent we understand the value of that statement. Though our focus may be on what we deem a good education, the thing that we are really giving to our children is our most valuable asset: ourselves. Some of the most important lessons our children learn are not taught outright from books, but are absorbed in our everyday interactions. We are so blessed to have so many opportunities in our day-to-day activities to just appreciate who they are and to show them who we are, warts and all. We cannot get yesterday back, tomorrow may never come, but today is new and we can choose how to spend it.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
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Monday, February 19, 2007 - Encouragement
As a mother of three children, I claim no expertise in child rearing. I honestly believe that God equips us to do the best that we can, and then He handles the rest. You don't need an expert to tell any mother that no two children are the same. It only stands to reason that no two parents are the same or that they will raise their children exactly alike. If there were a perfect formula, we would all be following it because we all want the best for our children and for our children to be their best. But just as our children are different, so are our parenting styles. Who doesn't dream of our little angels dressed in their Sunday best, minding their manners, all sweetness and light? However, more often than not a blast of reality knocks their halos to the ground in a battle of sibling rivalry or in the race to the cookie jar. Our only hope is that we are well equipped enough to see that we are doing the best that we can and to pray for God's intervention when we are not. We need to remember that we are the caretakers not the creators of these treasures that He has given us. Just as in a garden, there will be tilling, weeding, pruning and harvesting to be done in our children’s lives. We ought not let the poison of discouragement and frustration cause us to lose sight of the harvest.
Isaiah 58:11-The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
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