Apr. 3, 2006 - Another of life's "little" lessons :-)
When we rise in the morning, we just never know what the day holds, do we? I have made it an absolute "must do" to rise early and spend time with the Lord so that I will be as sensitive as possible to whatever may come. Some things (blessings, lessons, etc.) are so easy to miss! Following is an account of a lesson my beloved "son of my heart" (nephew)learned today:
After school was completed for the day, Seth got to go spend some time with a family to whom we are very close. They have four little boys ranging in ages from 3-10 and they have a marvelous time together. My friend, their mother, is very watchful with her children and especially when others come to play. They were all outside having a wonderful time and she had to go inside for about ten minutes. During this time, a dispute occurred between Seth and another little boy who was also visiting. The dispute was regarding a toy box they had emptied in pursuit of toy guns to play with. Once they had acquired the guns, Seth immediately began to put the other toys back, as this is how he has been trained, especially when visiting another's home. He attempted to initiate the other little boy's help, as the two of them had been the ones to empty the toy box and he felt this boy should help him out. When the other little boy flatly refused and went off to play, Seth became very upset with him and probably told him that it was wrong to just leave the toys strewn about. The other boy then retaliated with the remark that someone was going to contact me and tell me he'd been naughty. This really upset him, as he knew he had not done any such thing. My friend interrupted this dispute and assured Seth that he was in the right and she got them calmed down before the argument got out of hand.
She later brought Seth home and nothing was said either by her or Seth. In fact, Seth kept saying how thankful he was to me for letting him go, as they had such a wonderful time.
Just a short time ago, I received an email from my friend. (She couldn't tell me what had happened in front of the children.) She explained what happened and was feeling really badly about the whole situation. It can be so tempting to rush in and defend our children when they have been hurt by something or someone and in so doing, we often deny them the rich experience of learning to let God control what comes out of them in difficult situations. The world is full of people and situations that will try the character God is building in us. It is through such times that we learn to stand in all situations before God with such character that says, "I will not be moved (from the character that the Lord is building within me) by the circumstances of life." After some thought, I replied to email. Following is my reply to my friend's email:
It's all just in the line of life! Even being with them all of the time isn't going to keep children from saying or doing hurtful things. Seth doesn't look any worse the wear for the experience! :-) I'm glad you told me about it and I am very proud of Seth that he did NOT tell me! He said twice, "We had such a wonderful time, Aunt Cherry, thank you so much for letting me go!" I don't ever want him to focus on the wrong things that others do. I also want him to have a very forgiving spirit!
Another take on this situation is that Seth
needs to learn that if he has the nudging in his spirit to do a right thing and another does not want to follow along, he should just be an example by quietly doing the right thing. I don't want Seth to become "the judge" regarding what others should and should not do. I want him to judge the sin and not the sinner. I want him to be a strong, quiet, godly leader rather than someone who attempts to force upon others what he knows is right. It is far too easy to become "self" righteous on the path of becoming righteous. As parents, it is our duty to teach our children what sin is and to teach them to judge the sin and not the sinner. These situations are just rich with the opportunity to grow up a child in the ways of God and to be reminded of such things ourselves!
And so ends another blessed day in the Lord. Thank You, Father, for allowing me to guide this little life. Please help me to do what is right and to set an example worthy of his following. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!
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Mar. 25, 2006 - This Pilgrim's Progress
I recently began reading "Pilgrim's Progress" By John Bunyan. My main thought after reading the first several chapters is that everything in this life is an "aside," when compared to the glory of living eternally with the Lord. Even the joy the Father blesses us with here is of little significance when compared to a life with Him. The most tragic events of this life also wane in their power to destroy when compared to what our future holds if we keep our eyes and hearts Heaven-bound! The fear of man and what he is able to do against us (oh! The depraved state of the human heart and mind!) becomes impotent when we remember the Lord and the hope that we have beyond this life.
However much beauty we surround ourselves with, it becomes as an old faded garment next to the beauty of Heaven. The most exquisite mansions here on earth become as broken down shacks when standing next to the mansions of His Kingdom. The most pristine landscape is but a shadow of the majestic grandeur that awaits the Father's own. I wrote a poem some time ago about the day I enter the Kingdom of God. In part of it I wrote, "I will pick a thousand roses of colors unknown to man, and rush to meet my Saviour in a far and Holy Land. I will sing in a voice I have never known, to One Who has always known me, and I will know for the first time what it really means to be free." I pondered this today and thought again how there will be colors in Heaven that even the most creative mind on earth cannot conjure up and the voices that sing praises to God in the Heavenlies will be such as has never been heard in this life!
As I write this, I again realize that, althought He has richly blessed me in this life (albeit, not according to the standards of man), I languish in my spirit as the bride-to-be awaiting the wedding day she has hoped for and dreamed of for so long! In writing this last statement, I instantly thought of how a pure bride-to-be prepares herself for her wedding day. In comparing this to my extremely shallow understanding of the bride He has made me the Blood of Christ, I sense an anticipation beyond expression!
In all of this comparison, I now consider what He can and will manifest in our spirits as we walk through this life if our focal thought is our wedding day. There will be no sorrow, fear, or tragedy able to permanently dampen our anticipation or distract our dreams of the wedding day with Christ. By the same token, there will be no beauty or joy in this life great enough to be able to steal our hearts away from the anticipation of that blessed wedding.
I pray the Father will deepen our anticipation for that final consummation for which we are created and that we would become as the pure bride unwilling to soil the purity reserved for her Groom for that glorious union.
My reading of "Pilgrim's Progress" has been out loud to my husband and nephew. I have been amazed at the questions my nephew has asked and the understanding the Lord has given him! These are the things we are about! Nurturing home until the Lord comes for the long-awaited eternal union. I pray the Lord will continue to strengthen us whether we are young women with multiple children making a lasting difference or grandmothers making a lasting difference!
To Him all Praise, Glory, and Honor, AMEN!
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Mar. 24, 2006 - A woman like...me?
Having become a first-time mother just one week following my 17th birthday, I was really "shooting from the hip." There were so many things that I came to understand after the fact.
Shortly before I was 37, this little "son of my heart" was brought into our lives by the Lord. He spent the first two years of his life with us, was taken back by his family (tearing out my heart!), and then returned to us again two years ago at the age of 7. He has been here just over two years now. As we have been training him up, we have become increasingly aware of our influence in his life and the importance of the example we present. As I have pondered this, I have started to think about the kind of woman I represent to him. We read "The Princess and the Kiss" and "The Squire and the Scroll" together and he was absolutely delighted, as was I! He began talking about how he definitely wants to save his first kiss for his wife-to-be. That got me to thinking about the fact that the larger percent of girls marry a man like Dad and boys marry a woman like Mom. Hmmm...I began thinking about the characteristics I would like to see in the woman he marries. I also consider the husband I want him to be.
Further thought has led me to the mirror of the soul. I want him to have a wife who honors him. (Lord, show me if there is any matter in which I dishonor my husband.) I want him to have a wife who is truly an uplifting helpmeet. (Lord, show me ways that I can serve my husband in the sight of this child.) The thoughts continue.
I feel so deeply what an incredible journey this is and the accountability I will face when I stand before the Lord. Whether it is before the eyes of my beloved grown children, this precious son of my heart, my ten most beautiful grandchildren, or my adoring husband, I have the responsibility to present womanhood as God intended it to be. I have the responsibility to always strive to grasp just beyond my reach in my walk with Christ. More than all of this, I have the responsibility to diligently seek His face, read His word, and cover all in prayer.
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Mar. 22, 2006 - Just beginning
Having raised my children and being a grandmother multiple times, I am now starting over. What a rich experience to be raising yet another child, guiding yet another life, and given yet another chance! This child came into our lives through difficult circumstances requiring his placement with us. After having raised my children in the public school system, I knew I would not do this again. So, not only am I "Mama" again, but I am "homeschool Mama" for the first time! Oh! For Joy! I am hoping to use this blog to share what I am learning along the way and to learn along the way from others as well. It is a mighty work and ministry in which we are involved and not to be taken lightly. Lord, cover us as only You can and guide us as we guide those placed within our care. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!
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