Thankful Thursday - Counting our many blessings



"During the winter of 1621-22, the Pilgrims entered a "starving time" like the settlers in Jamestown. Plymouth now had thirty-five extra people so the supplies went quickly. They were down to a daily ration of only five kernels of corn apiece. But, as always, they had a choice. They could either give in to bitterness and despair, or they could trust Jesus. They chose Jesus."

Excerpt from The Light and Glory for Children

quoted from Boundlessline.org

Like the story of the pilgrims and their Thanksgiving kernels of corn, I want to use Thursdays to remember to be thankful for our many blessings. (Although I plan to only name five each Thursday, well, I may cheat a little in my lists. ;^)

Today, I am thankful for:

1. Matthew taking Reader R to school

2. Coffee and pumpkin muffins

3. Modern conveniences like vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, and washers/dryers

4. Our home

5. The beauty of Fall - colorful leaves, crisp air, pumpkins and gourds

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

(Read the whole beautiful hymn at the cyberhymnal.com)

Wednesday's Wisdom - What I think God is trying to teach me

My goal with my "Wednesday's Wisdom - What I think God is trying to teach me" posts is to take time to journal my life lessons in an entertaining and memorable way (primarily, so I won't have to learn them the hard way... again).  If nothing else, it gives you a brief insight into my life, although, for the record, it takes me a while to catch-on and process what God is trying to teach me... so my Wednesday posts may be a couple weeks behind what is happening in real time. My sincere apologies to those of you who have already heard my rant on this life lesson...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"What do you like to do in your SPARE time?" the well-meaning, near-stranger asked, followed by an unnecessary commentary on how I "really had my hands full" with 2/3rds of my darling daughters. 

I quickly pasted on my good church-lady face and replied in my sing-songy-preschool-teacher voice, "Oh, but they are SUCH A BLESSING," while all the while my heart was crying, "Oh LADY! That is just the tip of the iceberg! IF YOU ONLY KNEW... what I HAVE TO DO today."

..................................................................................................

This providential exchange got me thinking... about SPARE time.  What is SPARE time?  Do we really have SPARE time?  What else do we call SPARE?  SPARE change... nope.  At our house, even spare change is designated for a purpose.  SPARE tire... nope.  It is really an emergency tire.  It is not extra.  It is necessary.  SPARE time?  NO WAY!

 If you are not familiar with the illustration,
please visit:
http://www.turnbacktogod.com/story-rocks-in-a-jar/



Now, it isn't that I am SO busy that I never have an extra minute, but that every minute is precious and ultimately accounted for.  I think about the old Dr. Steven Covey example of the jar of rocks... Do you know the story? (If not, take time to read it at the link in the caption of the photo.) 

You first have to put in the big rocks, then the little pebbles, then the sand, and, finally, the water.   No, the moral of the story is not that "no matter how busy you are you can always fit more in."  The moral is... you have to put the big rocks in FIRST or there will NEVER be room for them. 

Time is like this jar of rocks.  There isn't any SPARE time.  We each have 24 hours in our day.  While sometimes days seem shorter or longer, you don't ever get 24 hrs. and 35 minutes, so that you can spend your SPARE time on Facebook. ;^) And like our money, the way we spend our time says a lot about our priorities.

Clearly, laundry, meetings and carpool are VERY important to me... because that is how I spend a LOT of my time.  No, more seriously... My family, my faith, my church, my friends, are the most important things in my life.   Does my time reflect that?

Even now, as I write this, I am keenly aware that I am not doing it in my SPARE time, but I am stealing the time that should be used to snuggle my daughter who doesn't feel well or to keep the baby from writing too many checks or eating too many crayons (both serious hazards of getting into the desk drawer).  SO, this post will wait, until Quiet Time...

Other implications:

• Does my time reflect my priorities?  Does it glorify God?
• Does the way I spend my "water" time steal from more important things? (i.e. - "rocks" that don't fit in my jar - exercise, Bible study, healthy meal planning, laundry...)
• Are there "water" activities that are "lawful," but not "helpful"?
• Does this mean I will never again have time to do something just for fun or just for myself?  (NO WAY! Those are two BIG rocks... but more on that another time.)

"'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful.
'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up...
So, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God." 
I Corinthians 10: 23 & 31 (ESV)

Proud Mommy Moment

It is amazing how God can use your children to teach you things, when you need to hear them most, in ways you would never expect. 

Next week, Reader R. is going to be the "Star of the Week" in her first grade class.  She is SOOOOOO excited about being the Star of the Week.  In preparation, we filled out a worksheet about all of her favorite things.  As you would expect, it started with the standard first-grade girl responses...
her favorite color: "Pink," food: "Pizza,"  subject: "Reading."  SURPRISE!

Towards the end, the questionnaire asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  I was eager to hear what she would say.  Reader R. has always been a special child.  She has a tender heart and a love for others.  When she was four, her answer to this question was "a pediatric cardiac surgeon."  When she graduated from Kindergarten, she was the only one in her class, amongst several firefighters, doctors, and veterinarians, that wanted to be "a volunteer in an orphanage in Guatemala."  So, I was a bit surprised when she responded "I want to be an all-star basketball player in the WNBA."  REALLY? 

My Future WNBA All-Star

Now, by way of background, my sweet Reader R, is called that because she LOVES to read.  However, in the last six months, she has developed an uncharacteristic LOVE for basketball.  She love to play basketball, talk about basketball, read about basketball.  We even had a basketball birthday party for her earlier this month when she turned seven (without really understanding why, and slightly concerned that we might be setting her up for serious disappointment when she figured out that she did not really know how to PLAY basketball). 

So, tonight, as she was helping me clean up the dishes, I asked, "So you really want to be an WNBA basketball player, huh?" (with skepticism)

"YES!" resounded her reply.  

"Are you sure?"  (Pretty convinced that a girl as smart as she is could do better than hang her hopes on such an unlikely goal...) 

"Uh-huh." 

"Well, you know, if you are a famous basketball player, you will have to be prepared for interviews.  Do you think you can handle that?" 

"Yes."

"Ok.  Let's try it.  Reader R., how did you get interested in basketball?"

"Well, I started liking basketball in Kindergarten.  I have liked it ever since."

"What would you say is the key to your success in basketball?"

"Practice.  Practice. Practice.  I practice whenever I can."

"What would you tell the little girls who look up to you?"

"Trust in the LORD with all of your heart."

Finally, I realized I had been asking the wrong question, "Reader R, WHY do you want to be a WNBA player?"

"Well, I was thinking, and a lot of kids look up to famous people like idols, but when I am a famous basketball player, I want to be able to tell people about JESUS."

What an amazing little girl!  I am so blessed that God gave me you.  I love you so much.  I love the precious soul God has made you...  I can not wait to see what you become when you grow up!

The Sweet Roses

God has made me a caregiver for three sweet roses...

Reader R. (6.5 yrs.), Curious K. (3 yrs.), and Little L. (1 yr.).



Easter 2010



Raising Roses

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10