by tascha |
I can see how some visitors may not like me “endorsing” a movie. There really are very few worth watching out there. And even this one causes some reservations as my children ask if she is real or if it all pretend-every.time.we.watch.it. And then there is the whole suffrage movement.
But I so enjoy the character of Mary Poppins. My children also love her. Personally, I wish she were real; [smiles] and I wish I were just like her {snapping my fingers to clean up the toys?!}.
Of course, perfection and tea parties on the ceiling and popping into chalk pictures are just fairy-tales -beautiful whimsy and imagination.
But there are a few things we can learn from her approach to children and life.
1. children’s wants and desires are not to be dismissed out of hand just because they are children.
2. children need and WANT their father’s [and mother’s!] time and affection.
several years ago!
3. children need play in equal proportion to learning, and sometimes the two go hand-in-hand.
4. while the occasional babysitter is necessary for the survival of a marriage, children do not need a nanny. They need their parents, specifically-time with their parents! [and I won’t go any further than that!].
And while I will never be a Mary Poppins, I can take these lessons and apply them to my responsibility as a mother.
I must be intentional about taking time to listen to my children-their concerns, their stories, the reason for their squabbles, the way others treat them, what their dreams are, etc.
I must take the initiative to be sure each child has time with me regularly. In a loving manner, I must nurture time with their daddy.
Even amid chores and the eventual homework that comes with growing up, I must take the time to remember they are still children. If home and school become only about work, they may come to resent being in either place. Life is full of adventure. And sometimes I need to remind myself of that!
As often as our personal schedules allow, I should make arrangements for the children to be cared for by someone else for a brief time so as to foster a loving relationship between myself and my husband. Because whether I like it or not, our marriage will be the one they most likely model their own marriages after one day. I need to be sure I am seeking the Lord in being an example of a loving, Godly wife {no matter my faults as a housekeeper-lol}.
by tascha
Illness has invaded our home. In the wake of Mommy being laid up… chaos ensues. Mini bodies are clothed and fed. I am praising my Lord for a dishwasher! But toys are scattered. Crumbs get smaller with each passage of pitter-patter through the house.
For the rest of the week everything will be washed with hot water and tea tree oil to kill some germs!
But what about the spirit that aches? -the Mommy-heart that hurts over canceled activities and a less-than-compassionate attitude that can take over when a body just feels… iiiuhhh.
While yet taking a break from typing this, as most posts take several “sit sessions” to complete, I rested, made yet another meal, and kept repeating… “what did you say?” over. and. over. and. over. and not always in a pleasant manner. {my ears a horribly stopped up}
While medicine and sleep can {usually} take care of the body, who or what can takes care of my soul?
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing…girded me with gladness…to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psalms 30:10-12
The Lord takes care of my soul. His mercies are new every. single. day. And they fail not. I ask for His joy… He makes my mourning to dance and lifts me with gladness.
When I allow a merry heart to take over {it does good like a medicine, you know}, or… as sometimes happens… I look for a merry heart, I begin to have my spirits raised and while my body still aches, my soul is lighter, happier… my face can have a smile amid cracked lips and a sinus pressure headache.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22
Some days all I need to find a merry heart is to STOP. and look at and listen to my children. With 4 around, someone is bound to be bringing amusement. I take an active role in playing with them, asking what they are playing… and that has yet to not lift my spirits.
Other days I think through our church members, browse my facebook friends for those who do not post very frequently…and look. actively seek out. someone who needs my prayer, or maybe a note. When I get outside of myself, I find a solace for my soul that is not there when I am focusing on me… even on my blessings.
So, while my body is still struggling {contemplating a doctor visit :(}, my soul has become lighter, healthier, more peaceful… because Jesus is said to be the Great Physician… and sometimes my soul needs more healing than my ill body.
by tascha |
Sunday’s and today’s “be still and know” posts both come from the messages yesterday.
Last evening the preacher spoke from Psalm 119:33-40 about several attitudes of King David that caused him to have such a close relationship with God.
Amid the points such as: be teachable, desire understanding, bend your ear towards listening to God, and others…. the point that I suppose stood out the most to me was the last one.
Coming from verse 40: Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness…
and focusing in on the word quicken, he went on to give an example of it…
**At the end of music camp where where his granddaughter attended this past summer, he and his wife went to here the grand performance that would close the 2 weeks. Not really knowing what to expect, they were pleasantly greeted with beautiful music well-performed by dedicated teenagers.
What impressed the evening on him most was the obvious love and enthusiasm the conductor had! He described him as taking the wand and pointing vigorously at the different sections and waving it up and down and all over to direct the various instruments in their different parts of the music. The way he was gesturing to convey what he meant left me tired. {lol} To think of a man moving with such vigor for an entire symphony is exhausting. He had an evident joy for the music… for leading the orchestra. And the students played with equal enthusiasm to the point they were not still but moving and swaying with the music during the entire performance.**
This… this obvious enthusiasm and excitement was used to describe the word: quicken.
And David used quicken to describe how he wanted to live righteousness-with enthusiasm!
And it got me to thinking…. about my children {of course!}. How it brings an unspeakable joy and thrill to my heart when my children are happy to see me.
But I think especially of those few months as small babes when they cannot express their joy verbally… and their whole little, tiny bodies express it for them. Their arms wave, their faces nearly split from smiling, their little legs just pump like they are trying to push themselves into orbit { 🙂 }.
My heart melts, and I just enjoy holding them.
When I have obvious [meaning others notice it] enthusiasm for whatever I am doing …simply BECAUSE I am serving the Lord… could that not bring God a little bit of a “parent thrill”?
I realize that I am giving God my finite emotions, but we know that God joys in knowing His children obey His word, desire to serve Him, have His joy… and He patterned the Christian relationship after “father & child” for a reason.
Maybe He wanted us to have the opportunity to know more about Him as we teach and train children for His glory.
And today, I am trying to be enthusiastic about some housework I need to get done! { 😉 }
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!
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by tascha |
Today is my youngest daughter’s 4th birthday.
this picture is a couple months old — and now a couple of years!
She is HOOT… and a whirlwind.
She has the energy of my entire life in her pinky. [still!]
And today, while reading the Proverb, I came to this verse:
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6
And it made me stop and think {as it has before} that MY children… are my parent’s “children’s children.”
with my grandparents <3
And I want them to be a “crown” to their grandfathers, and to their great-grand-parents!
And of course, I was reminded of another Proverb: Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
And that reminded me of a post I read [link is broken] yesterday… about “the way.”
Jesus is “the way.”
So, while rules give boundaries that are necessary, and we should expect rules to be obeyed, our main focus should be on pleasing Jesus… making Him our life.
And that in-between relationship… I know my husband {and I do too!} desires to live such a life that his children would see his heritage/legacy as a thing of glory, as something to desire to pass on to their own children one day.
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!
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by tascha
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear…But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. from Luke 8:4-15, the parable of the Sower
These verses, this story, was in my scheduled Bible reading for today. I intensely wish for my own life to bring forth fruit, and I know it requires patience to see it.
But just as fiercely I wish for my own children to receive the Seed of the Word of God [become saved] and also bear fruit.
Only on the “good ground” is the Word received AND fruit is born. As a mother, my prayer is for my children’s hearts to be good ground… I am not a farmer, but I do know a few things about the general type of soil needed to grow good crops.
First it must also be rich in nutrients. All plants of the earth require different minerals to produce their various fruits. We must allow God to prepare the soil of our children’s hearts through consistent Bible reading [family devotions are a wonderful way to do this!], Bible memorization, and Scripture verses displayed where they can read them [when they can read!] Only through the principles learned thus will an honest and good heart be produced. [Mark 10:18]
It must also be moist. A dry heart is less likely to hold onto a seed. Moist soil is soft and pliable. We must ask for and then allow the Spirit of God [rivers of living water- John 7:39] to regularly and consistently pour water into our children’s lives. Our children need to see the Spirit’s work in our own lives. We must teach and exemplify the truths and principles found in Scripture to help their hearts to remain tender until such time as they understand their personal need for accepting Jesus.
It must also be able to receive sunlight daily. As saved parents, we are light to our children. [Matthew 5:14-16] Our testimony affects how our children receive God. This is a scary thought. My children see me at my absolute worst and know if I strive to allow God’s love to shine through me even during the frustrations and difficulties or if it is an act. And we must also be diligent to surround our children, as much as possible, with others’ whose lights shine brightly for the Lord.
And last of all, it needs to be in a good location to receive nutrients and water and light. When we neglect to take our children to church or read the Bible at home or speak of the Spirit leading us throughout the day, how can they know?
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!
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