Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Kids Who Don't Sweat the Big Stuff

I volunteered at my son's school today. One of the little girls in his class was very talkative. I've driven by her house before and they always have a bunch of trucks in the driveway. So, we were talking about how her grandparents, and aunt and uncle live with her.
She said, "We have a lot of people and I am the only kid!" She was super cute.

I said something about her mom and dad, and she said, "Oh my dad doesn't live with us. One day he never called me back, and now he lives somewhere else. But I get to see him every Saturday, and he said he's going to get an apartment so I can live there with him." And she smiled, and playfully kicked her legs.

He never called me back.

Is that how she always tells the story? She is a sweet, bubbly little girl who struggles a little with her math facts but says Math is her favorite subject. Happy-go-lucky. Glass half-full kind of girl...except, her daddy never called her back and left for good.

I get worked up into a frenzy of guilt when I raise my voice at my kids or say something that may send them to Oprah one day...in my mind. I freak myself out over the small stuff when there are kids out there not sweating the really big stuff, the stuff that a little kid shouldn't have to deal with.

I always think, God's blessed me big and I am so prone to screw it up. Actually some days, I wonder if I screw it up on purpose--subliminally, of course. Like, my little self-destructive devil on my shoulder just can't stand having such a great thing going.

It's about time I start taking responsibility for the blessing, and not just expecting to fail. Because, if I could remind myself that my kids have a fighting chance to not have to cope with too much of the big stuff because of ME, then also, because of ME, the small stuff can stop getting in the way too.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Lockdown Drill Redefined

 "Mom, wouldn't it be cool if during our lockdown drill we all went to our lockers and hid inside them, then press a button and it would take us into an underground tunnel and take us to our neighborhood like at 100mph?" My son explained this to me on our ride to school this morning.

I smiled and said, "what if you did that just to come home from school each day?"

His eyes sparkled at the suggestion. "I didn't think about that!" Really? "Do you know that they're locking the doors at school now?"

"Yes. And putting a video camera and intercom system in."

We pulled up to the drop off line, and said our morning prayers, then my sons hopped out of the car and ran into school.

My oldest processes lots of things with "what if's". Let me tell you, his "why" stage was exceptionally long and thought provoking!

But our recent conversation made me think.

He understands what a lockdown drill is. I remember when he first heard about Newtown, he said, "Why didn't they have a lockdown drill?"
Now, weeks later, he is daydreaming about solutions to make the fallible lockdown drill, better.

And yet, he still gathers up his stuff and runs into school...trusting and living to the full.

I'd never have thought about what to do in a dangerous situation as a fifth grader. My biggest concerns were should I wear a training bra and could I convince my mom to let me buy the cool white swimsuit with puffy paint in the design. I wonder if I'd have dared to go back to school with the full knowledge of a "failed" lockdown drill?

I've always said we are raising our boys to be strong warriors for all that's good, for Jesus. And this broken, fallen world is proving that I must stick to this hunch of mine.

Fear is being re-defined by our times. So much to be afraid of is becoming a reality that we have to deal with. And like a strong armor with an extra layer of steel, our children are stepping out boldly in possible danger, only because it is their norm, and they have to bear a bold future upon their shoulders.

May we equip this young generation, and raise them up with Faith in the only sure place where Good is found, Jesus Christ, so they may fight and hope for a BRIGHT future!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

The Truth's Truth

“Today not only in philosophy but in politics, government, and individual morality, our generation sees solutions in terms of synthesis and not absolutes. When this happens, truth, as people have always thought of truth, has died.”  ~ Francis Schaeffer


I found the above quote while searching for something to support what's going around in my mind. The other day, I picked up Kay Arthur's Lord, I Want to Know You, after about 6 or 7 years from the last time I read it. This book was such a tool in deepening my understanding of God, and digging into the Hebrew and Greek. I love learning about the original language! I picked it up recently, thinking, "Lord, I want to know you, again", and since Kay saturates her study in Scripture and Biblical truth, I hungrily opened my weathered copy.

And I read, and I nodded in agreement, and then a stirring in my core--but not of the Spirit--a stirring of skepticism--and then I checked my heart against all I knew, and realized what I knew was a jumbled mess.

The Truth that I had grounded my faith in, was muddled with opinions, subjective debates, faithless ideas, and biased explanations of the Word.
 
 It seems that, over the past years, I have camped more on others' thoughts about my Faith, than on my only certain Truth, His Word. And this is because the thoughts of others outweighed the amount of Scripture that I was meditating upon!

Isn't it easy in today's culture to form your ideas around opinions and suggestions than around absolute truths? It is considered uneducated to NOT seek out the opinions of others before making a decision. And it is so human of us, because if we'd just remember the God of the Universe is wiser than the wisest, and cares for us more than any politician, scientist, LOVING PARENT, we would know exactly where to seek Truth.

Thank GOD this hit me at this time of year. It is a great time to start fresh. For my belated New Year's Resolution, I am going to steep myself in the Word more. I want the Word to outweigh all the other mess that enters my brain! I want the Truth to "set me free" of humanistic boundaries and worldly contentment. I will cling to the TRUTH...the absolute Truth...and only use God's inspiration to form my opinions, to ground my faith:


There is one flaw with human opinion--it's human. Let us realize that there is Someone so much greater out there who chooses to open the door for us mere humans to His perfect Truth!

Monday, January 7, 2013

The Tarnished Gift

Today I posted on The Writer's Alley, but it's a post that may inspire more than just writers! Take a peek and click here.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Touching Base Thursday

It has been a busy couple of weeks! This time of year is a pull-the-tablecloth-out-from-under-the-dishes kind of time, and praying that too much stuff doesn't break in the process.
Can we say major juggling act with buying gifts for each person, keeping my heart in check with what the season is really about, planning a roadtrip with a husband, four kids, and a puppy, taking that roadtrip, being sure to spend ample family time with three sets of grandparents and two great grandparents...and then taking the roadtrip back to be home in time for school and work! YIKES! I am still exhausted as we just got home yesterday.
Will post something more inspiring soon!
Happy New Year!