Spence was carrying a folding chair to help set up for church. Carmen watched him as he struggled with determination.
“Wow Spence, you are sooo strong!” she offered in encouragement.
He replied matter-of-factly, “I’m supposed to be” and continued lugging the chair across the room.
Tags: children
Let the bickering begin…
There’s those who go all out with costumes and candy, those who prefer a Harvest party or their church’s “trunk-or-treat”, those who skip the festivities altogether, and everything in between. Some take part without much thought, while others are sure to warn everyone that any participation is akin to demon worship.
Some, like us, are sick of it all. The familiar cries of negativity ring annoyingly shrill.
We’ve been pretty much everywhere on the spectrum. Our oldest children remember the days of costume parties and getting sick on pillowcases full of candy. We’ve done the avoidance tactic of turning out porch lights and leaving the house. We’ve attended autumn festivals and family potlucks so our children don’t feel “left out”.
More and more, I’m thinking that the whole candy, food and game focus is missing a great opportunity. Is the emphasis on those things similar to making Christmas about presents and Easter about eggs and baskets? Why avoid the gruesome, the ugly?
Without the aspect of death, there is no Gospel. What, exactly, is one saved from? How do we truly appear in the eyes of an all glorious God? How do our cute little acts of “good” measure up in His justice?
While making note and being wary of pagan traditions, satanic worship and self exultation that is wrapped up in Halloween perhaps it would do Christians well to consider the messages of death, spirits, and even hell, and how to redeem them for His glory.
Tags: Christianity, worldview
(for your information)
We’re sticking to a Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday blogging schedule for the time being.
See ya Monday!
Tags: blogging
If you’re like me, you have a couple Complainers in your life.
Maybe they’re the person at work who never has anything positive to add to a conversation. Or the one whose Facebook statuses read like a mix of tear-jerking country songs and heart-tugging soap operas. Their life is always more hectic, circumstances more grim and outlook more bleak than anyone else’s, and they want to be sure you know.
I tend to want to avoid Complainers. When contact is necessary, my natural inclination is to smile and nod politely while planning a quick getaway. I justify this by claiming self-protection; Negative people seem to suck the life out of those around them, spreading their cynical, defeatist attitude, and even bringing an air of criticism towards everything and everyone else. Don’t I have a right to steer clear of that?
But what is the right thing to do? If it’s not about me, then perhaps I should swallow my own urge to sidestep these types of people. What if I listened for a little while, offered a word of encouragement, or prayed with them?
Most likely, it wouldn’t help in the way I’d prefer. They’ll probably still go on complaining. That still doesn’t leave me with an excuse to evade them.
Because serving others isn’t about getting the response I want, it’s doing the right thing.. period.
Tags: worldview
I overheard Carmen and Cruiz playing in the other room..
“Mother, may I please?”
“Yes, honey!”
I smiled, but then guilt stabbed my heart as Carmen continued their pretend conversation.
“My mom always says yes. I just ask if I can do something, and she says, ‘Yes, honey’ all the time.”
In her mind, that was the epitome of a great mother. Saying “yes”. I say “no” far too often. Usually the request is just too inconvenient, too time-consuming or involves too much clean-up. It’s just easier to say “no”. And so I do.
And yet..
Being denied something isn’t the end of the world. Sometimes it is not only a good thing, it is the best thing.
And how often in love has my heavenly Father said “no” to me? Although my heart may have cried out in objection for a time, the reality that He desires only what is good eventually brought me to acceptance and peace. It is a difficult lesson, because “what is good” usually does not mean what is “easy” or “preferred”. In fact, it often means “perplexing” or “uncomfortable”.
But the best news? Although I must walk through the experience and feel the sting, He’s already paid the price for victory!
Tags: children, Christianity, homelife
