Visions & Verses

Meditations on Parenting

Above all things have devoted love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.  ~1 Peter 4:8

A few years ago I penned this poem for the Kindergarteners to give to their parents.  As I looked through the little artworks and notes I've gotten from my own kids over the years, I realized that these little scraps of paper represent those moments when parenting really was all it's cracked up to be -- a sacred bond between parent and child that nurtures the heart and soul and truly teaches Love.

Warm pancakes

Favorite juice

My special mug

Mittens, boots

Fuzzy scarf

All warm and snug;

Story time

Homework help

New DVD

Bubble Bath

Kiss Goodnight

All show you love me.

Clean my plate

Off to dress

Without a fuss

Get my coat

Backpack too

Wait for the bus;

Paper heart,

Ribbons, beads

Lace and some glue

Bring it home

With a hug

To show I LOVE YOU!

 

Proud Mom

May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!  ~Proverbs 23:25

I wanted to be sure to have a post to show that my children do not just give me grief -- generally, they fill me with pride.  And I am confident that they will both grow up to be fine people, fine citizens and fine Christians -- exceptional even.  It's just the getting there that is a tough road.  But would you appreciate the view as much if you didn't have to climb the mountain?

And so, I am proud to present a Baltimore County Merit Winner in the State-wide Reflections Contest!  Bri won the Merit Award for her school and then also in the County-wide judging.  The theme was 'I can make a difference by...'  I am especially impressed because this was her first attempt at painting with acrylics on canvas, and her first painting outside of art class.

I did make some suggestions (on perspective and texture), but otherwise, I was hands off.  Anyone who knew my dad would appreciate that 'hands off' is not a family trait, and so biting my tongue and making calm suggestions was a big step for me!  She had her school award ceremony Monday, and early next month she'll attend the County ceremony.  I'm so proud that she came up with the idea and worked through the steps to make a great painting.  My reward was that she promptly came home with a huge poster board for another contest, this one sponsored by the Rotary Club.

She's a girl with big ideas, she just needs to be patient and take the time to prepare and do things step-by-step.  I'm not the one to teach her to be organized and not procrastinate (my close friends are laughing right now), but perhaps as I try to teach her, I'll learn something too!

Lord, thank you oh, so much for the blessings of creation.  What a miracle it is to create life, and to watch that life grow and be full of creativity too.  Thank you for creating us to create, and put pieces of ourselves out into the world, by children, artwork, songs, dances, writing and more.  Help us to remember that in our creation we are most like You, the Father of all created things.  Amen.

Snow Daze

' Folly is bound up in the heart of a child...'  ~Proverbs 22:15

We went snow tubing this weekend with some friends and their children.  Along with our own, we brought along a couple of their friends who had spent the night before.  As a child, I remember how wonderful days like that were.  As a parent, I now understand the looks of desperation and frustration I would receive on proposing such events.

The kids were really not bad...they were just kids: loud, quarrelsome, silly, excited, impatient.  But their behavior challenged me nevertheless.  In particular, I made two observations that I can't really explain, and I invite any and all comments upon them.

1. Kids are often annoyed by and complain about other children's behavior while at the very same time they themselves are doing that very behavior (e.g., yelling loudly for the others to stop yelling loudly; making comments like 'stop calling people names, you idiot!', or making a loud, disruptive noise and then complaining that they hate that noise when all the other children imitate it.)

2. Behavior that is nearly intolerable in your own children and would lead to swift, possibly harsh discipline, can be rather easily endured in other people's children in your care, and are often resolved rationally and calmly.

My guess about these things are that as humans we often overlook our own shortcomings.  In fact, we seem to be most annoyed by behavior in others that is also a vice of our own.  So, perhaps we must all be looking for that plank in our own eye before we complain about the speck in someone else's. (Matthew 7:3). 

Additionally, it seems we hold people accountable by the level of blame we assign to them (but that blame is completely subjective).  For instance, the dog recently chewed a piece to my son's video game.  He replied, 'the dog doesn't know any better'.  But his sister had also recently chewed a piece to one of his video games, and he was furious.  The fact is, however, that both the dog and the sister have been repeatedly scolded for such behavior in the past, and both know better.  I'm sure that name-calling is universally condemned by the parents of all the children I know; however, I cut those kids more slack than my own.  I find I also treat co-workers better than family, and total strangers better still.  My question then is really, 'How is it I can effortlessly control my temper with strangers, but get so upset with those I love the most?  How can I emotionally disengage in order to respect my family as much as I do strangers?'  I do sincerely solicit any advice on this issue that I can get!

And so, in the end, we had a great time on the slopes.  The kids laughed, ran, threw snowballs, and did a lot of other kid stuff.  Later, we ate at Cracker Barrel, made a bonfire and then they jumped on the trampoline and played video games.  I'm sure it will go down in family history as a great day, and my jangled nerves will heal, I will no longer remember the frustration and I will someday consent to other sleepovers and snow tubing....

Lord, let me always be grateful for time spent with friends and family.  Help me to sincerely cherish my children, and time we have together.  Show me the way to disciple them fairly and impartially, in a way that glorifies You and Your Word.  Help me to restrain my tongue from speaking sharply, and speak encouragement before criticism, remembering that I am Your child.  In the name of your glorious son, Jesus.  Amen.

Love of a lifetime

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."  ~Jeremiah 31:3

Ah, Valentine's Day.  I know many people view it as a gimmick by companies to sell cards, flowers and chocolates, but I am still a hopeless romantic.  Without a few occasions as reminders, some men, women, parents and children would overlook the many opportunities to declare their love to the dear ones around them.

Of course it doesn't have to be cards or flowers -- there are many ways to express love.  I recommend the book about 'Love Languages' for that.  My hubby, for instance, would rather have a spotless house than a box of chocolate.  My daughter, however, would be horrified if her Valentine present was a stack of clean clothes!  Personally, for me it's the thought that counts, so a sincere homemade card or note is better than a last minute rose from 7-11.  In fact, for me, it's expressing love on a rather consistent basis -- so '1 reason I love you' a day for a week would charm me to death.  Doled out each day, that kind of positive encouragement could move me to vacuum under the couch or dust the tops of tall bookcases, even!

Luckily for me, and for all of us, God doesn't need reminder occasions to tell us He loves us.  The entire Bible is the love story of God and His most precious creation -- you.  He created us, He loved us, He calls to us, and He waits for us to respond and then bask in His love.  And His love will not waiver, grow cold, or fade away.  As the verse from Jeremiah tells us, His is an everlasting love.  And God knows love -- He IS love!  Jesus demonstrated His love by serving us and laying down his life for us.  There's no greater love than that. 

And as 1 John 3:18 reminds us, we need to love not just in word or speech, but also in deed and truth.  So a card and some chocolates are nice, but it's those little, day to day acts of kindness and sacrifice that demonstrate our love.  The same is true of our love for God.  Some praise and worship on Sunday is all very nice and good.  But it is how we live our lives Monday through Saturday-  witnessing, reading His Word, praying and obeying His will - that matters to God.

Lord, thank you for love!  Thank you for the love between families and friends, the romantic love between husband and wife, and the profound, unbelievable love You have for us.  Show us Your will and help us to put our love in action.  Amen.

Spirit Spa

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment....Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.  ~1 Peter 3:3-4

I had the pleasure of spending time at the day spa with my dearest friends the other day.  We were massaged, facial-ed, wined and dined, pedicured and manicured, cut and styled.  This was our Second Annual Day of Beauty.  After last year, we just HAD to do it again.  And although all that pampering felt wonderful and had me looking my best, it was the time shared with my girlfriends that gave me the most pleasure.  And more than pleasure, it was refreshing...rejuvenating.

Many beauty products claim to be refreshing and rejuvenating - to make you feel better and look younger, or look better and feel younger.  However, it was the girl talk -- catching up on new news, reminiscing about the old days, sharing our trials and tribulations -- that renewed more than my appearance: it renewed my spirit.  As the verse from 1 Peter reminds us, it is our inner selves, our souls and spirits that matter the most.  Sharing and caring and feeling emotionally safe with friends who love you and love the Lord is the best spiritual spa treatment I could imagine.

During Lent, we are called to be introspective and consider the testing and trials of Jesus.  Fasting from food or unhealthy habits allows us to grow closer to God.  Spending time in His Word, carefully meditating on His laws and promises will increase our holiness.  And fellowship with friends and fellow travelers will refresh our spirit!  'Praise the Lord,...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed....' Psalm 103:2,5.

Lord, thank you for the blessing of friendship.  Thank you for friends who listen with their hearts and speak from their souls.  Thank you for opportunities to be pampered, in both body and spirit, so that we may leave refreshed and better able to serve You.  Amen.

Our Lenten Walk

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked...His delight is in the law of the Lord...He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  ~Psalm 1:1-3

He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  ~Micah 6:8

As I sat pondering what Lent meant to me, I thought about the theme of gardens -- the Garden of Gethsemane, the hymn 'I Walk Through the Garden Alone', all the gardener themes which illustrate how lovingly God tends to us and trims us where necessary so that we can yield an abundance of fruit and good works in our lives.  I also thought about walking...the long walk to the cross, our daily walk with Jesus, the narrow path that leads to salvation...

Walking with the Lord is not easy, because life as a human is not easy.  But I have come to see that the only way to find true joy and true love in this life is by walking closely with the Lord, and following his commands.  Recently I have become aware of how many people in my life are lost, confused and unhappy.  They all are looking for something to fulfill them -- you know, THE answer.  And though some profess to be atheists, they all somehow believe there IS an answer.  I know the answer.  I know how to lay aside the feelings of guilt and disappointment, how to have a happy marriage, how to heal broken relationships, how to feel satisfied with just what you have.  THE ANSWER IS JESUS.  Every one of my lost loved ones scoffs at my answer.  Somehow they prefer to believe the answer is more money, plastic surgery, a better job, a fancier house, or political change in our country. 

They have the erroneous belief that living within the limits of God's law will make them bored and miserable.  How well the Enemy has sold this bill of goods!  But just like our own children need limits and discipline, so do we.  Our human legal system is a testament to the fact that we do not always make the best decisions when left to our own devices.  Personally, the times when I felt the most free as an unbeliever, I made the biggest mistakes in my life.  And though God has forgiven me, and I don't have that guilt, I do still live with the consequences of those decisions.  Since I've given my life over to Jesus, I have a better, stronger marriage, better finances, a better family situation, and a much higher level of satisfaction with life in general.  Now, I do have my struggles.  But I have been richly blessed, and I never fail to thank God for all of the blessings He has bestowed.  An attitude of gratitude is the biggest blessing.  As a natural pessimist, it used to be easy to get depressed.  But these days, I find SO many things to be thankful for that it is hard to be anxious for long.

It breaks my heart to see my dear friends and family chase after the worldly things in this life looking for happiness.  My husband often reminds me that no one could have convinced me otherwise when I was an atheist.  That's true.  We plant a seed, we water, we provide sunlight, but God makes it grow and bloom.  So this lent, as we meditate on our faith-walk, as we walk through the garden, remember that someone is watching us, needing what we have.  Let's show them the way to the garden path.

Lord, let my sacrifice this Lenten season, and my walk with you, plant a seed in someone's heart.  Help me lead others to Your path -- the path of joy and life.  And guide me on Your path of righteousness for Your name's sake so that I may dwell in your house forever.  Amen