Maybe We Are Doing Something Right

I spend a lot of time praying for my children because I know as hard as PK and I try to be good parents and make the right decisions for our kids, without God's hand in the matter, we would fail miserably. 

We are living in the midst of middle school drama, teen texting and battles over who has spent too much time getting ready in the bathroom.  We often have to remind the children who live with us that they have chores to do and we are not the Rockefellers a.k.a money doesn't grow on trees.  Some of these things are repeated so often, I'm sure we don't speak the same language.

Some days I wonder if we have done or are doing all we can to impart a Christian perspective to the kids.  They can tell us what they have learned, but do they really get it?  Other days I wonder if they will ever be productive adults as I try to convince one of them who shall remain nameless that neat handwriting really does matter.

Then one of them will say something profound or extremely compassionate or as Rachel did, post something extremely wonderful on Facebook.  I give you my daughter's recent post:

The world we live in is surrounded with negativity. Ur gonna always wanna give up. Life is a struggle. There are always, always twists and turns, but there is also always light in the darkness. and a light inside of you. Just one smile or one positive comment can make all the difference. So i challenge each and every one of u. Next time something bad happens , next time you feel like its the end of the world, stop what your doing, just for a small second and look for the light. It may be dim, but it's there. It may be hard to find but, if you try, it'll find you!

 

She and I had just had yet another heart to heart conversation about our upcoming move before she posted this.  She will start high school in the fall and if our orders come according to plan, she will attend three different high schools before it is all said and done.  When she brings it up and tells me that she isn't happy about it and she just doesn't want to go, I acknowledge her feelings and tell her that I'm not really happy either.  I'm sad to leave, BUT I know God has good things in store.  She is getting it and in the end, I think we will all be okay.

Sittin' Heavy on My Mind

This particular post isn't going to be so much a warm fuzzy family memory as it is about a conviction or spiritual thought I have.  I don't argue religion or politics.  If I am asked what I believe, I will answer.  However, I will not be drawn into a debate.  I truly believe I can accept the choices of another individual without attacking their beliefs or giving up my own.  It doesn't mean I have to agree with the choices of others.  I can love the person and disagree with their decisions on whatever grounds I choose be it religious, moral or just the way I feel.  My answer to close friends has often been, "We will have to agree to disagree on this."  No amount of debating, arguing or persuading is going to change the mind of the other person.  That being said, I feel it is important to stand for what I believe.  No one has to agree with it.  "This is what I believe.  This is why I feel that way.  I understand what your opinion is and I respect that.  I do NOT have to agree with it."  Plain and simple.

I was recently with a group in a study at church.  I can't quote exactly what was said, but one person was basically saying how we should be able to show our faith and that right is slowly being taken away.  Her example was not being able to display the Ten Commandments in a public place or pray in school.  The response she received from another individual in the group was basically, "So what?  God is bigger than that.  He doesn't need us to stand up for Him.  Christianity has been persecuted before and survived." 

Whoa!  Just about fell out of my chair.  Aren't we called to spread the Gospel?  What about the Great Commission?  Christ didn't die on the cross and then say, "Okay, go back to what you were doing before I came.  People will magically believe in me.  Don't worry about standing up or teaching what I have taught you.  The idea of Me will survive.  Let the other religions rule over you and secretly believe in me in your heart.  When push comes to shove, just say you don't believe and back down." 

Another example given was calling Christmas parties in public schools Holiday parties.  The response was, "What about that poor little Muslim child?"  What about that poor little Muslim child?  What about my poor little Christian child?  Times have changed.  The Ten Commandments do not hang on the walls of our schools and morning prayers have been replaced with a moment of silence.  True, no one can keep us from praying in our hearts, but there is no outward mention of God or praying in Jesus' name.  We have replaced outward signs or voicing of Christianity with a sense of fear that we might offend someone of another religion while at the same time other religions fight for their rights and win.  I've read the Bible.  I know how it ends.  Things must come to pass before the return of Christ, but that does not mean we are to take a back seat and idly watch Christianity be smashed.  Yes, Christians have been persecuted throughout the ages and Christianity has survived.  If there is no longer a single Believer on this Earth, Christianity will still exist, but who will be left to tell others about Christ.  Until the trumpet blows, we are to stand for what we believe and hold fast to our beliefs and convictions.

The days of the Ten Commandments hanging in the hallways are gone and most likely will not return.  Schools teach "about" all religions.  I'm o.k. with that because my children have been taught about other religions at home.  When it comes up in the public forum, my kids know what they have been taught at home.  They have been taught why we believe what we do.  They have been told why we don't believe the way other religions do.  They have also been taught to love and respect those who have a differing opinion.  It doesn't mean they can't stand for what they believe and voice their own opinions.  

I do not believe this is a Christian nation, but it is a nation where we are given the right of Freedom of Religion.  An individual can choose to worship whatever god they choose in whatever fashion or to believe there is no higher power.  If you choose to pray to the toaster, knock yourself out.  I can see you praying to the toaster, hear you speaking the name of the toaster, or watch you sacrificing bread to the toaster.  That doesn't turn me into a follower of the toaster.  Why then can I not publicly speak the name of Jesus or God without others being afraid they might magically be drawn into my religion?  Do you feel my religion is so powerful that speaking the name of the Deity I follow will bring you over to my side?  If my faith is as weak or ridiculous as some claim, why does it bother them so much?

Being a Christian doesn't mean standing on the street corner and yelling about hellfire and damnation.  Although, if that is what someone feels called to do, it is not my job or that of any other high and mighty thinking person to judge. 

While I'm at it, let me state clearly what I believe makes you a Christian...Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the son of God. A part of the Trinity. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. That covering is there for the asking.  Believe, repent, accept.  We choose to accept it or reject it. Plain and simple.

Scripture does tell us that a Christian can be known by the fruits he or she produces, but it is not up to us to say who is or is not a Christian. If you disagree, please show me the scripture that says you or I will stand next to God and judge the hearts of those who stand before Him. To sit in a group of people who are supposedly Christians and listen to someone slam or question or deny the salvation of another denomination BREAKS. MY. HEART. AND. MAKES. ME. ANGRY! Then we turn around and dare to teach those outside of Christianity about God's love. We can't even do it under the umbrella of Christianity.

Lord, have mercy.

Being the Youngest

I'm the oldest of three, so I have not personally experienced this part of the birth order.  I can tell you what I have observed about the youngest, what studies say about being the youngest and what others say about the youngest.

Hannah is our youngest.  She is full of spunk and I have often said, "If she had been my first, I would have had more, BUT they would have been about 30 years apart." 

Yesterday was Valentine's Day.  I have tried to establish fun traditions in our home and make those little holidays special for the kids.  Rachel and Aaron are at a point where they really don't get too excited about Valentine's Day.  As I learned yesterday, Hannah still has great expectations.  I guess as the other two have lost their excitement over the little touches, I've let them go.  As I learned yesterday, those little things still mean a lot to Hannah.

I am the room parent for her class at school.  Each classroom is only allowed to have one party a year.  Most of the classes choose to do that at Christmas.  For the rest of the holidays, I usually send in cookies for the teacher to give to the kids.  For Valentine's Day, Hannah and I went to the store the night before to pick out some cookies.  The cookies they had for Valentine's Day looked really lame, so we chose some cupcakes.  After holidays, I often hit the stores and stock up on goody-bag items while they are on clearance.  I had tons of Valentine's Day stuff in my stash, so Hannah and I also put together some goody-bags.  While we were at the store, I realized I did not buy anything for my kids for Valentine's Day.  Since Hannah was with me, I tried to nonchalantly throw some boxes of Hershey's Kisses in the cart. 

 

 

When I got out of bed on Valentine's Day morning, I thought about the heart shaped plates I had used in years past and how I had made the kids pancakes.  I was out of eggs, so I couldn't make pancakes.  I make mine from scratch, so there weren't any boxes of "just add water mix."  I decided I would just use the heart shaped plates for dinner.  PK was about to walk out the door for work and using the plates at dinner would include the entire family.  I put the boxes of Hershey's Kisses on the table and hoped for the best.

 

Rachel got up in her usual morning teenage stupor without the slightest hint of expecting anything grand for Valentine's Day.  Whew! 

 

Aaron came down and poured a bowl of cereal.  I showed him his chocolate, he smiled and sat down with his breakfast.  Two down. 

 

I went to wake Hannah up.  She jumped out of bed with a smile on her face.  I knew I was in trouble.  She is the hardest one to wake up every morning.  If she is excited about something that is happening that day, it is easier.  She made it from the bed to the top of the stairs in a nanosecond.  She stopped abruptly and asked, "Where are Rachel and Aaron?"  When I want to surprise the kids, I make them wait at the top of the stairs until they can come down together.  Hannah was expecting the usual Valentine's Day production. 

 

She walked into the kitchen and I tried to act really excited about the box of chocolate.  Hannah smiled, but I could see in her eyes that she was expecting something else.  She had wanted to make Holly a special Valentine's Day treat.  She grabbed a paper plate, spread peanut butter in the shape of a heart and covered it with dog treats.  She got Holly out of her crate and the dog loved her surprise.  While Hannah was eating her breakfast, I noticed a tear running down her cheek.  I asked her what was wrong and it took a bit of encouraging to get her to tell me.  She really was trying not to be disappointed.  As I had already figured out, she was expecting the whole shebang.  I told her I was going to pull out the plates for dinner and that would mean Daddy could be there, too.

 

I took Hannah to school and walked her in to help her carry all the goodies to her classroom.

 

Then I went to Walmart and picked up some red and white streamer, a heart shaped pan to make a cookie cake and a small Valentine's Day gift for each child.  Don't judge.  I started these little traditions because I think they are fun and I want the kids to have great memories of little family traditions.  I have also taken great care to make sure our traditions are portable.  Since we have moved so often, doing something like having breakfast at a certain restaurant on a specific holiday isn't practical.  Pulling out heart shaped plates is doable and Hannah does have great memories.

 

I put a black tablecloth on the dining room table and hung streamer across the room.  Some heart candy pieces came with the cookie cake pan and I used those as table scatter.  I put a red bag at each child's seat. 

 

 

When Hannah came home from school, she was very excited to see the decorations.  That is all it took.  She was happy with that little added touch.  Note to self...streamers go a long way in adding a little fun to any holiday. 

 

Aaron has been buying mints at the school store and I have been trying to convince him he could buy them for less at the store, so that is what his gift was.  Rachel got her favorite eyeliner.  She has to buy her makeup with her allowance, so she was happy to have that.  Hannah received some new earbuds because she keeps taking PK's.  The kids smiled at their little tokens and we all enjoyed tacos.

 

The cookie cake was cute.  I had to make it twice as I dropped the first one on the floor.

 

Now, St. Patrick's Day is on the way and I will be in Haiti.  How am I going to pull this one off?  I just don't see my husband sneaking through the house in the middle of the night putting green food coloring in the toilets.