Brotherly Love

Here are my sweet nephews, Jaiden (2 yrs.) and Roan (5 mos.).

According to my sister Kristen, this is a pretty typical interaction between the boys.

Seriously

A couple of days ago I came across the Facebook status update of a friend's teenage daughter.

It said simply: "Parents are stupid. Seriously".

One hour later, she updated her sentiments to "I hate my parents. Seriously!".

*sigh*


How sad and strange. In today's world, we can air teenage (or teenage-like) angst to our closest 392 friends in the flap of a hummingbird's wing. We can LOL and write all sorts of stuff without rubbing together two brain cells. Now, I know this has always been the case. But, in the "olden days", waaay back in the 80's when I was mad at my parents, I would yell in a pillow or quietly sulk in my room. At worst, I would complain to a friend at school. Or quietly grumble on the phone to a friend. That's it. It didn't involve HUNDREDS of people. I didn't smear the reputation of my parents before the entire cyberworld.

So, since I now am a parent...and my heart breaks at the thought that my girls could one day look at me and think "you are stupid" or worse, "I hate you"...I am taking a public, cyber-stand for my parents.

They are my parents. They are just as imperfect and fallible as I am. But not nearly worthy of the scorn that I had for them sometimes growing up. So, in this very public manner, I am giving props to my folks...and in some way (in my little brain) I am offering a counter to the smear offered up by my friend's teenage daughter.

So here is my own "status update" :

Parents are people. Parents do their best. I love my parents. Seriously.

The Only Thing

These song lyrics are from "The Only Thing" by Ronnie Freeman:

The Only Thing

I heard someone say the other day

They'd seen in me true love displayed

Blessed by something I had done for them

No sooner had they said these words

I found myself somehow disturbed

Uneasy as I took their compliment

Cause I know the heart inside this man

I know the truth of who I am...

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

I know me well enough to know

No matter what this life may show

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

If you could walk the hallways of my heart

And see things as they really are

I wonder if you might be surprised

Seeing faded walls of pride and fear

Rooms I've filled with faithless tears

And corners where I've stood in compromise

But you'd see the work His grace has done

You'd know just how far I've come

In a thousand years

When the dust of this world clears

And I look back on my life

And see in perfect light

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

I know me well enough to know

No matter what this life may show

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

The Good Book

"This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, test the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, it will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor and condemns all who will trifle with its sacred contents."

~Robert Chapman, regarding the Scriptures

On 9/11

I've done something different this year on September 11th. I've kept the television off, and the radio on music stations. I will always remember the events of that day, but I choose to mark the day in a different way. Being solemn...allowing myself to be tied up in knots about Islamofascism, and all other -isms that wish to create chaos...and watching reel after reel of planes smashing into buildings...well, for me and my state of mind, it has to end. So, today, I wish to dwell on something uplifting and fun. I thought I would post it here for any who are interested.

So...
For those with a heavy heart, a moment of joy...
For the misanthrope, a moment of belief in a better nature...
For those who don't get out much, an unbelievably fun world tour...
And for those wondering about the Father's motives for creating us, one reason...




(I wish he had titled it something else...)

Letting it Go

I had two thoughts that popped into my head when I walked past Belle's messy room this morning. Well, maybe more than that. I first thought "how did that happen between the time that we tucked her in and when she got up this morning?!?" I took a big breath and thought...I will take a picture of that for my blog...and if I had a panoramic lens, you would really get to see the tornado's path.

I do this in order to encourage you to post an equally messy photo on your blog (for my fine blog readers who are also bloggers themselves). Otherwise, you can always send it to my gmail account. I think it could be funny and in a strange way encouraging. Encouraging, like, "there is nothing you are going through that others haven't"....just a thought.

Oh yeah, I was telling you my two thoughts about Belle's room. First, post it and encourage others to do the same. Second--and this is where the discipline and self-restraint come in--I have to learn to "let it go". *ouch*

Yup, for a controlling mum like myself, it is really all too easy to do one of two things. Either run in there and quickly restore some semblance of order, OR, and this is the side on which I err too often: I can yell "BELLE!!! Get in here and pick up this room!!! (Insert guilt-evoking mommy phrase here)!!!! (Ask rhetorical self-pitying question here--or OOOhhh--even better, a question about growing up in a barn)??"

I have to think that I am able to develop a third option. To just let it go; all the while keeping the 'big picture' of child rearing in mind. Is this cleanliness/orderliness character trait that I want to see in my daughters as big a deal as kindness, respect and love? Or obedience, faith or thankfulness? Because even though I feel exceedingly blessed to have such good girls who often are MY role models, I still should keep my eyes on developing more important fruit in their lives (with HUGE amounts of God's help, of course!). Also, I just don't want to yell. It's a drag (yes, it can feel good at the time, but then, O the guilt!), and it doesn't portray the mom or woman that I want to be.

So for now, Belle will be urged to keep several paths through her cluttered room clear for those who dare to venture in. If she can do that, I think I can deal. ;)