We have tried over the years to expose our children to things of the world when they are the right age to handle it. We aren't always successful...but we have tried. Not to hide them from the world or isolate them forever...but to truly give them worldly truths when they are able to deal with it in an age-appropriate manner.
This week, our oldest has now been exposed to the reality of insurance, car wrecks, police reports, etc. She was involved in an accident that was not her fault. But, boy!, is she feeling the effects of the poor decision on the other driver's part.
Our daughter had a car, though not her uber favorite, was in excellent condition, ran well, not a junker, worked perfectly for her purposes! The insurance company has now deemed her car a total loss as it would cost more to fix it than it is worth. That is the problem....the harsh reality she is now ready for...the exposure we would have hidden from her earlier. She was sucked into another's sin and she is going to have to come up with the extra to find a new car.
Frustrating though it is, she is now ready for this and, I must say, is handling it beautifully! I am proud of her reactions and how she is dealing with all of this. Just like we don't expect babies to begin reading because we know that they aren't ready for it, we also should be careful of what we expose our kids to early because they just might not be ready for it.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Generosity
I love being generous! Though being given gifts is not necessarily my top love language (but I do love a good gift!), I LOVE giving gifts! It brings me joy beyond all else.
Even as a little girl, I would tape quarters in handwritten notes to my mom. :)
Though we don't live on much, financially, God has always allowed us to be able to give to others. I am thrilled that my husband has the same view on giving as I do!
Yesterday, my husband had the opportunity to speak with someone about their financial situation. He had the ability to say, "I'll pray about that for you." or to give lots of ideas on how this person could help themselves. Though he did all of the above, it also dawned on him that we could help out also! We had the ability to do that for him. Why wouldn't we do that?
Josh McDowell once spoke about a time when he was speaking with someone who needed a car desperately. Josh said that he would pray about that and hoped that the Lord would answer with the provision of a car. When Josh got home, it dawned on him that he didn't even need to pray about that! He and his wife had a car that they didn't use and could easily give the person who needed one. God had already provided!
That's how Ben and I feel so often. We don't even need to pray about something that it is within our means and ability to provide! God has blessed us so often over the years in allowing us to be the ones to provided for others' needs!
How about you? What are you "praying" about that could already be answered through you?
Even as a little girl, I would tape quarters in handwritten notes to my mom. :)
Though we don't live on much, financially, God has always allowed us to be able to give to others. I am thrilled that my husband has the same view on giving as I do!
Yesterday, my husband had the opportunity to speak with someone about their financial situation. He had the ability to say, "I'll pray about that for you." or to give lots of ideas on how this person could help themselves. Though he did all of the above, it also dawned on him that we could help out also! We had the ability to do that for him. Why wouldn't we do that?
Josh McDowell once spoke about a time when he was speaking with someone who needed a car desperately. Josh said that he would pray about that and hoped that the Lord would answer with the provision of a car. When Josh got home, it dawned on him that he didn't even need to pray about that! He and his wife had a car that they didn't use and could easily give the person who needed one. God had already provided!
That's how Ben and I feel so often. We don't even need to pray about something that it is within our means and ability to provide! God has blessed us so often over the years in allowing us to be the ones to provided for others' needs!
How about you? What are you "praying" about that could already be answered through you?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Ideas Anyone?
I heard a statement at a function I went to the other day that I have been noodling on.
Information without application is abortion.
It is, on the surface, an inflammatory statement, to be sure. But the more I ponder it, the more I agree with it.
When you receive information, and you don't apply the information you receive, it's like not letting the information come to it's full potential.
Still noodling on it. Ideas?
Friday, August 19, 2011
New Normal
Daddy is now living in a memory wing of a nursing home. His room is warm and inviting. He looks terrific. The food is fabulous. There are only six residents currently....and can only be eight total when the rooms are all full.
But it's still not right! Oh! Don't get me wrong. This was the best decision for Daddy and for Mom. She needed rest! Mom was wearing herself out and that wasn't acceptable. But it's still not right.
Years ago, when we were thinking of what life would be like when my parents hit their mid-70's, this was not the "normal" we were thinking of. We didn't contemplate the fact that Daddy would have Alzheimer's and have to live somewhere else. We didn't anticipate having to visit Mom in her home and Daddy in his "home".
So...our idea of "normal" has had to change. It has been a difficult time mentally, for my children and for me. We visit Daddy, and though in general, we don't cry when we leave anymore, we leave with a heavy heart.
Oh, for the day when Daddy gets a new mind and body and is at peace worshipping Jesus! These are the days I am most frustrated with the Adam/Eve saga!
But it's still not right! Oh! Don't get me wrong. This was the best decision for Daddy and for Mom. She needed rest! Mom was wearing herself out and that wasn't acceptable. But it's still not right.
Years ago, when we were thinking of what life would be like when my parents hit their mid-70's, this was not the "normal" we were thinking of. We didn't contemplate the fact that Daddy would have Alzheimer's and have to live somewhere else. We didn't anticipate having to visit Mom in her home and Daddy in his "home".
So...our idea of "normal" has had to change. It has been a difficult time mentally, for my children and for me. We visit Daddy, and though in general, we don't cry when we leave anymore, we leave with a heavy heart.
Oh, for the day when Daddy gets a new mind and body and is at peace worshipping Jesus! These are the days I am most frustrated with the Adam/Eve saga!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Feelings: Real or Not?
I am ssslllloooowwwwlllyyy learning to not trust my feelings. There are days that I am so sure of some emotion that I am feeling....only to discover the next day or a couple of days later, that the situation is different.
Why am I like that? I don't know that I am different than any other person, but since it's something that we don't talk about very often, it seems as though I go through this alone. I am discovering that most of my uneasiness about life comes with the change of my hormones.
But my question is: how do I finally decide when what I think is happening, really is happening, and when it isn't?
Just what I am pondering today!
Why am I like that? I don't know that I am different than any other person, but since it's something that we don't talk about very often, it seems as though I go through this alone. I am discovering that most of my uneasiness about life comes with the change of my hormones.
But my question is: how do I finally decide when what I think is happening, really is happening, and when it isn't?
Just what I am pondering today!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Routine
The "un"-routine of summer was delightful in the beginning. No plans. No place we needed to be. No hurry.
But now the routine of the new school year is just as pleasant. A bit more of a schedule. Some every week kinds of things. Structure.
I would not normally think of myself as a "structure" kind of gal....but the older I get, I am appreciating it more and more. I think it comes down to a bit of pride, really. (seems as though many things head that way for me these days) I enjoy that feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing my agenda.
Oh! Don't get me wrong! I am still a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal...especially when compared to most everyone around me! But I am beginning to really appreciate the idea of routine. I don't want to become so enamored of routine that I become one of the cantankerous old women.
Eventually I want to have grandchildren running amok in my house/yard and I don't want to be the one yelling at them to "get off the grass"! I want to enjoy life with them.
I think that is what it comes down to....I want to enjoy the life God has for me....whether it's in the routine or the spontaneity.
But now the routine of the new school year is just as pleasant. A bit more of a schedule. Some every week kinds of things. Structure.
I would not normally think of myself as a "structure" kind of gal....but the older I get, I am appreciating it more and more. I think it comes down to a bit of pride, really. (seems as though many things head that way for me these days) I enjoy that feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing my agenda.
Oh! Don't get me wrong! I am still a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal...especially when compared to most everyone around me! But I am beginning to really appreciate the idea of routine. I don't want to become so enamored of routine that I become one of the cantankerous old women.
Eventually I want to have grandchildren running amok in my house/yard and I don't want to be the one yelling at them to "get off the grass"! I want to enjoy life with them.
I think that is what it comes down to....I want to enjoy the life God has for me....whether it's in the routine or the spontaneity.
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