There once was a little boy named Benjamin who had a terrible problem with telling people what he thought of them, and in not such a nice way. He would not even think twice before spouting off terrible, hurtful things to his best friends. This little boy was like all other children, they could be told 50 times not to play in the street but until they see the consequences of what actually happens when someone plays in the street, they won't stop.
One day Benjamin's mother thought of a way to teach her son the consequences of his harsh words. The next day after school she took him to the fence in the back yard and told him, "Every time you say something mean to anyone, you have to put a nail in the fence." Pretty soon the fence got very full of nails and Benjamin became more puzzled as to how this was teaching him anything about saying mean things. Finally one afternoon Mom took Benjamin to the back yard, with the hammer in hand, and told him to take the nails out of the fence. Benjamin thought it would be a fun game so he started taking the nails out with vigour. Pretty soon all the energy he had was giving way to sheer exhaustion and he still was not finished taking the nails out of the fence. The sun soon started creeping into the ground and he could smell dinner cooking inside. Mom called for Benjamin to come inside and get ready to supper. He gladly raced inside, ready to eat and ready to get away from the fence and those pesky nails!
When Benjamin woke the next morning he was still wondering why mom had him take all of those nails out of the fence. When he got home from school in the afternoon, mom took him to the back yard, showed him the fence and asked him what he saw. Benjamin responded, "I see nothing but holes, mom." To that his mother responded, "You are very right Benjamin. Each time you say something mean to your friends, your teachers, me or anyone, you put a nail in that person. When you apologize, the nail falls out, but the hole or scare from what you said will always be there." Mom looked down to see tears running down Benjamin's face. He gave his mother a big hug and tearfully apologized for the hurt he had caused her and promised to apologize to his teachers and friends the very next day.
I told a story such as this to my children many times when they were small because I wanted them to know their words could cause lasting damage. That is true for children or adults, what we say can leave scars.
Let's determine to teach our children to think twice before saying something that could cause harm. But let's also determine to teach this to our children through our example, not just through our words.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Got ticks?
We recently found a tick on my dog, the first tick I've ever had to deal with. Needless to say, it was an activity I'd rather not have to endure again! Ticks are ugly little creatures who's only job in life is to hitch a ride on an animal and suck the animal's blood. If a tick is left alone, it will make the animal very sick. As gross as that sounds, I can't help but wonder if we have ticks in our lives, sucking us dry.
No one actually knows the exact date and time the tick jumps on it's prey and burrows it's self into the skin of the animal. Sin can be compared to a tick because it becomes part of us through something that seems harmless, then before we know it, sin has it's nasty little head stuck in our lives, sucking us dry of our spiritual food. Much like trying to get the tick off of our poor dog, sin takes hold of our lives and it becomes almost impossible to get it out.
Eventually we get tired of tugging and pulling to get sin out of our lives so we just accept the fact sin is there to stay and we leave it alone. What we don't realize is sin is doing much more harm then depleting us of our joy and spiritual food, it is making us very sick. We no longer have our daily devotions, we no longer talk to God, then we no longer attend church. If this is allowed to continue, we will become spiritually dead.
If we can be harmed by the tick called sin, how much more damage do you think it does to our children? Once sin is allowed to creep it's way into the lives of our children, it takes hold and has years to suck their lives dry. Sin hitches it's way into our lives from things that seem harmless such as watching shows on TV that aren't really bad but they aren't really good either. Perhaps it's their music, they might not be listening to heavy metal, but what they are listening to is filled with curse words and disrespect to women.
Much like our animals, there are items we can use to keep the ticks off of us and our children. Daily devotions and prayer is a good start. I am a firm believer it is never too early to start devotions with your children. No matter how busy life became, I always had devotions with my children because I wanted them to learn the importance of spending time with God at an early age.
Let's determine to saturate our lives and teach our children how to saturate their lives with God's Word so that sin cannot take hold of us and deplete us of our joy.
No one actually knows the exact date and time the tick jumps on it's prey and burrows it's self into the skin of the animal. Sin can be compared to a tick because it becomes part of us through something that seems harmless, then before we know it, sin has it's nasty little head stuck in our lives, sucking us dry of our spiritual food. Much like trying to get the tick off of our poor dog, sin takes hold of our lives and it becomes almost impossible to get it out.
Eventually we get tired of tugging and pulling to get sin out of our lives so we just accept the fact sin is there to stay and we leave it alone. What we don't realize is sin is doing much more harm then depleting us of our joy and spiritual food, it is making us very sick. We no longer have our daily devotions, we no longer talk to God, then we no longer attend church. If this is allowed to continue, we will become spiritually dead.
If we can be harmed by the tick called sin, how much more damage do you think it does to our children? Once sin is allowed to creep it's way into the lives of our children, it takes hold and has years to suck their lives dry. Sin hitches it's way into our lives from things that seem harmless such as watching shows on TV that aren't really bad but they aren't really good either. Perhaps it's their music, they might not be listening to heavy metal, but what they are listening to is filled with curse words and disrespect to women.
Much like our animals, there are items we can use to keep the ticks off of us and our children. Daily devotions and prayer is a good start. I am a firm believer it is never too early to start devotions with your children. No matter how busy life became, I always had devotions with my children because I wanted them to learn the importance of spending time with God at an early age.
Let's determine to saturate our lives and teach our children how to saturate their lives with God's Word so that sin cannot take hold of us and deplete us of our joy.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
I am thankful for America
One morning on the TODAY Show there were approximately 20 people who were there to take the oath and become a United States citizen. It was a very touching ceremony that I just could not get out of my mind. I decided to research everything that was involved in becoming a United States citizen and I was amazed to find out all of the various things that has to be done to become a U.S. citizen.
The time between sending in the application and the interview can take anywhere from 5 months to 2 years. The swearing in ceremony can take up to 180 days after the interview. There is a lot involved in becoming a citizen. Among many other things, one must first submit an application, get fingerprinted, learn the English language, attend an interview and take tests. This doesn't include the money that it costs to do all of this.
The oath states, "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
It was refreshing to see the tears flowing down the cheeks of those becoming U.S. citizens. They truly realized the importance of being a citizen and they actually had to pay, in more ways than one, a price to become a citizen. It touched my heart to see the joy in their faces, but it also smote my heart because even though I do not mean to, I take my citizenship for granted.
It is a shame that those of us that were born in America take what we have for granted. Not only should we be thankful as parents for what we have, but we ought to teach our children to be thankful. We need to teach our children about the men and women protecting our country. Maybe get involved in sending cards or boxes to the soldiers. Teach them the true meaning for the 4th of July and Memorial Day. Teach them to pray for our President and everyone in the White House.
Let's determine to not take our citizenship for granted and determine teach our children the importance of being thankful for being born in the United States of America.
The time between sending in the application and the interview can take anywhere from 5 months to 2 years. The swearing in ceremony can take up to 180 days after the interview. There is a lot involved in becoming a citizen. Among many other things, one must first submit an application, get fingerprinted, learn the English language, attend an interview and take tests. This doesn't include the money that it costs to do all of this.
The oath states, "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
It was refreshing to see the tears flowing down the cheeks of those becoming U.S. citizens. They truly realized the importance of being a citizen and they actually had to pay, in more ways than one, a price to become a citizen. It touched my heart to see the joy in their faces, but it also smote my heart because even though I do not mean to, I take my citizenship for granted.
It is a shame that those of us that were born in America take what we have for granted. Not only should we be thankful as parents for what we have, but we ought to teach our children to be thankful. We need to teach our children about the men and women protecting our country. Maybe get involved in sending cards or boxes to the soldiers. Teach them the true meaning for the 4th of July and Memorial Day. Teach them to pray for our President and everyone in the White House.
Let's determine to not take our citizenship for granted and determine teach our children the importance of being thankful for being born in the United States of America.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Recession vs. integrity
Integrity is a very important characteristic. Integrity is not something that we are born with and it is not something that we can learn over night; however, it is a characteristic that we as parents should possess. It is also our duty as parents to make sure that our children are raised to have integrity.
The recession has a way of showing the lack of integrity in a lot of people. I recently heard on the news of a lady with a new born that had to go out of the country for approximately 8 to 10 months, so she had the post office hold her mail, she locked up her house securely and headed out of the country. When she came back there was a woman in her house. When the owner of the house asked the woman what she was doing in her house, the woman told her that she found the house empty, had water, sewer and electricity turned on in her (the squatter's) name; therefore, the house was now HER house!!!! My jaw dropped when I heard this story. Needless to say, the squatter does not have integrity because someone with integrity could not live in a house that did not belong to them unless they had permission. So now the owner of the house has to live in her own house with her toddler and the squatter because she does not have enough money to pay an attorney to fight this for her. All the while, the squatter is living in the house free of charge!!!
How can we make sure that our children have integrity? First of all, by our example. We need to make sure that our children see us being honest. If the cashier gives us too much money back, we need to make sure our children see us give that money back to the cashier. We need to teach our children that if it is not theirs, DON'T TOUCH IT without permission from the owner. Teach them to be honest in everything. Teach them not to lie. Teach them that a "little white lie" is the same as a big black lie. Teach them to be respectful to their elders. And especially for the months coming up, we need to make sure that they see us filing a honest tax return.
One thing that I did with my children was every night for devotions we read a chapter from the book of Proverbs. All the books of the Bible are important, but the book of Proverbs is a very important book to teach and apply whether we are on our own or whether we have children.
Let's determine to not let the recession show our lack of integrity; instead, let's determine to use the recession by allowing it be a learning tool with your children. Let them see us living and doing right no matter the consequences and no matter the state of our economy. Integrity cannot be bought.
The recession has a way of showing the lack of integrity in a lot of people. I recently heard on the news of a lady with a new born that had to go out of the country for approximately 8 to 10 months, so she had the post office hold her mail, she locked up her house securely and headed out of the country. When she came back there was a woman in her house. When the owner of the house asked the woman what she was doing in her house, the woman told her that she found the house empty, had water, sewer and electricity turned on in her (the squatter's) name; therefore, the house was now HER house!!!! My jaw dropped when I heard this story. Needless to say, the squatter does not have integrity because someone with integrity could not live in a house that did not belong to them unless they had permission. So now the owner of the house has to live in her own house with her toddler and the squatter because she does not have enough money to pay an attorney to fight this for her. All the while, the squatter is living in the house free of charge!!!
How can we make sure that our children have integrity? First of all, by our example. We need to make sure that our children see us being honest. If the cashier gives us too much money back, we need to make sure our children see us give that money back to the cashier. We need to teach our children that if it is not theirs, DON'T TOUCH IT without permission from the owner. Teach them to be honest in everything. Teach them not to lie. Teach them that a "little white lie" is the same as a big black lie. Teach them to be respectful to their elders. And especially for the months coming up, we need to make sure that they see us filing a honest tax return.
One thing that I did with my children was every night for devotions we read a chapter from the book of Proverbs. All the books of the Bible are important, but the book of Proverbs is a very important book to teach and apply whether we are on our own or whether we have children.
Let's determine to not let the recession show our lack of integrity; instead, let's determine to use the recession by allowing it be a learning tool with your children. Let them see us living and doing right no matter the consequences and no matter the state of our economy. Integrity cannot be bought.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Debates are not for the home
As we all know, it is political season. You cannot turn on the television without seeing commercials of one candidate putting down another candidate.
A home should not be run like a political debate. When the parent sets the rules, the children should abide by the rules. It should not be open for discussion and the children absolutely should not be bashing your rules. As a single parent it is very hard because many times you have 2, 3 or 4 kids against one parent. Because we as single parents do not have anyone backing us up, it is sometimes easier to just give in. It becomes easier to dismiss the comments bashing our rules. Sometimes we become too tired so we easily give in and let our children have what they want.
Our children are priceless, they cannot be replaced and we only get one chance. We need to realize that we are molding a masterpiece in each one of our children. God has entrusted us to raise, nurture and care for each child that we have. The trust that God has placed upon us to raise our children the right way should not be taken lightly.
The time to start molding is the day that cute, little, chubby hand reaches out for the crystal bowl on the table. The word "No" resounds through the house, but the little darling turns around, looks straight at you and touches the bowl anyway. That is the very second they need to learn that it is not a discussion, it is a rule and there are consequences for disobeying and breaking the rules.
Children need the security of knowing that their mother or father loves them enough to teach them the consequences of disobeying. When they become adults they are going to have to see first hand that there are consequences for not doing what they are told to do. If they were not required to obey as children, they will find it very hard to obey as adults. While at times it may only cost them their jobs, at other times it may cost them their freedom because they may be locked up in jail.
Our homes are not the place for debates. Let's determine to teach our children the importance of obedience right away, and teach them to obey without questioning it. And let's have a home where the only debates are the ones on the television.
Have a great week!!!
A home should not be run like a political debate. When the parent sets the rules, the children should abide by the rules. It should not be open for discussion and the children absolutely should not be bashing your rules. As a single parent it is very hard because many times you have 2, 3 or 4 kids against one parent. Because we as single parents do not have anyone backing us up, it is sometimes easier to just give in. It becomes easier to dismiss the comments bashing our rules. Sometimes we become too tired so we easily give in and let our children have what they want.
Our children are priceless, they cannot be replaced and we only get one chance. We need to realize that we are molding a masterpiece in each one of our children. God has entrusted us to raise, nurture and care for each child that we have. The trust that God has placed upon us to raise our children the right way should not be taken lightly.
The time to start molding is the day that cute, little, chubby hand reaches out for the crystal bowl on the table. The word "No" resounds through the house, but the little darling turns around, looks straight at you and touches the bowl anyway. That is the very second they need to learn that it is not a discussion, it is a rule and there are consequences for disobeying and breaking the rules.
Children need the security of knowing that their mother or father loves them enough to teach them the consequences of disobeying. When they become adults they are going to have to see first hand that there are consequences for not doing what they are told to do. If they were not required to obey as children, they will find it very hard to obey as adults. While at times it may only cost them their jobs, at other times it may cost them their freedom because they may be locked up in jail.
Our homes are not the place for debates. Let's determine to teach our children the importance of obedience right away, and teach them to obey without questioning it. And let's have a home where the only debates are the ones on the television.
Have a great week!!!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Are your kids a basket case?
I've never really given much thought to the mother of Moses until the other night. I was thinking about the fear that she must have felt when she knew she had to do something with Moses or he would die. They did not have the transportation back then that we do now so it wasn't as if she could put him on a bus or plane and send him out of town. I can't even imagine what must have been going through her mind at that time, yet she found the strength and courage to calm her nerves and build a basket that was strong enough to stay afloat while cradling a baby and strong enough to keep Moses safe and warm. She lovingly weaved each piece that went into the basket and made sure there were enough blankets to keep him warm. I would imagine there has never been a basket made with as much love and concern as that one.
However, her fear, anxiety and apprehension was not over. She then had to put Moses in the basket, place the basket in the water and push it down the river, not knowing if she would see her son again. Her heart must have been beating out of her chest as well as breaking in two.
We too are like Moses' mother, while raising our children, we are weaving baskets for them. Training is weaved in with love, protection, care, sorrow, happiness and memories. One day that basket is finished and it is time for our children to "go down stream" to a life of their own. We feel the same apprehension, fear and anxiety that I am sure Moses' mother felt. We can only hope that our basket will keep them on the right path, keep them serving God and one day help them become the man or woman that God wants them to be. It is a very scarey thing to watch your children go and build a life of their own, yet it can be a very happy time as well. If we have raised our children to serve God and we've instilled Godly morals and values, we will see that our baskets have sent them down the right path. Like Moses, they too will have times that will make us question as to wether we built the basket correctly, but God is in control and He will honor the time, sweat and tears that we've put into our children.
Perhaps your children are not to the point where they are ready to be sent off yet. Now is the time to instill those Godly morals and values. It is never too late to start.
If your children are not yet grown, determine to raise them they way God want's them raised. Instill the Godly values and morals NOW. If your children are grown, determine to pray DAILY for them, pray that they will remember the things that you've taught them and that they will strive to be a Godly young man or woman.
Moses was a basket case and your kids can be too!
However, her fear, anxiety and apprehension was not over. She then had to put Moses in the basket, place the basket in the water and push it down the river, not knowing if she would see her son again. Her heart must have been beating out of her chest as well as breaking in two.
We too are like Moses' mother, while raising our children, we are weaving baskets for them. Training is weaved in with love, protection, care, sorrow, happiness and memories. One day that basket is finished and it is time for our children to "go down stream" to a life of their own. We feel the same apprehension, fear and anxiety that I am sure Moses' mother felt. We can only hope that our basket will keep them on the right path, keep them serving God and one day help them become the man or woman that God wants them to be. It is a very scarey thing to watch your children go and build a life of their own, yet it can be a very happy time as well. If we have raised our children to serve God and we've instilled Godly morals and values, we will see that our baskets have sent them down the right path. Like Moses, they too will have times that will make us question as to wether we built the basket correctly, but God is in control and He will honor the time, sweat and tears that we've put into our children.
Perhaps your children are not to the point where they are ready to be sent off yet. Now is the time to instill those Godly morals and values. It is never too late to start.
If your children are not yet grown, determine to raise them they way God want's them raised. Instill the Godly values and morals NOW. If your children are grown, determine to pray DAILY for them, pray that they will remember the things that you've taught them and that they will strive to be a Godly young man or woman.
Moses was a basket case and your kids can be too!
Friday, August 3, 2012
God is a God of do-overs
I haven't been blogging for a while because I've been in the middle of a move. I am finally in the new home and out of the old one, but I still can't find a lot of things. Oh well, I'm sure I will find everything before the next move. LOL
The other night I was thinking how nice it is to finally get all of my possessions into a new home and start decorating the new home. Even though I hate moving, I like the fact that I get a fresh start. If I fell behind on coordinating the closets, organizing the cabinets or drawers or just let a few things go, I can always start over fresh in a new home.
It is the same in our every day lives. A lot of times we mess up our days by saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things, not doing what needs to be done, kicking the dog or whatever. God allows us the chance to start over fresh the next morning, as children we used to call it a "do-over". Perhaps it wasn't just a day that we messed up, perhaps it was a whole year. God lovingly provides us a new year to start fresh.
Everyone has bad things happen in their lives, the key is to not dwell on the bad things, ask for a do-over and start fresh. If you have a last name that has bad people or bad deeds tied to that name, determine to start over fresh and make your last name a good name. If you have a household that is not serving God, start today having family devotions, attending church regularly and living for God.
Maybe you have a broken relationship that you would really like to see repaired. Go to that person today, ask for forgiveness and repair that relationship.
Let's determine to remember that we are not doomed to live a life filled with mistakes. Let's ask God to forgive us where we have failed and ask Him to bless our fresh start. He truly is a God of do-overs!
The other night I was thinking how nice it is to finally get all of my possessions into a new home and start decorating the new home. Even though I hate moving, I like the fact that I get a fresh start. If I fell behind on coordinating the closets, organizing the cabinets or drawers or just let a few things go, I can always start over fresh in a new home.
It is the same in our every day lives. A lot of times we mess up our days by saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things, not doing what needs to be done, kicking the dog or whatever. God allows us the chance to start over fresh the next morning, as children we used to call it a "do-over". Perhaps it wasn't just a day that we messed up, perhaps it was a whole year. God lovingly provides us a new year to start fresh.
Everyone has bad things happen in their lives, the key is to not dwell on the bad things, ask for a do-over and start fresh. If you have a last name that has bad people or bad deeds tied to that name, determine to start over fresh and make your last name a good name. If you have a household that is not serving God, start today having family devotions, attending church regularly and living for God.
Maybe you have a broken relationship that you would really like to see repaired. Go to that person today, ask for forgiveness and repair that relationship.
Let's determine to remember that we are not doomed to live a life filled with mistakes. Let's ask God to forgive us where we have failed and ask Him to bless our fresh start. He truly is a God of do-overs!
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