Oliver has a preschool classmate who is also in his Sunday school class. Seems like they would be really good friends, right? Well, no. The problem is that Oliver's best friend in preschool doesn't really like the other little boy. From what I understand, they've never really played together, so it's more likely a lack of communication that is getting in the way of a friendship. Whatever the reason, because Oliver's best friend doesn't like the other little boy, that means that Oliver doesn't play with the other little boy at preschool, or at Sunday school, either.
I think that's wrong. It's dumb when it happens in middle school, but it's even dumber when it happens in preschool.
I knew this was going on and I felt that it wasn't right and that I needed to talk to Oliver about it. It's a small issue now, but can lead to bigger and bigger issues later on. But he's only five years old, and I wasn't sure what to say or how to say it in a way that wouldn't be confusing or giving him too much information . . . I wanted him to be receptive and not start to tune me out as he's so apt to do sometimes. ;-)
I was praying about it a couple of weeks ago, and God tapped me on the shoulder and gave me the words to say. And when I talked to Oliver, I was able to get my point across simply and help him see his classmate's need for a friend. Oliver was pumped up about being a good friend to the other boy, and decided that he was going to play with him during Sunday school, and also try to invite him to be on his team at preschool.
Sunday school went well, and Oliver and the other boy played together. Then, after preschool a couple of days later, Oliver told me that he tried to get the other boy on his team, but his best friend didn't want to include him. Oliver said he tried to change his best friend's mind, but his friend still didn't like the other boy and Oliver kind of gave up on trying.
I was torn between requesting again that Oliver make the right choice, versus forgetting about it. It seems like such a big issue for a five year old! They should only be worrying about which color marker to use, or which socks to wear -- simple things. Then God spoke to me once again and reminded me that His ways are not always easy, but they are the best ways. That it's more important for Oliver to show His love by being a friend to a child who needs a friend than for Oliver to turn his back and let that child feel left out. God gave me the words to say again, and I talked to Oliver, and once again he was receptive and more than willing to try to be a friend to that boy.
The following week (last week), Oliver's best friend was not at preschool, so Oliver had the chance to invite the other boy on his team again. Their teacher said that the other boy was so happy to be included, and he and Oliver played together very well, along with another of Oliver's good friends. That was great news!
Then yesterday morning, the kids and I got to school a little bit early. When we walked in the building, the other boy was already there, and he jumped up to tell Oliver hi. The boys started talking and then ran off to the classroom together. Oliver's best friend showed up a couple of minutes later, and he told Oliver hi, but ignored the other boy. Right then, Oliver told his best friend that they needed to invite the other boy on their team, and that if they didn't let him on the team, Oliver was going to start his own team with the other boy on it. His best friend looked kind of puzzled, like he was going to say no, but after a minute he shrugged and said it would be okay. (Yay!)
When I picked Oliver up from school, I asked him how things went during recess and play time. He said that everyone played together just fine with no problems at all that day, and also on the next school day.
I am so proud of my big boy. Such hard lessons to learn at such a young age! It might not be such a big deal to Oliver, but I'm proud of him for taking the time to be considerate and make playtime easier for his classmate. I don't like that he has to deal with this so early, but I'm thankful for a loving God who is there to help me and my hubby find the right way to talk to our son and help him grow into the considerate, kind man that I pray he will become!
Showing posts with label Learning and Growing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning and Growing. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Joy
Buttercup's personality has always been almost the opposite of Oliver's, and lately we've really been noticing their differences. Where he's introverted and shy, she's social and outgoing. Where he's eager to please and obedient, she's strong-willed and defiant. And because of the latter, the disciplinary tricks that worked with Oliver don't always (okay, rarely) work on Buttercup.
For instance, there was a particular day when Oliver was 2-going-on-3 and he would not listen to me. I put him in time out, and he refused to sit in his chair. So I made him stay in time out until he finally stayed seated in his time out chair for 2 minutes. It took him a total of 15 minutes to get to that point, but he finally ended up sitting in his chair like I told him to, and to this day we rarely have trouble with him not sitting in his chair when he is put in time out.
Yesterday morning, I tried the same thing with Buttercup. She ended up being in the time out spot for 20 minutes, but still refused to sit in her chair. And the thing was, she didn't even care that she was in time out. She picked her nose, rearranged the door mat, played with the picture frames on the side table, opened the front closet door, etc. I reminded her several times that all she needed to do was sit in her chair for 2 minutes (I know she doesn't know how long 2 minutes is, so I told her to sit until I said it was okay to get up), and she would barely rest her bottom on the chair, then smirk at me and get up again. I finally got her out after 21 minutes of getting nowhere.
I admit, I get frustrated with not only trying to figure out the right way to discipline her without crushing her spirit, but also just trying to enjoy her for who she is. God made her the way she is for a reason, and I don't want to waste my time being frustrated with her! I want to want to be with her, have playdates at our house, and take her places, instead of thinking, "Oh, how long until she starts hitting, or biting, or beating up her friends." Not that I want to not discipline her when it's necessary, but I want to spend more time encouraging her and loving her than feeling irritated with her.
Well, God works in mysterious ways. ;-) This morning we had a visit from our good friends, and my friend gave me a new book of devotions and short readings since she knows that I don't have time every day to get into a deep Bible study. After I got the big kids in their room for nap/rest time, I sat on the couch with Theodore and read the first devotion aloud to him. It really spoke to my heart and I was just so thankful that God brought that friend into my life, and that she passed the book along to me on this particular day. God is so awesome and so good to me!!
Here's an excerpt:
Joy
Rejoice in Me Always. This is a moment-by-moment choice. It is possible to find Joy in Me even during the most difficult times. Because I am always near, I am constantly available to help you. I can even carry you through times of extreme adversity.
. . . when you remember that I am your perfect Betrothed and that you are promised to Me forever, you can rejoice in Me even though you face many problems.
It is in the present moment that you find Me ever near you.
. . . The soul-satisfaction you find in Me helps you relate well to other people. As you enjoy My abiding Presence, you can bless others with your gentleness.
(from Jesus Lives: Seeing His Love in Your Life by Sarah Young)
For instance, there was a particular day when Oliver was 2-going-on-3 and he would not listen to me. I put him in time out, and he refused to sit in his chair. So I made him stay in time out until he finally stayed seated in his time out chair for 2 minutes. It took him a total of 15 minutes to get to that point, but he finally ended up sitting in his chair like I told him to, and to this day we rarely have trouble with him not sitting in his chair when he is put in time out.
Yesterday morning, I tried the same thing with Buttercup. She ended up being in the time out spot for 20 minutes, but still refused to sit in her chair. And the thing was, she didn't even care that she was in time out. She picked her nose, rearranged the door mat, played with the picture frames on the side table, opened the front closet door, etc. I reminded her several times that all she needed to do was sit in her chair for 2 minutes (I know she doesn't know how long 2 minutes is, so I told her to sit until I said it was okay to get up), and she would barely rest her bottom on the chair, then smirk at me and get up again. I finally got her out after 21 minutes of getting nowhere.
I admit, I get frustrated with not only trying to figure out the right way to discipline her without crushing her spirit, but also just trying to enjoy her for who she is. God made her the way she is for a reason, and I don't want to waste my time being frustrated with her! I want to want to be with her, have playdates at our house, and take her places, instead of thinking, "Oh, how long until she starts hitting, or biting, or beating up her friends." Not that I want to not discipline her when it's necessary, but I want to spend more time encouraging her and loving her than feeling irritated with her.
Well, God works in mysterious ways. ;-) This morning we had a visit from our good friends, and my friend gave me a new book of devotions and short readings since she knows that I don't have time every day to get into a deep Bible study. After I got the big kids in their room for nap/rest time, I sat on the couch with Theodore and read the first devotion aloud to him. It really spoke to my heart and I was just so thankful that God brought that friend into my life, and that she passed the book along to me on this particular day. God is so awesome and so good to me!!
Here's an excerpt:
Joy
Rejoice in Me Always. This is a moment-by-moment choice. It is possible to find Joy in Me even during the most difficult times. Because I am always near, I am constantly available to help you. I can even carry you through times of extreme adversity.
. . . when you remember that I am your perfect Betrothed and that you are promised to Me forever, you can rejoice in Me even though you face many problems.
It is in the present moment that you find Me ever near you.
. . . The soul-satisfaction you find in Me helps you relate well to other people. As you enjoy My abiding Presence, you can bless others with your gentleness.
(from Jesus Lives: Seeing His Love in Your Life by Sarah Young)
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Ultimate Protection Plan
If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:9-12
I've always loved that passage, because it's a reminder that God is always watching out for us. I can rest in the knowledge that He knows the best way to care for us and protect us! It especially comforts me as the mom of an inquisitive, adventure-seeking 4 year old boy. Lately Oliver seems to be getting more and more scrapes and bruises while trying new things. Recently, he even bonked or scraped his head every day for a week! Sometimes, you can tell when things might go wrong -- like hanging upside down on the monkey bars -- but other times you have no way of knowing that the next moment your heart will be in your throat. It's times like those that bring me to my knees and make me thank God for protecting my son. I want him to do the things that he wants to do (within reason, of course!), I want him to explore and see what his body can do, I want him to figure things out for himself. But most importantly, I want him to be safe. And while I can't put him in a bubble to protect him, I have God's promise that He will protect my Oliver. And if that's not the best bubble-wrap ever, I don't know what is. :-)
Psalm 91:9-12
I've always loved that passage, because it's a reminder that God is always watching out for us. I can rest in the knowledge that He knows the best way to care for us and protect us! It especially comforts me as the mom of an inquisitive, adventure-seeking 4 year old boy. Lately Oliver seems to be getting more and more scrapes and bruises while trying new things. Recently, he even bonked or scraped his head every day for a week! Sometimes, you can tell when things might go wrong -- like hanging upside down on the monkey bars -- but other times you have no way of knowing that the next moment your heart will be in your throat. It's times like those that bring me to my knees and make me thank God for protecting my son. I want him to do the things that he wants to do (within reason, of course!), I want him to explore and see what his body can do, I want him to figure things out for himself. But most importantly, I want him to be safe. And while I can't put him in a bubble to protect him, I have God's promise that He will protect my Oliver. And if that's not the best bubble-wrap ever, I don't know what is. :-)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
I survived VBS!
This year, I volunteered to help out with our church's Vacation Bible School (or, VBS for short). The class I was selected to teach? Kindergarten. Eek! I was a little apprehensive at first, but there was a more experienced teacher available to help in the class, and we had most of the lesson plans outlined for us, so it really was not as nerve wracking as I anticipated.
Then, for the last 2 days of VBS, the other teacher was absent. Which meant that I was in charge of a group of 8 kindergartners -- all girls. All very fun, outgoing, and g-i-g-g-l-y. And on one particular day, every single one of them had ants in their pants and could not sit (or stand!) still for any reason. Which is fine, if you're outside or in the classroom. But not when you're supposed to be waiting quietly in the hall for another class to finish up at the next station!!
Sigh.
But we got through it, and then before I knew it, VBS was over for another year. I had fun teaching, but wasn't sure if I was cut out to try it again. Especially since I was still recovering from Wednesday night's shenanigans. :-P So I was surprised this morning when the VBS director thanked me for helping out last week, and said that she had received several positive comments from the parents about the class that I had helped to teach! She even said that I did a great job and that I would be welcome to teach again next year. :-)
It's funny how you can think that you're not doing a good job, when it turns out that other people see it differently. I encourage my kids several times a day -- whether it's encouragement for trying new things, or encouragement to do things that they have already attempted and failed before -- and it's easy to forget that the adults around us need encouragement, too! So try to make it a point to encourage someone this week . . . and see what happens!
Then, for the last 2 days of VBS, the other teacher was absent. Which meant that I was in charge of a group of 8 kindergartners -- all girls. All very fun, outgoing, and g-i-g-g-l-y. And on one particular day, every single one of them had ants in their pants and could not sit (or stand!) still for any reason. Which is fine, if you're outside or in the classroom. But not when you're supposed to be waiting quietly in the hall for another class to finish up at the next station!!
Sigh.
But we got through it, and then before I knew it, VBS was over for another year. I had fun teaching, but wasn't sure if I was cut out to try it again. Especially since I was still recovering from Wednesday night's shenanigans. :-P So I was surprised this morning when the VBS director thanked me for helping out last week, and said that she had received several positive comments from the parents about the class that I had helped to teach! She even said that I did a great job and that I would be welcome to teach again next year. :-)
It's funny how you can think that you're not doing a good job, when it turns out that other people see it differently. I encourage my kids several times a day -- whether it's encouragement for trying new things, or encouragement to do things that they have already attempted and failed before -- and it's easy to forget that the adults around us need encouragement, too! So try to make it a point to encourage someone this week . . . and see what happens!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Declare the glory of God!
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Psalm 19:1-3
This morning I got up early and went out for my weekly long run. I was up early enough to watch the sunrise, and Psalm 19:1-3 started running through my head as I watched the sky and clouds change color. I really started thinking about the first verse, particularly the phrase "the heavens declare the glory of God." The heavens declare the glory of God! How cool is that, that you can just look up and see His handiwork, see all of the beautiful, wonderful things that He has made!
Further into my run, I was still singing the psalm to myself, as my feet pounded on the trail in cadence with the tune. The tune stuck in my head was written by one of the teachers at the private Christian school that I attended from kindergarten through 6th grade. It's funny that I remember that song from so long ago. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have thought that I would end up where I am right now. Back then, I didn't think it was a big deal that my parents were Christians and that I was raised in a Christian home. But now that I have two kids of my own, I realize how truly important it is. Proverbs 22:6 says it best: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." It's been a long, bumpy road for me, one where I didn't always make the best choices, but I'm thankful for God for His forgiveness and for giving me Christian parents and a loving home to grow up in, and I'm thankful for my parents for leading me when I was young enough to be led, letting go when I was old enough to make my own decisions, and loving me no matter what.
I love you guys!!
Psalm 19:1-3
This morning I got up early and went out for my weekly long run. I was up early enough to watch the sunrise, and Psalm 19:1-3 started running through my head as I watched the sky and clouds change color. I really started thinking about the first verse, particularly the phrase "the heavens declare the glory of God." The heavens declare the glory of God! How cool is that, that you can just look up and see His handiwork, see all of the beautiful, wonderful things that He has made!
Further into my run, I was still singing the psalm to myself, as my feet pounded on the trail in cadence with the tune. The tune stuck in my head was written by one of the teachers at the private Christian school that I attended from kindergarten through 6th grade. It's funny that I remember that song from so long ago. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have thought that I would end up where I am right now. Back then, I didn't think it was a big deal that my parents were Christians and that I was raised in a Christian home. But now that I have two kids of my own, I realize how truly important it is. Proverbs 22:6 says it best: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." It's been a long, bumpy road for me, one where I didn't always make the best choices, but I'm thankful for God for His forgiveness and for giving me Christian parents and a loving home to grow up in, and I'm thankful for my parents for leading me when I was young enough to be led, letting go when I was old enough to make my own decisions, and loving me no matter what.
I love you guys!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Taking time to be thankful
"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
Psalm 126:2-3
I have a lot of things to be thankful for. My grace-giving, loving God, my sweet hubby, my beautiful babies, my health, my friends, my family. And -- directly related to my hard working hubby -- I get to stay home with my favorite little people every day and enjoy them! I get to witness firsthand when Buttercup reaches a new milestone (this morning she figured how to brace the cereal bowl with one hand so she could spoon her cereal with the other!), watch Oliver come up with even more ideas on how to use his tools, see them grow and learn, and watch them interact with each other. There really isn't much more on this earth that makes me happier than seeing my kids helping each other, talking together, playing and laughing with each other.
There are so many simple things that I get to enjoy every day, and I am so thankful for that. Playing in the creek is one of them. It's such a simple thing to do. It doesn't cost any money, and you don't need to bring anything (although a $1 butterfly net and bucket are good for hours of fun!). There are always rocks to throw, leaves and sticks to float downstream, fish and tadpoles to watch. It's so relaxing being out there in the shade, enjoying God's creation, hearing the trickling water and watching my two of my favorite people have fun.
Psalm 126:2-3
I have a lot of things to be thankful for. My grace-giving, loving God, my sweet hubby, my beautiful babies, my health, my friends, my family. And -- directly related to my hard working hubby -- I get to stay home with my favorite little people every day and enjoy them! I get to witness firsthand when Buttercup reaches a new milestone (this morning she figured how to brace the cereal bowl with one hand so she could spoon her cereal with the other!), watch Oliver come up with even more ideas on how to use his tools, see them grow and learn, and watch them interact with each other. There really isn't much more on this earth that makes me happier than seeing my kids helping each other, talking together, playing and laughing with each other.
There are so many simple things that I get to enjoy every day, and I am so thankful for that. Playing in the creek is one of them. It's such a simple thing to do. It doesn't cost any money, and you don't need to bring anything (although a $1 butterfly net and bucket are good for hours of fun!). There are always rocks to throw, leaves and sticks to float downstream, fish and tadpoles to watch. It's so relaxing being out there in the shade, enjoying God's creation, hearing the trickling water and watching my two of my favorite people have fun.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
All we need is just a little patience
Ahh, patience. It is definitely one of my weakest areas. And it is tested daily.
Today was one of those days. I guess it all started last night. Ephesians 4:26b says, "Don't let the sun go down on your anger," and for good reason -- I went to bed grumpy, and I woke up even grumpier. Oliver fed off of my grouchiness this morning, and as soon as breakfast was over, he started picking fights with his sister. That led to Oliver getting three time outs before 8:30 this morning (almost unheard of these days), despite my efforts to get us out of the house as soon as possible. His attitude was better at the playground, but as soon as we got back home, he started picking on Buttercup again.
Oliver is capable of making good choices, but I guess you can blame me for setting a bad example by being grumpy and short-tempered this morning. If I had woken up in a better mood, maybe things would have been a little bit better.
But you know what? God can overcome all of this. Exodus 4:13-14 says, "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today . . . the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Of course, that scripture is talking about Moses delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians. But for my life it's translated into me being delivered from my worst adversary -- my temper. To me, it says, "Hey Maria, just chill out and let God take care of it! Be still and know that He is God; sit back and watch Him take charge of the situation."
What an awesome God we have!
And, because I hate to not include pictures of my cuties in my posts, here are a couple from this morning. :-)
Today was one of those days. I guess it all started last night. Ephesians 4:26b says, "Don't let the sun go down on your anger," and for good reason -- I went to bed grumpy, and I woke up even grumpier. Oliver fed off of my grouchiness this morning, and as soon as breakfast was over, he started picking fights with his sister. That led to Oliver getting three time outs before 8:30 this morning (almost unheard of these days), despite my efforts to get us out of the house as soon as possible. His attitude was better at the playground, but as soon as we got back home, he started picking on Buttercup again.
Oliver is capable of making good choices, but I guess you can blame me for setting a bad example by being grumpy and short-tempered this morning. If I had woken up in a better mood, maybe things would have been a little bit better.
But you know what? God can overcome all of this. Exodus 4:13-14 says, "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today . . . the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Of course, that scripture is talking about Moses delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians. But for my life it's translated into me being delivered from my worst adversary -- my temper. To me, it says, "Hey Maria, just chill out and let God take care of it! Be still and know that He is God; sit back and watch Him take charge of the situation."
What an awesome God we have!
And, because I hate to not include pictures of my cuties in my posts, here are a couple from this morning. :-)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Stepping out of my comfort zone
As a Christian, I'm called to witness to others (Acts 1:8), but I've never felt comfortable doing so. I love talking about Jesus with other believers, but I don't feel comfortable witnessing to non-believers. Seems silly, doesn't it! But God knows all of that. ;-) And this morning He put me in a certain place at a certain time, in order to serve His purpose.
Oliver, Buttercup and I ended up in downtown Austin, at Waterloo Park. We stopped on the walkway underneath the bridge to feed the fish and throw rocks in the canal. I saw very few people there -- some state employees walking on their break, bicycle policemen patrolling the area, and a few homeless people. One of the homeless people, a woman, started walking back and forth near the kids and me. We made eye contact and smiled each time she passed, and I felt the need to say something to her, but kept quiet. Then, on her 3rd or 4th trip past us, she stopped and asked Oliver what he was doing. "Feeding the fish. What are you doing?" he said. She reached into her bag and pulled out a few bread crumbs and offered them to Oliver to feed the fish. I could sense that she needed some help, but that she was either afraid or unwilling to ask for it. She and Oliver talked for a little bit (surprisingly, he did not ask her what her favorite shark is!!), then she seemed to feel more comfortable around us, and started opening up about her story. Her name is "Dee" and she ended up losing her home and family after making a lot of bad choices. I said I would pray for her, and Oliver said that he would like to pray for her, too. She smiled and said that it would make her feel good to know that a sweet little boy was praying for her. :-)
I still wasn't quite sure what to say, but I invited her to our church and gave her some change to make a phone call and some cash for a meal. She thanked me, and said that I was one of the few people who acknowledged her presence, much less let my children brighten her day with their smiles and questions. I hope that my actions spoke louder than any words I could say, and I pray that the next chain of events will direct "Dee" to getting a job and a place to live.
It's really sad to me that so many people choose to ignore instead of trying to help others in need. Sure, it would have been easier to look the other way, but we are all created by God, in His image, and we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. No one on this earth is better than any other person. Any one of us could end up in "Dee's" situation -- on the street, without a roof over our heads. Oliver and I will be praying for her, and I hope you will, too!
Oliver, Buttercup and I ended up in downtown Austin, at Waterloo Park. We stopped on the walkway underneath the bridge to feed the fish and throw rocks in the canal. I saw very few people there -- some state employees walking on their break, bicycle policemen patrolling the area, and a few homeless people. One of the homeless people, a woman, started walking back and forth near the kids and me. We made eye contact and smiled each time she passed, and I felt the need to say something to her, but kept quiet. Then, on her 3rd or 4th trip past us, she stopped and asked Oliver what he was doing. "Feeding the fish. What are you doing?" he said. She reached into her bag and pulled out a few bread crumbs and offered them to Oliver to feed the fish. I could sense that she needed some help, but that she was either afraid or unwilling to ask for it. She and Oliver talked for a little bit (surprisingly, he did not ask her what her favorite shark is!!), then she seemed to feel more comfortable around us, and started opening up about her story. Her name is "Dee" and she ended up losing her home and family after making a lot of bad choices. I said I would pray for her, and Oliver said that he would like to pray for her, too. She smiled and said that it would make her feel good to know that a sweet little boy was praying for her. :-)
I still wasn't quite sure what to say, but I invited her to our church and gave her some change to make a phone call and some cash for a meal. She thanked me, and said that I was one of the few people who acknowledged her presence, much less let my children brighten her day with their smiles and questions. I hope that my actions spoke louder than any words I could say, and I pray that the next chain of events will direct "Dee" to getting a job and a place to live.
It's really sad to me that so many people choose to ignore instead of trying to help others in need. Sure, it would have been easier to look the other way, but we are all created by God, in His image, and we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. No one on this earth is better than any other person. Any one of us could end up in "Dee's" situation -- on the street, without a roof over our heads. Oliver and I will be praying for her, and I hope you will, too!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Making Good Choices
These days, Dennis and I are really trying to teach Oliver how to make good choices. For example, it's a good choice for Oliver to let Buttercup play with his Lincoln Logs. And it's a bad choice for Oliver to hit Buttercup over the head with the Lincoln Log box because she accidentally knocked his tower over.
But making good choices isn't just for kids. While I'm not prone to hitting people on the head with a toy box, it's very easy to be impatient and say a harsh word, or use a harsh tone of voice, just because I'm tired, frazzled, or stressed and don't feel like putting forth the effort. I know that we've all been there.
So it was really eye-opening that this was my devotional the other day: Though we are too apt to think that we are not accountable for our words--He who is to be our Judge, has plainly told us that "for every careless word which men speak, they shall give an account in the day of judgment." Matthew 12:36
I've read the verse before, but never really took the time to really think about it. Wow. I will be accountable for every.little.word. that I say. That is some serious stuff! And then I realized that my heavenly Father -- the Creator of everything! -- is patiently teaching me how to make good choices, at the same time that I'm trying to teach Oliver how to make good choices.
Wow, again.
You know, it's pretty cool the way God works. :-)
But making good choices isn't just for kids. While I'm not prone to hitting people on the head with a toy box, it's very easy to be impatient and say a harsh word, or use a harsh tone of voice, just because I'm tired, frazzled, or stressed and don't feel like putting forth the effort. I know that we've all been there.
So it was really eye-opening that this was my devotional the other day: Though we are too apt to think that we are not accountable for our words--He who is to be our Judge, has plainly told us that "for every careless word which men speak, they shall give an account in the day of judgment." Matthew 12:36
I've read the verse before, but never really took the time to really think about it. Wow. I will be accountable for every.little.word. that I say. That is some serious stuff! And then I realized that my heavenly Father -- the Creator of everything! -- is patiently teaching me how to make good choices, at the same time that I'm trying to teach Oliver how to make good choices.
Wow, again.
You know, it's pretty cool the way God works. :-)
Friday, May 7, 2010
I will give THANKS!
Psalm 138:1-5
I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to you before the gods. I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your lovingkindness and your truth; for you have magnified your word according to all your name.
On the day I called, you answered me; you made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth will give thanks to you, O Lord, when they have heard the words of your mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to you before the gods. I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your lovingkindness and your truth; for you have magnified your word according to all your name.
On the day I called, you answered me; you made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth will give thanks to you, O Lord, when they have heard the words of your mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
My First Marathon!
Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This weekend I ran my first marathon! And I absolutely could not have done it without God. My entire marathon training has been a lesson in God's will versus my own, and how to live my life and use my talents in a way to bring Him glory.
I started following a marathon training plan over the summer, with the (vain) hopes of blasting out a really fast race. Things appeared to be going well, but I found myself spending more of my solo running time focusing on myself and how fast I was going to run the race -- instead of spending that solo time praying and talking with God as I usually do. I also spent less of my time on Bible study and more time thinking and planning that week's runs. Tsk, tsk! But, as we Christians know, if God wants to teach you something, He'll find a way to do it. ;-)
Around the middle of December, I had finally gotten my weekly running mileage up to 48 miles per week. I ran an 8 mile pace run on Saturday, and a 17.5 mile long run the following Sunday. I was feeling pretty strong and sure of myself. Proverbs 16:18, anyone? :-) The following week, I was out for an easy 10 mile run and noticed that my left quad muscle felt weird. I didn't pay much attention to it and finished my run. The next morning, it still felt weird when I walked around, but I decided to try an 18 mile long run anyway. I only made it 6 miles before I had to limp back to the car. I took the rest of the week off and fortunately was able to get a week's worth of massages (from the best massage therapist in Red Stick!) and seemed to be on my way to recovery. But the next week I could barely make it through a 2 mile run without pain and had to take at least 1 day of rest between runs.
By this time, it was January 1 and I was signed up to run a half marathon at the end of the month. I was sure I wouldn't be able to do it! So I did what I should have been doing from the beginning -- I spent a lot of time in prayer, seeking God's forgiveness and guidance. I began slowly adding in longer runs, until I was able to get through an 8 mile run without pain. Then I tried a 14 mile run and I ended up having to walk back to the car in pain. The half marathon was in 6 days, and I couldn't even bend my leg because my knee hurt so much, and it even hurt to walk the next day! Thankfully, after stretching and rolling my leg, it felt good enough to run a little bit toward the end of that week, and I was able to run the 3M Half Marathon in 1:34:22.
After the half marathon, I had more knee pain, but it was gone 2 days after the race. The marathon was 4 weeks away! I was able to run 8 miles without pain, but still hadn't run further than a half marathon without pain in almost 2 months. I was afraid to try a longer run, but I had to do it if I wanted to try to run the full marathon. I was praying about it but still wasn't sure if it was God's will for me to run the half or full race. Then I realized that His will was done -- I was focusing on HIM and not the silly race! That was a great moment for me, and I feel like a fool for it taking so long to sink in. But that's what happens sometimes! I'm just thankful for such a merciful, loving God who cares so much to teach me these little lessons. :-)
Well, finally 3 weeks before the marathon, I did a fantastic 16 mile run on the trail near our house with absolutely no pain. Things were looking up! I was planning on a 19 mile run the following Sunday, but then . . . we all came down with a stomach virus and I couldn't even run 2.5 miles that weekend. I decided to defer to the half marathon instead because I was sure I wouldn't be able to run a marathon in 2 weeks with a recent long run of 16 miles and total weekly mileage of 20 miles per week!
But God kept speaking to me, and almost everyone I know kept telling me to just go for the marathon. So I decided to do it, and what do you know, I actually finished it!! I couldn't believe it. After mile 16, I was literally astonished at every mile that I was able to run. I had never run that far before, and I had a huge smile on my face! I was -- and still am! -- so thankful for a God who cares so much about me.
So my first marathon is done! A huge lesson learned, and 26.2 miles run. That is a really, really, really long way to run. I think I'll stick to 5ks and 10ks for a while. :-)
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This weekend I ran my first marathon! And I absolutely could not have done it without God. My entire marathon training has been a lesson in God's will versus my own, and how to live my life and use my talents in a way to bring Him glory.
I started following a marathon training plan over the summer, with the (vain) hopes of blasting out a really fast race. Things appeared to be going well, but I found myself spending more of my solo running time focusing on myself and how fast I was going to run the race -- instead of spending that solo time praying and talking with God as I usually do. I also spent less of my time on Bible study and more time thinking and planning that week's runs. Tsk, tsk! But, as we Christians know, if God wants to teach you something, He'll find a way to do it. ;-)
Around the middle of December, I had finally gotten my weekly running mileage up to 48 miles per week. I ran an 8 mile pace run on Saturday, and a 17.5 mile long run the following Sunday. I was feeling pretty strong and sure of myself. Proverbs 16:18, anyone? :-) The following week, I was out for an easy 10 mile run and noticed that my left quad muscle felt weird. I didn't pay much attention to it and finished my run. The next morning, it still felt weird when I walked around, but I decided to try an 18 mile long run anyway. I only made it 6 miles before I had to limp back to the car. I took the rest of the week off and fortunately was able to get a week's worth of massages (from the best massage therapist in Red Stick!) and seemed to be on my way to recovery. But the next week I could barely make it through a 2 mile run without pain and had to take at least 1 day of rest between runs.
By this time, it was January 1 and I was signed up to run a half marathon at the end of the month. I was sure I wouldn't be able to do it! So I did what I should have been doing from the beginning -- I spent a lot of time in prayer, seeking God's forgiveness and guidance. I began slowly adding in longer runs, until I was able to get through an 8 mile run without pain. Then I tried a 14 mile run and I ended up having to walk back to the car in pain. The half marathon was in 6 days, and I couldn't even bend my leg because my knee hurt so much, and it even hurt to walk the next day! Thankfully, after stretching and rolling my leg, it felt good enough to run a little bit toward the end of that week, and I was able to run the 3M Half Marathon in 1:34:22.
After the half marathon, I had more knee pain, but it was gone 2 days after the race. The marathon was 4 weeks away! I was able to run 8 miles without pain, but still hadn't run further than a half marathon without pain in almost 2 months. I was afraid to try a longer run, but I had to do it if I wanted to try to run the full marathon. I was praying about it but still wasn't sure if it was God's will for me to run the half or full race. Then I realized that His will was done -- I was focusing on HIM and not the silly race! That was a great moment for me, and I feel like a fool for it taking so long to sink in. But that's what happens sometimes! I'm just thankful for such a merciful, loving God who cares so much to teach me these little lessons. :-)
Well, finally 3 weeks before the marathon, I did a fantastic 16 mile run on the trail near our house with absolutely no pain. Things were looking up! I was planning on a 19 mile run the following Sunday, but then . . . we all came down with a stomach virus and I couldn't even run 2.5 miles that weekend. I decided to defer to the half marathon instead because I was sure I wouldn't be able to run a marathon in 2 weeks with a recent long run of 16 miles and total weekly mileage of 20 miles per week!
But God kept speaking to me, and almost everyone I know kept telling me to just go for the marathon. So I decided to do it, and what do you know, I actually finished it!! I couldn't believe it. After mile 16, I was literally astonished at every mile that I was able to run. I had never run that far before, and I had a huge smile on my face! I was -- and still am! -- so thankful for a God who cares so much about me.
So my first marathon is done! A huge lesson learned, and 26.2 miles run. That is a really, really, really long way to run. I think I'll stick to 5ks and 10ks for a while. :-)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Leaf Lessons
This afternoon, Oliver, Buttercup, and I were playing outside while Dennis cooked dinner. Oliver was piling leaves in a box, and while he worked, I spelled out his name with some leaves.
He asked me why I did that, and I said because I thought he would like it. Then I said, "Do you know why those leaves were there?" and Oliver said, "Because God put them there." I told him he was right, and then went on to tell him how God put those leaves there because He knew we were going to be playing there and that I could use the leaves to talk more about Him.
Oliver listened intently (!!) and I was also able to share some of Psalm 139 with him -- how God knows everything about us and He's always with us -- and also the verse in Matthew that tells us that God even knows the number of hairs on our heads. It's really cool to think about it, that our great and mighty God who created the ENTIRE UNIVERSE knows the exact number of hairs on our heads!
He asked me why I did that, and I said because I thought he would like it. Then I said, "Do you know why those leaves were there?" and Oliver said, "Because God put them there." I told him he was right, and then went on to tell him how God put those leaves there because He knew we were going to be playing there and that I could use the leaves to talk more about Him.
Oliver listened intently (!!) and I was also able to share some of Psalm 139 with him -- how God knows everything about us and He's always with us -- and also the verse in Matthew that tells us that God even knows the number of hairs on our heads. It's really cool to think about it, that our great and mighty God who created the ENTIRE UNIVERSE knows the exact number of hairs on our heads!
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