Good Friends

He's had a friend since he was two years old. Now at 14, they have known each other for a dozen years. Each boy has other friends and acquaintances, but they really are each other's best friend. So what can two teenage boys teach us about friendship?

A lot if you just look.

After spending an afternoon with the boys, I jotted down a list of what I noticed made their friendship work. Then, I thought about how these qualities could be applied to anyone trying to find a good friend. Here is what I compiled...

 
How to Pick Good Friends

Look for someone who:

• meets you where you are but challenges you to do/be more. A good friend gets you out of your comfort zone and encourages you to try.
• respects you and your opinion.
• has humility. No one likes a know-it-all.
• points you to God.
• can laugh with you.

"Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another."
Proverbs 27:17


~ Dorie

No More Left to Give

The day after chaperoning a youth group trip to the amusement park 1 1/2 hours away, I was tired. Actually, tired doesn't really begin to describe it.

Wiped out might be better.

I didn't even have enough energy to sit alongside the pool, because that would require driving to our community pool, and I was pretty sure I didn't have that kind of stamina.

Reading my email, I was reminded of a friend's mission trip to Guatemala in four weeks. She was trying to collect items to take along. Things like bandages, school supplies, and shoes.

I sighed, shoes.

We'd just given our last outgrown, but still usable shoes to Shoes 2 Share when my nieces' school had a shoe drive. We had no more shoes to give.

Interrupting my thoughts, my youngest son walked barreled into the room, "Mom, can you check the attic for Lincoln Logs?"

"What?" My exhausted brain tried to comprehend the request.

"Lincoln Logs. Are they in the attic? They aren't in my room."

Slowly, I reply, "I can check, but I'm not sure we still have them."

Pulling down the attic step ladder, I remember the light one daughter recently broke. "Can you get me a flashlight?" I call down to my boy, who promptly tears down the steps, knocks open a cabinet, grabs a flashlight, and rips up the steps. Does he do anything in slow motion?

"Here ya go!"

I click it on. Dead. "Can you get another one?"

"Nah, ya just gotta bang it."

"Ah, no thanks. Can you get another one?" I repeat.

Again, he treads down a flight of steps and whips back, returning with another flashlight. I depress the button. A dying dim light glows. I sigh. Batteries, why are we always out of batteries? I ascend the steps. The attic is dark and stuffy.

Glancing around, I look for the Lincoln Logs. There's only one area they could be. I check it.

Moving aside labeled boxes, I peer into a plastic container. Haphazardly packed with plastic bags full of stuff, I shuffle through it. I see what looks like old shoes, still in good shape. Shoes that were saved long ago to give away, but were forgotten.

The dim glow makes it hard to see them. I carry these found shoes down to the living room and count. There are seven pairs. Each in great condition.

Just when I thought I had nothing left to give, God showed me there's always more to give.
~ Dorie

P.S. Lincoln Logs were found and one little boy happily built buildings with his sisters all morning long.

How to Define Yourself

As my children age and mature, I find more topics I want to impart or impress onto their hearts while they are still at home. Perhaps this is just the way it is with parenting.

Today I was pondering identities, and what I want my children to know about them.
My advice to them follows.
~ Dorie


What I Want My Children to Know about Their Identities:


We humans are a fallen race, who sometimes get wronged, do wrong, and chose wrong. And, sometimes, we define ourselves by the wrong words with the wrong measurements.


What will you allow to define you? Will you measure yourself compared to others? Defining yourself based on how you rise or fall when compared to another's personality, talents, and accomplishments. How will you describe yourself, by the world's definitions and standards?

Will you use

a status...

• job
• marital

a number...

• of years
• of kids
• on the scale
• in the checkbook
• from an IQ test

your past...

• experiences
• accomplishments
• failures

someone else's opinions...

• family members
• friends
• bullies?

 

What is in a name? We all carry them about: Our names.
Typically, when parents have children they name them.
After all, babes can't talk and name themselves.
Someone has to call them something.
Nicknames are often used. Some are endearing, others annoying.
We determine what another calls us
through our introductions and voicing our preferences.


What is a label? Identifying attributes and talents can become words people use to label us.
As we grow and change we will meet many people.
There will be people who judge you incorrectly without knowing you or your heart motifs.
They will label you with words which either esteem or tear you down.
Still others will want you and your personality to fit into a box of their making.
They may try to keep you in that box with their assumptions.
These labels identify us as having or being something particular,
but they do not define the real you.


What is in a title? When an author writes a book, they entitle it.
The name either entices others to pick it up or it doesn't.
When an artist paints a picture,
they give it a name, describing the subject or emotion of the piece.
When an employee gets hired, he gets a title.
It is his position, place in the company.
It is not the whole person.


And, through the years, all these names, labels, and titles shape our life. We make choices to either believe the words or not. If we believe the words, we make our decisions based on them. One path is chosen over another. In the end, it isn't the title, label, or name itself that matters as much as your belief of them. Those beliefs impact your entire life.

The Choice to Believe We all have this choice: to believe or not believe.
For me, my dear children, I'm refusing to define myself by the world's standards. My status, numbers, past actions, labels, and titles are not all that I am. Yes, the words describe parts of me, but they are not my complete identity. They are not how He sees me. Over the years, I've learned, He sees me in a whole different light. In fact, He tells me many different ways and times, over and over in His Word, just who I am.


Who I am According to Him
a child of God {John 1:12}
alive in Christ {Ephesians 2:4-7}
loved {Romans 8:38-39}
forgiven {Matthew 26:27-28}
blessed {John 20:29}
rewarded {I Corinthians 3:10-15}
triumphant in Christ {2 Corinthians 2:14}


What will you believe? Will you firmly hold onto what the world says? Or will you trust the One who made you, loves you, and knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. I pray you trust God, know who you are in Him, and become so secure in Him that nothing move you. May you be steady and strong in His love, grace, and mercy.
And, I hope in some way, your daddy and I have been a positive example for you to follow.
Love,
Mommy

Why Christmas Isn't About Traveling Home

...so much as it is about going.

It takes me years to understand.

The true message of Christmas isn't all about being with family. It isn't all about traveling home to have a white Christmas. It isn't always gathering around a warm fireplace popping corn as silver bowed gifts lie under a lighted tree.

The true message of Christmas is going.
It is leaving the warmth of our comfortable lives and
going to those who need to hear.
Going to those who need to feel warmth, love, acceptance.
Because He left the warmth of His home and went.
He came to us.

The true message of Christmas is giving.
It is taking what we have, what we are, and
giving to those in need.
Giving to those who need to feel warmth, love, acceptance.
Because when He came to us,
He gave Himself.

~ Dorie

How to Say Thanks by Giving

"...because really, we have so much to be thankful for, and we can share." An impromptu speech ends our Sunday lunch.

Catalogs are picked up. Our children thumb through the pages while sucking on lollipops and chewing chocolates. They comment on cleaner water, nets, and sewing machines as the Drummer and I watch, wondering what they will offer another during this season of thanks and giving.

At six years of age, our youngest points out the emergency feeding. "That's a good one," he states matter-of-factly. He sits beside me, munching on a Kit Kat candy bar his older brother shared with him.

He turns a few more pages, carefully considering the pictures. "What's this?" he asks me, while chocolate aroma fills the air.

"A shelter and roof for those without one," I answer.

"Everybody should have that," he declares.

My eyes midst. I nod agreement.

Yes, everyone should.

~Dorie

 

And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "Then what shall we do?"

And he [John] would answer and say to them,

"The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none;

and he who has food is to do likewise."

Luke 3:10-11

Places to consider giving:
Compassion
World Vision
Samaritan's Purse

Other Ideas for Giving:
Donate outgrown coats to local winter coat drives
Give food to local food banks
Help stock shelves at local food banks
Share shoes (Shoes 2Share)
Work a day, or a few hours, at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter
Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child
Donate blankets to a women and children's shelter

Be Someone Different

 

It's OK to be different.

In fact, it is beautiful!

 

So, be yourself...

your wonderfully unique self.

After all, no one else can be you,

only you can!

 

~ Dorie

 

 

{PS - No photo shop on that single yellow blossom blooming among all the white ones.  It is growing in my backyard just like it is pictured. Sandy made all the flowers droop somewhat, and I went to check on the plant. What I did not expect was the startling yellow color.}

Using It All or Storing Some Until Later

It is true.  I admit it.  Over the course of three, maybe four, years, I have worn these shoes twice.  That is one time plus the second time I donned them last week.
1 + 1 = 2
Two times.
Brand new shoes.
Three, maybe four, years.
Twice worn.
Pathetic.
I know.

There are children without any shoes
walking dusty, dirty streets lined in sewage,
and I have not just a plethora of shoes to cover my feet,
but shoes I haven't even really worn!

Honestly, I forgot I had them. 
These ordinary sneakers were so neatly stuffed into our white cubbie hole shoe organizer, I kept overlooking them. They weren't bright green. They don't have a heel for fancy wearing. They aren't even sneakers for running.
No, they are really just plain.
Ordinary white shoes got overlooked
for three, maybe four, years. 

Which made me wonder...
What else have I been overlooking,
neatly storing away in lieu of using?

Are there materials, talents, and gifts for me to use
sitting and waiting for me to remember or notice?

Could it be there are some materials and talents which aren't being used?  Maybe they aren't the flashiest and are easily overlooked? Perhaps they don't show off as well as others' gifts, and hardly anyone would notice them being used?

What ordinary materials and talents have I keeping instead of using?

Immediately, I think of a few talents and interests I always say I want to find time for, but never do. Am I the man burying his treasure?  Not using all that I have been given?  Wasting my talents and interests? Or worse, am I the man building more barns to fill?

But I wonder...


Is this just a busy time in my life? Obviously, God wants me to use my time to be a good wife and mother to our children.  He has blessed me with a husband and children. 


Will God grant me time and resources to use those talents and interests after this busy season of life? Are they just on pause?  Perhaps it is just a bit of dust on the shelf, easily blown off, and ready to be useful when one season passes to another.


Or maybe, just maybe, He wants to lead me down the path to use those talents right now, in ways I never dreamed? Perhaps, I can use these talents now, if only I will take the time to listen and follow.
~ Dorie


---------------------
Have too many shoes?  Do you, like me, have a pair which you hardly wear? 
Perhaps a better place for your shoes can be found here: Shoes 2 Share

Money Matters

...or does it?  Perhaps for you, money in of itself does not matter, but I think we can all agree, your relationship to money does matter.
 
Are you dependent on it?

Is it your security?

How careful are you with it?

Do you spend it all? save it all?
Both could be wrong depending on what God would want you to do with your riches.

We have tried to teach our children to separate their money into categories: giving, spending, and saving. It is our way of relating to money, and we want to share it with them.
 

-----------------------------------------------------

How we teach our children about money:

We use a three envelope system.  Into each envelope a certain percentage of their money is placed.  When we first start the envelope system, we use a 10/50/40 ratio.  As the child matures, the percentages may change or remain the same.  It depends on them.  They need to 'own' their money choices.

The first envelope is for tithe. When they were young, we had the child address the envelope 'To: God.' In this way the child can see the connection between giving a tithe at church and giving the money to God.

Another envelope is for savings. This money eventually makes it to the bank and into their own savings accounts.

The final envelope is spending. Each child decides how and when they will spend their own money. Some of their spending money gets put into the giving jar. It is each child's choice how much to put into this jar, as this is not a required act of giving, but an opportunity for them. The extra money collected in the giving jar is used by the children as they decide where to donate it or spend for others.

This is our system. It's what works for us.  There are many great ways and resources to teach your child about money and how to handle it.
~ Dorie

Teach Them to Work

-{our youngest set the table for dinner}-

"Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

Without having any chief,

officer, or ruler,

she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.

How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man."

Proverbs 6:6-11

-{carting stone in sand buckets and a wagon, the girls had the wheel barrow}-

Teach them to work.

It won't be perfect.

They will probably 'get in the way,' and

their efforts to help may just make a chore or project last longer.

Their work probably won't pass the white glove test.

They may even create a bigger mess than what they are cleaning up,

but they will be learning.

In the end,

they will learn the value of working,

the joy in a job completed,

and the benefit of a hard day's work.

The shed my husband and our oldest son, at 12 years old, built.

The other children, all younger, helped.

~ Dorie

When Your Heart Breaks

The heat settles in for VBS week.  It always does.  With forecasts nearing 100 each day and humidity rising, we spend our days hopping from air conditioned homes to air conditioned cars to air conditioned restaurants and stores to an evening in an air conditioned church for VBS.  Avoiding the sweltering temperatures and shielding ourselves from the blazing sun, we huff and puff, complaining with cutting tongues about the injustice of mercury rising, as if we don't deserve the suffering of sweat.

Smiling children filed into the church's gym, knowing the hours of laughter and enjoyment awaiting them.  Some were regular church attendees, but some were experiencing church for the first time.  I heard it in their comments.  They remarked about a teaching, or the building, or particular songs.  We prayed for all their hearts to be touched, but perhaps it was mine which was broken.

Every year, an offering is taken.  Last year, it was shoes for an orphanage in Zambia, which is apparently one of the five poorest countries in the world. We watched videos of the latest missionary trip and saw the children's faces. Our hearts pained, and we gave.

This year, the offering is for Operation Christmas Child.  Collecting now for the shoe boxes to be packed this autumn.  It is a Christmas in July of sorts. We watched another video. {Oh, the visual of the video, it tears at my heart!} This one was of Ralph, who lives in Imus Cavite, Philippines. My eyes swelled with tears as I watched his community, including his family, pick through trash to sell.  Would it make sense to say he lives in surroundings below poverty?  To think, this boy half a world away, lives in squander as I spent the day complaining about the heat even though I spent the day in air conditioning. 

If you have a few moments, then please watch this video.  His response of gratitude for a small shoebox of gifts is humbling, and you can see for yourself why my heart broke for him and others like him who live with so little, but have hearts filled with such gratitude.
~ Dorie

Encouraging Another After this Kind of Day - Really?

Climbing the stairs to get ready for the evening, I sighed.
Did today really have to be this hard? 
Did I really need to experience all of it to learn this lesson?

My mind traced back over the day, a different Monday.

The morning had started with...

• a child jacking the thermostat by ten degrees which led to a extremely toasty room (and maybe later a higher heating bill?)
• a child sassing me at breakfast led to another discussion on attitude and tone of voice
• a child discovered not working on school work (aka goofing off)
• a child complaining about school work
• a child frustrated with school work
• a child trying to get out of doing school work

By lunch time, I felt like I had tried to climb the Mt. Everest of homeschool motivation, and maybe just maybe the worst of the day was over.

Then, the phone rang.

It was a friend who needed someone to listen. I tried to offer long distance words of comfort and encouragement while the youngest came to tell me the toilet down stairs was "waaaaayyy clogged" and the older children rough housed with balloons from yesterday's birthday party. Our phone conversation ended while I was draining the toilet for the third time.

Then, the door bell rang.

An unexpected visit from a fellow homeschooling mom. "Is this a bad time?"

I stifled the yes, and answered "Oh, just chaotic."

She had come to pick up a bottle rocket launcher for science olympiad practice. I quickly explained how it worked and she left.

Looking down, I realized what a sight I must be, not to mention the house! Vainly, I checked the mirror. How bad do I look? I took comfort in the fact that my hair looked kinda cute swept up on top of my head. Then, I looked to the left.  A mound of rags, a plunger, and a toilet-water-filled bucket set square in the middle of our bathroom.  {I am still trying to ignore the fact that the front door looks right into this!}

After several more unsuccessful attempts to fix the toilet, I washed up and returned to schooling. Three squabbles needed settled and two broken balloons needed picked up before we could start again.

I glanced over my planner. Tonight I was suppose to meet with a homeschooling mom who was just starting out. She has multiple children close in age and wants to talk about my experiences schooling multiple children.

I pushed my lips together. Really, today? I am suppose to go tell her that she can do this? After today? Seriously Lord, You have got to be kidding! I can't lie.  After today, I am not sure I can do this let alone tell someone else I know they can do this.

My best advice I had come up with that afternoon was "this too will pass."  I knew that wasn't too encouraging and was bordering too much on how to just survive the day. 

Lord, I don't have anything else, I pleaded.

Then, His answer.  "You can't do this. You never could in your own strength. You need to let me. I do it through you."

Yes, I needed to experience the hard day to be reminded of the valuable truth.  For on this day, my Martha-like attitude needed a Mary-like heart adjustment.
~ Dorie

Letters to Our Children

Today, on an impromptu day off {very fly by the seat of our pants kinda day - always good to have a few of those, don't ya think?}, I hopped on the computer to read a few articles, and one thing led to another and today, I'm trying another round of 5 Minute Friday.  It's where Lisa-Jo from The Gypsy Mama starts the ball rolling with one topic.  We all have this one topic to write about for five minutes.  However, the greatest thing about it, and what I find so fascinating is everyone has such a different post, different angle, different take on the topic.  It is amazing to read what others write, and fun to try.  So, if you have time, hop on over to today's link-up, the topic is ache.

A few of the nuts and bolts: spelling and adding pictures after the five minutes is permitted.  {Good thing, because you so don't want to see how I really spell!}  I also formatted the post with some spaces after the five minutes, because, well, it was more visually appealing than my massive one paragraph original.

GO

Who likes to think about it? 
Certainly not I, but it is a fact of life. 

One must face we will all walk this earth no more. 
Someday, our children will be without us. 

My heart aches to even ponder not being there.  When will it occur? 
Useless to think about. 
Only the Lord knows. 
He has our days written, known to Him, and Him alone. 

Do I need to spend precious moments wondering away,
or worse worrying away these brief days? 

Of course, my momma heart sometimes travels down the road of worry...
Will I be able to tell them all that I know, give them advice, in those moments when they need a word from momma?   What about his/her graduation day?  wedding day? when the first child is born? 

If I am not there to share the moment...oh how my heart aches to ponder such a thought. 

Yet, one day, I decided not to passively worry the days away.  No, I would instead do what I could to leave a little piece of me just in case.  I started writing them letters. 

I chose to put down the fears and pick up the pen, writing in one collective journal I hope never gets read, but ready for the possibility.  From time to time, I write in it, from the heart.  I tell them exactly what I hope and dream, but most importantly, I tell them what I am praying for them, for their future.  I want them to know. 

And, someday, if my days are shorter than the average, and I am not there, at least a few words will remain, words they will know I penned with a heart filled with love in preparation for their days and to hopefully ease their ache a little.
~ Dorie

STOP

With the Same Hand ~ Give and Thank

Can we give and thank separately?

With the same hand, do we not both receive and give?

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,

not reluctantly or under compulsion,

for God loves a cheerful giver. 

2 Corinthians 9:7

Sitting side by side, last year's give jar is still being used, but this year, I've added another,
a jar for giving thanks. 

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;

I will recount all your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1

For many years, we have written our blessings on paper leaves and hung them on a tree,
our Thanksgiving Tree.  It has served as a visual reminder of our blessings throughout the
month of November. 

This year, we wanted our children to form a greater connection between receiving and giving.

Started on October 24, a full month before Thanksgiving Day, our children have had the opportunity each day to give to others and thank God all in the same area.  The jars sit atop the kitchen dry sink.  Side by side, the children are encouraged to give and thank.

Over the past few weeks, I have been surprised, encouraged, and humbled by their giving and thanking.   The teaching and developing of these actions are growing them stronger not only in the children, but in me as well.

~ Dorie

How to Help in Little Ways

Ladies, your kind comments and emails are completely right!  No matter how 'small' our act of service, the Lord looks at our hearts and motives.  Just because I may, at times, have limited vision, and feel like these 'small' helps are just a drop in the bucket, they really aren't.  To the people I help, these services do matter. 

Thank you for helping me to remember:
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Colossians 3:17

For today, I have compiled a listing of some small acts of service, but I would greatly appreciate more ideas of ways to help others.  No idea is too small!  So, please feel free to add suggestions.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, Colossians 3:23



We can't all be directors, leaders, or the person in the spotlight, but we all have opportunities to serve, to help in small ways that really do make a difference.

A dozen of these ways include...

1. make a meal for another family - Double what you are making your own family.  Fit the meal into nice containers that don't need to be returned and place them into a large gift bag.

2.  run errands - Do the needed errand alongside of your own errands.  Return library books for another or pick up a gallon of milk at the grocery store.

3.  shovel or clear your neighbors' sidewalks and driveways

4.  rake your neighbors' front yard (bonus: your children's leaf pile gets larger!)

5.  mow - One year, our neighbor's lawn mower broke down.  They were unable to mow for weeks as they tried to repair it.  We took to mowing their yard for them for those few weeks.

6.  care for pets - neighbors often go on day trips or weekends away and their furry friends need care

7.  lend tools, sports equipment, movies, books, or whatever you have to lend

8.  give gently used clothing or baby equipment to others

9.  send thank you notes to pastors, worship team members, special guests, greeters, teachers, etc - Too many people, pick one person or job a month and send out thank you notes to those individuals.  I've found simple sentiments of gratitude and encouragement are most appreciated.

10.  give flowers or vegetables from your garden - When in season, cut a bouquet from your own yard, tie a simple ribbon around the stems, or fix a basket of veggies to share.

11.  keep small Bibles in your purse or near the front door to give when the opportunity arises

12.  for a family grieving, deliver a 'beverage bag' - (this is my mom's idea)  Fill a brown paper bag with juices, soda, tea or hot chocolate packets, ground coffee, and disposable cups.  Families can serve guests who visit before or after the funeral services more easily.

Probably the easiest, but most often overlooked 'little' way to help
may indeed be the greatest way to help.
Simply put: PRAY.

~ Dorie

Easy Encouragement

I was not a cheerleader.

I never lead a pep rally

or


got a crowd chanting,

but over the years,

I have learned how to cheer on


and


encourage

my husband,

my children,

and others.




The easiest place to start is with a smile,

followed by a kind word.


Who will you encourage today?



"And let us consider how we may spur one another
on toward love and good deeds."
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)


~ and ~


"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing."
I Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)





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This post has been linked to Word Filled Wednesday at Internet Cafe Devotions
and iFellowship at Seeds of Faith.

Training Them to Teach

All summer long, my husband and I substitute taught in the 2 and 3 year old Sunday School room.  The regular teachers enjoyed a well deserved time of respite.  It was wonderful sharing God's Word and love with our young students.  Every Sunday, we had a time of singing, praying, learning, and creating.

JESUS

And, each week, one of our older children rotated as a helper.  The main objective was not an extra set of hands.  Although we welcomed the help.  The real reason they were in the classroom was to observe us as teachers, and to try teaching (under our supervision) a group of younger children.  Our children were given the job of assisting and eventually leading the song time.  As our children are well versed in the songs it was an ideal opportunity.


LOVES


Like many parents, when we serve in the church, we bring our children along whenever possible.  In these times, they learn from us how to serve.  This past summertime teaching Sunday School was no different, and we are grateful for these opportunities to serve and train our children to do so as well.




ME

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This post has been shared with the Homemaking Link-Up at Raising Homemakers.

Moments of Mentoring

While making cupcakes with my daughters and one of their friends,

I was struck by their culinary enthusiasm and willingness to learn. 

They cracked eggs, measured ingredients,

stirred the batter, and filled one pan.

There was egg shells to be removed,

ingredients to be remeasured,

and batter to be cleaned off of counter tops and pans. 

Their efforts were very commendable.

The girls' tray



I watched it all, offering help and guidance when necessary. 

Afterwards, I filled another tray with the remaining batter.



My tray



The whole time, I was reminded me of how other ladies

have mentored me. 

Throughout my life, I have been blessed with many lovely ladies

who taught me. 

There were mentors for being

a wife,

a mom,

a prayer warrior,

a studier of God's Word, 

a homemaker,

a baker,

a gardener,

a homeschool mom,

and  more. 

So many different ladies with different gifts and expertise

have helped me learn more about life.

 

They didn't all have the same teaching style or methods,

but they were all willing to give their time and energy to help me.

Their patience and generosity with their lives were blessings to me.

Sometimes, they taught me directly
with lectures, conferences, and studies.

Sometimes, they taught me by example.

Sometimes, they taught with advice.

Sometimes, they taught by standing beside me,

allowing me to try something,

and then helping me while I was in a pinch.

Yet, each time they taught, it was with an open hand and heart.

Now, I find myself teaching directly,

by example,

with advice,

and standing by someone else.

May my teaching be with an open hand and heart.

May I be just as generous with my time and talents.

And,

may I still be open to others' teachings and guidance.

After all, I'm still learning, too!



I'm still making mistakes, and still have a lot to learn!



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This post has been linked to the Homemaking Link-Up at Raising Homemakers.

Learning to Give

While at church this past Sunday, we learned of a new opportunity to give.  A mission minded couple from our church will marry in a few weeks and spend their honeymoon ministering to orphans in Africa.  They have offered to take along medical supplies for burn victims.  Everyone has been invited to share in contributing to the supply.

Over lunch, we reviewed with our children the Biblical principles for giving beyond tithing and presented this upcoming opportunity.  We asked them to consider giving.  My husband and I had already planned to give some supplies from our family, but we wanted to present the children with an opportunity to give of their own accord.  There was no pressure and no further discussion.  We didn't know what choices they would make, and we waited. 

After lunch, the children dove into their spending money.  Some gave a lot and some a little.  However, the child who gave the least amount actually gave all she had.  It reminded me of the woman with the two coins that Jesus commended.  May I just insert here, that I did cry when I saw their pile of money.  It was substantial.

Later we went to the store, and they picked out medical supplies to give.  They waited in line with their choices, paid the cashier with their money, and carried the supplies home.  Next, they will give the soon to be newlyweds their contribution, and then the supplies are off to Africa!   

As parents, we are blessed to see our children repeatedly choose to give.  Every time they have been presented with opportunities to give to or serve at various charities and ministries, they have always been willing.  At an early age, we taught them to split their money three ways: tithing, saving, and spending.  The tithe is brought to church for the general offering.  The savings eventually makes it into their accounts.  However, the spending money is theirs to spend however they like.  Typically, it is used to buy some treasured item or trinket.  Instead, on this day, they gave it away to someone they have never seen.

After this latest giving opportunity, we decided to start a 'giving jar' for them.  Rather than sporadically presenting the children with opportunities as they arise, we will be able to consistently cultivate a giving lifestyle.  When the next opportunity to give arises, they will be prepared.  I can't wait to see where they will give next!

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Since this jar sits in our kitchen, I opted to decorate it with some supplies we already had.  To cover the lid, I used an orange label, cut to fit, and red tape.  Then, with red ink I stamped a design on the top.  For the side, I cut another orange label with a simple decorative side design.  The letters are stickers left over from another project.  Due to the size of the letters, there was no room for anything else, but I suppose the one word 'give' sums up the jar's purpose.

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This post has been shared at the Homemaking Link-Up of Raising Homemakers. 

Teaching Discernment

 How do we teach discernment to our children?



By teaching them to find the truth of God's Word and His ways
amidst the lies of the world.

They may all look like edible apples, but only one is real.



This is true of the world around us.



Many ideas and thoughts sound good, but
we believe there is only one authentic complete truth
found in God's Word.

May our children 

never settle for anything less than the real thing.

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This post has been linked to a Homemaking Link-Up at Raising Homemakers.