Feb. 28, 2008 Image isn't everything but it is something
Tuesday night my kids were watching the original Yours, Mine, and Ours. In case you're not familiar with the story, a widower with 10 children marries a widow with 8 children and they set about trying to turn it into one very big happy family. The movie is based on a true story.
I caught the tail end of it where they are trying to adopt each other's children. It's very touching, but one part always sticks out at me. The judge is addressing the mom and tells her that some were concerned that one woman couldn't adequately raise that many children. He then says that after investigating, the opposite seemed to be true. The children were well-cared-for, well-fed, dressed neatly, normal and the house was amazing clean. You'll have to watch the movie to catch the snappy dialog that follows.
The first few things always prove the point that love isn't divided, it multiplies. The next couple make me wince a bit. Hmm. The house could use some straightening up. Hmm, again. Some of the kids' clothes are looking a bit shabby. This movie always makes me want to clean the house and yard and weed out our wardrobes. It makes me wonder what sort of image we are presenting to the world at large. I remember several years ago hearing someone comment that they were initially turned off by the homeschooling community because every homeschool family they ever saw were wearing shabby, mis-matched or grossly unflattering clothes.
Don't get me wrong. Image obviously isn't everything, but our outward appearance is the first thing people see and react to. Looking good doesn't have to cost a fortune. You can dress from Goodwill and hand-me-downs without looking like you do. Modest doesn't have to mean frumpy or unflattering. Modest clothing can be in colors that look good on that person and in styles that are appropriate to the person's age and activities. So, take a look around. What does your image say about you and your family? |
�
Comments (1)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
Dec. 11, 2006 The Perfect Christmas
It occurs to me that this most joyous of seasons is less than joyous for many. How ironic that we proclaim joy to the world and yet feel none ourselves. Christmas has become a time of stress and worry and hurry. Most of that is the result of an image that we keep tucked deep inside us that we call “The Perfect Christmas”. If you were to ask 20 different people what constitutes “The Perfect Christmas”, you’d likely get 20 different answers. Our own image of it is one comprised of memories, movies, stories, observances, and dreams. It’s fed by advertising and glossy magazine spreads. Because we have this image tucked away that we use as our measuring stick, we think if we only had a little more money, or a few more decorations, or fancier food or had shopped a little more, or baked a few more cookies or maybe just had a bigger, nicer house, we would achieve our goal. But what really is “The Perfect Christmas”?
There was one once. The hostess wasn’t even in her own house. As a matter of fact, she wasn’t in a house at all. The place she was staying with her husband was decorated with straw strewn across the earthen floor and assorted livestock looking on. The focal point was a rustic wooden feeding trough. Food, if there was any, consisted of whatever they had been able to scrounge up or whatever was left over from their journey. The musicians arrived late and then did all their performing outside for the people out in the neighborhood. The few gifts, when they did finally arrive, while expensive and rare, paled in comparison to the Gift the world had already been given.
No lights. No tree. No brightly colored wrapping paper or stockings hung by the fireplace. By most of our standards, it really wasn’t much of a Christmas, and yet, it is this very un-ideal Christmas that we are still celebrating 2000 years later.
This Christmas, remember why you’re celebrating. Go ahead, deck those halls, if that makes you happy. Bake cookies, if you love that sort of thing. Watch a few classic Christmas flicks if you want to. Light your Advent candles. Read the Christmas story. But pitch out the things that make you sweat, make you stress, steal your joy. Revise your image. Prioritize. Think magic, not marathon. Simplicity, not strife. Family, not fantasy. Wonder, not waste. Adoration, not acquisition. Give yourself over fully to the joy of the season. Revel in His peace. Proclaim for all to hear: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King!”
|
�
Comments (0)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
Dec. 1, 2006 That Time of Year
Here it is, the beginning of December. Can Christmas be far behind? It's time to clean the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers out of the back of the refrigerator and look toward Christmas baking and candy making. November flew by and is gone and we are on the brink of Advent. Feel stressed yet? 
Take a breath. I know at this time of year the mention of Christmas causes stress, but is that really what Jesus wants us to feel in this most joyous of seasons? Maybe our priorities could use a check-up. Please, for your sake and the sake of your family, slow down. Take time to pray and ask God what His priority is for your family this Christmas. Maybe you need to take a break and read a good Christmas story. Maybe you need to reach out to someone who's lonely. Maybe you need to spend an evening, not at the mall, but in your living room with a bowl of popcorn and a lively game or Christmas movie. Will your children most remember the eighth toy they open or making cookies together after you've made paper chains and snowflakes to decorate their rooms? Take time to drink in the essence of the season: the love, the hope, the glory, and the mystery. And take in a few Christmas lights while you're at it.
|
�
Comments (0)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
Sep. 10, 2006 Early Sunday Reflection
This morning I was up early and went outside to sit on the porch. I sat down in my rocking chair and drank in the early day. It was cool and calm and quiet. For a brief instance I almost saw a glimpse of what it was like in the beginning. The bible tells us that God walked in the garden of Eden in the cool of the day. Can you imagine walking with God and talking with Him face to face? How awesome! Anyway, it wasn’t long before the stillness was broken and the world began to awaken. The birds were singing. The roosters were crowing. The squirrels poked their heads out of their knothole and began another day’s game of chase. As I sat and observed the coming of the day, I began to hear stirrings in my own house. The pitter patter of little feet filled the air and overflowed onto the porch as they came looking for me. Quiet time with God. Welcoming the new day. Being greeted first by the creatures God has placed around me. Being greeted next by the children He has blessed me with. I really can’t imagine a nicer way to start the day.
|
�
Comments (3)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
Sep. 5, 2006 Reflections on Extended Family
|
On Sunday, my family and I traveled to Kansas for a family reunion with my dh's family on his father's side. The trip was long, since we were going from Texas to Kansas and back in a single day. It was worth every minute. The weather was beautiful. The kids had a wonderful time playing with relatives they'd never met before. They fished and ran and played games until they were worn out. There was an abundance of food, family and fellowship. I was made to feel very welcome even though I only married into the family. Surely, one of God's most precious gifts to us is our family. Even when we don't share the same exact lifestyle or faith or political outlook or whatever, we all care for each other and get along. We are already looking forward to the next one in 2008!
|
�
Comments (0)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
Jul. 28, 2006 A Real Challenge
I have recently seen and heard some awfully disparaging comments about motherhood. It's been called boring and mind-numbing and a waste of an otherwise good life. There are those who claim that a woman is wasting her potential for great things by accepting the humdrum, menial, unchallenging life of a mother.
I can't imagine what could be greater or of more importance than bringing up the next generation. Unchallenging? If some of these people want a REAL challenge they should try raising godly seed in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in this corrupt, morally bankrupt world. Now THAT'S a challenge. |
�
Comments (1)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
Mar. 25, 2006 The Subculture of Home
I've discovered, for all the talk of cultures and subcultures and culture wars, that truth be told, we actually have a subculture right here in our house. People even accuse us of speaking our own language. Our speech is littered with quotes from movies we’ve seen, references to books we've read together or music we like (or don't), snippets of audio presentations we've enjoyed, and even things that stuck with everyone from certain school lessons. We have our own private jokes that no one else could possibly get based on family happenings and foibles. We have words and phrases that originated with this baby or that one and a toddler or two. We even have a word or two we've made up ourselves. References could include anything from Jungle Jam, Veggie Tales, and Adventures in Odyssey to Princess Bride, Emperor's New Groove, and My Fair Lady to educational videos and programs. Occasionally, we'll throw out a quote or snippet that someone else recognizes and it immediately becomes a point of contact. They say "Oh I love that movie!" or "I listen to those too!".
But a language alone doesn't define a culture, even a subculture. We also have a certain group of foods common to only us. (I sometimes feel sorry for the future spouses of my children when they are informed "I only like Mom's barbecue sauce." I guess the test of a good match will be them liking it too. LOL) We have a certain holiday traditions and requisite foods, for many holidays, not just Christmas. One of my daughters was recently discussing birthday traditions with a friend and was amazed at how different birthdays are at her friend's house. We have our own, not-on-everyone's-calendar, annual events. We have certain ways of doing things that might not be the way everyone else does them. Past happenings and events are perpetuated via storytelling and photographs for those too young to "remember when".
Our subculture is a rich blend of shared experience, passed down knowledge, common language, common philosophy, and a whole lot of love. Every family has a subculture of their own, although I don't remember the one I grew up in being quite as pronounced, because, (1) we didn't spend nearly as much time together, and (2) I was an only child. Nevertheless, all of them are blends of things passed down that we keep as part of us and the things we add as we go along.
There are some who find this a bad thing. They believe we should all be part of the institutionalized, prevailing, popular culture. People frequently use the "melting pot" illustration when speaking of our country, but a melting pot sounds like everything mixed together until it's a muddy, gray-brown, homogenous mess where nothing is distinguishable. I much prefer the idea of a mosaic where every piece is distinct, but adds to the effect and beauty of the whole. I believe our culture is much richer when it is a mix of all these subcultures. It makes the overall effect much more interesting and colorful. It's like having a choice of restaurants ranging from Italian to Mexican to Chinese to Thai, Indian, Spanish, French, Creole, etc., or every restaurant being the same fast-food burger joint. God made us all so unique. It's man who decided we should all be the same.
So enjoy the subculture of your own home and family. Have fun learning how different the families around you are. Don't worry. There will always be points of contact. You'll find other people who worship the way you do, or home school like you do or watch the same movies or listen to the same music. Then we can learn to celebrate both our differences and our commonalities. |
�
Comments (4)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
Mar. 24, 2006 Spring Cleaning for the Heart
As the days grow warmer and the trees begin to bud and bloom, a woman's thoughts turn to spring cleaning. A noble endeavor to be sure. I plan on doing a great deal of cleaning and decluttering myself. However, it has occured to me that something other than dust, clutter and stagnant air has accumulated over the winter months. In fact, I'm sure more than a few cobwebs need to be knocked down from the darker corners of my heart. On a few of the drearier days, a bit of self-pity crept in accompanied by a pinch (OK, more than a pinch) of sluggishness. A few hard times brought on a dose of ingratitude that needs swept away as well. Then there were those intemperate moments of frustration. How fortunate that our Heavenly Father is the best cleaner there is! I know that as I confess my faults and seek His grace and mercy in my life, He is faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me once again. The dim corners are swept clean and enlightened. The cobwebs become a thing of the past. And fresh clean thoughts take the place of darker ones. When that happens, just like the trees, I'll bud and bloom and bear fruit and celebrate another lovely spring. |
�
Comments (0)
� Post A Comment!
� Permanent Link
|
|
