I always struggle with Lenten sacrifices. I never know what to give up or add to my daily life. Not because I think I am perfect. It's actually just the opposite. Once I start thinking about the sacrifice that Jesus made for me, nothing seem adequate and I decide to give up a whole bunch of things that I know I will not follow through on. So then, I decide I do not want to make a mockery of the notion of a Lenten sacrifice which then leads me to decide that I just want do anything. Because, of course, if you can't do something right, you shouldn't do it at all, right?? I know...flawed logic...
So, today is Ash Wednesday and I once again am contemplating...what do I give up? Caffeine? Meat? TV? Internet? I've done all of those before. Is it enough?
What is it that stands between me and a deeper relationship with God? (Like there is just one thing...) I keep coming back to pride. Pride is my great pitfall--especially the idea of self-sufficiency.
Please give me a little grace while I explain myself a little....
As a young child, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis. I had to learn to be resilient and tough. I had to learn to push through pain and find creative ways to do some normal,everyday tasks. I am grateful for this. I learned to be stubborn, to not give up easily and developed a very, very strong will.
However, that is my weakness. I have a hard time accepting help.
Let me just tell you, God has worked on me in this area. He has called me into different ministries and situations that have required me to learn to accept help. I have come to realize that God made none of us to have the ability to live a true Christian walk without the assistance of others. He made us not to be self-sufficient but to need community. It is impossible to go it alone.
Which brings me back to my Lenten sacrifice...
For the forty days of Lent, I am not giving something up (ya'll can all breathe a sigh of relief, I will continue to have caffeine!) but I am going to focus on the people in my life that have helped me in some way. I have been incredibly blessed by the generosity, love and support of so many people. My life has been impacted and changed by more than I can count. God has worked on my heart to allow me to open up my eyes to the impact that so many have made upon me.
I am going to use the forty days to express my thanks to at least forty people who have somehow impacted my life. Want to join me?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
We have had a time with a little girl in Abby's class. This is probably a good time to state this disclaimer: I know that I am only getting one side of the story. I know that there are always more facts that what is shared with the mom. I know that my child may be exaggerating and may very well be part of the problem.
Now, I don't like to judge anyone, especially little kids, but I am just not sure she is a very nice kid. Abby has complained about this little girl mistreating her since August. We have exchanged numerous emails with Abby's teacher and guidance counselor and have had two parent teacher conferences.
This past week, the situation was pretty bad. (I will spare you all the details because this is not what the point of this blog is all about.) It was so bad, that Abby wrote me a letter while at school concerning her situation with this young girl. Not only did she just write me a letter, she had several of the other little girls in her class sign the letter in support of her statements.
Needless to say, I emailed the teacher once again. We were pretty desperate for some help as Abby was pretty miserable. The next day, Abby returned home in a much better mood. We asked her how her day went and she proceeded to tell us that her teacher had taken care of the situation. (Again, I'll spare you the details)
I asked her if she felt better about it. Her response was, "Well, ya know mom, it is pretty easy to be nice to everyone on the day you have to see the principal. I will let you know how she does this time next week." How true is that? I was shocked. How profound a statement from such a little girl.
As we were driving home from our Valentine's Dinner, I asked her if she had finished filling out her valentines for her class party the next day. She assured me that she had. I asked her if she addressed one to the little girl who had been bothering her. She said, "Of course I did." She wanted to know why I would ask that question. I told her that sometimes, it is hard to give someone a nice thing when they have been mean to you.
She said to me, "You know Mom, Valentine's Day is all about love and grace. That's why I addressed a valentine to her." I was in a slight state of shock. She proceeded to tell me that "God loves everyone. He gives grace to everyone, even if they are a mean little girl." I said told her she was exactly right. Her next statement floored me once again. "Mom," she started, "God is able to love everyone like that because He is perfect. I'm not perfect, but I want to try to love them too."
What a moment. We may have difficult moments as parents but there are times when we know that we are doing a good job. This was one of those for me.
Now, I don't like to judge anyone, especially little kids, but I am just not sure she is a very nice kid. Abby has complained about this little girl mistreating her since August. We have exchanged numerous emails with Abby's teacher and guidance counselor and have had two parent teacher conferences.
This past week, the situation was pretty bad. (I will spare you all the details because this is not what the point of this blog is all about.) It was so bad, that Abby wrote me a letter while at school concerning her situation with this young girl. Not only did she just write me a letter, she had several of the other little girls in her class sign the letter in support of her statements.
Needless to say, I emailed the teacher once again. We were pretty desperate for some help as Abby was pretty miserable. The next day, Abby returned home in a much better mood. We asked her how her day went and she proceeded to tell us that her teacher had taken care of the situation. (Again, I'll spare you the details)
I asked her if she felt better about it. Her response was, "Well, ya know mom, it is pretty easy to be nice to everyone on the day you have to see the principal. I will let you know how she does this time next week." How true is that? I was shocked. How profound a statement from such a little girl.
As we were driving home from our Valentine's Dinner, I asked her if she had finished filling out her valentines for her class party the next day. She assured me that she had. I asked her if she addressed one to the little girl who had been bothering her. She said, "Of course I did." She wanted to know why I would ask that question. I told her that sometimes, it is hard to give someone a nice thing when they have been mean to you.
She said to me, "You know Mom, Valentine's Day is all about love and grace. That's why I addressed a valentine to her." I was in a slight state of shock. She proceeded to tell me that "God loves everyone. He gives grace to everyone, even if they are a mean little girl." I said told her she was exactly right. Her next statement floored me once again. "Mom," she started, "God is able to love everyone like that because He is perfect. I'm not perfect, but I want to try to love them too."
What a moment. We may have difficult moments as parents but there are times when we know that we are doing a good job. This was one of those for me.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Storm of 2009
What a week it has been. I have never seen so much ice on everything. Nothing was spared the coating of the slick, cold stuff! Although the trees looked pretty while they glistened on Tuesday, by that evening, the limbs starting breaking and trees started uprooting.
I did not sleep much that night. It was unnerving to hear very loud POPs and then crashes throughout the night. We lost many branches out of our trees in our yard. Everywhere you look in town, there is damage to be seen. It will take us weeks to clean it up.
We lost our electricity on Wednesday a little bit before noon. We had just come in from a lovely walk in the thickly falling snow. We expected the lights to be out a little while--it was out five days total. Before it was all said and done, there would over 1 million people that would love electricity service at some point during the storm.
Although we were out of power for many days, we were much more fortunate than most. We had heat (somewhat), the ability to cook on the stovetop, and hot water. We also had a host of friends who offered warm homes, washing machines and shared their electricity.
Many, many folks inquired to know what we needed and how they could help. It was comforting to know that help was just a phone call away--even from those we didn't know.
Many memories were formed--some we would like to forget and some that we will cherish! Bailing out the sump pumps at all hours of the day and night, playing Jenga by candlelight, eating up the last of the ice cream, sledding down the BIG hill, the girls realizing that you can survive without TV, cooking by flashlight and attempting to walk on ice.
What I will cherish the most is the love and spirit of cooperation that we saw. People being neighborly. Knowing that through it all, being out of electricity is a minor inconvenience. Realizing what all we take for granted.
I did not sleep much that night. It was unnerving to hear very loud POPs and then crashes throughout the night. We lost many branches out of our trees in our yard. Everywhere you look in town, there is damage to be seen. It will take us weeks to clean it up.
We lost our electricity on Wednesday a little bit before noon. We had just come in from a lovely walk in the thickly falling snow. We expected the lights to be out a little while--it was out five days total. Before it was all said and done, there would over 1 million people that would love electricity service at some point during the storm.
Although we were out of power for many days, we were much more fortunate than most. We had heat (somewhat), the ability to cook on the stovetop, and hot water. We also had a host of friends who offered warm homes, washing machines and shared their electricity.
Many, many folks inquired to know what we needed and how they could help. It was comforting to know that help was just a phone call away--even from those we didn't know.
Many memories were formed--some we would like to forget and some that we will cherish! Bailing out the sump pumps at all hours of the day and night, playing Jenga by candlelight, eating up the last of the ice cream, sledding down the BIG hill, the girls realizing that you can survive without TV, cooking by flashlight and attempting to walk on ice.
What I will cherish the most is the love and spirit of cooperation that we saw. People being neighborly. Knowing that through it all, being out of electricity is a minor inconvenience. Realizing what all we take for granted.
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