School is back in session...full swing. I am still sorta lost - especially when I go somewhere by myself.
I don't have to dig a small person out of clothes racks or threaten him with bodily harm if he doesn't quit handling all the raw hamburger packages at the grocery. When I don't have to do things like that, I have time to look around and actually, maybe, come home with what I went for in the first place.
I also have time to sorta notice the people around me. My sister and I went to Cave City to take care of some business for our Consignment Sale and since we were childless for the day, we decided to stop at a few shops.
We went shopping for our kids (imagine that!) and were standing in line to check-out our items. We were waiting patiently when an elderly couple walked up, cut in front of us and acted like the devil himself was pushing them toward the register.
Now, both us gals are easy going and try to be courteous. If the couple had just walked up to stand in line like the rest of us folks, we would have insisted they go ahead in front of us. They only had two items (table cloth and alarm clock) and the transaction only took a few minutes because they paid with cash. However, that wasn't the issue. We both stood with our mouths hanging open, catching flies, at their rudeness.
My sister remarked, "I guess we'll let them go in front of us." I replied that it looked like we didn't have a choice in the matter unless we were going to make a scene. We neither had a desire to take on a couple of stooped, older people.
I have thought about that incident several times in the past several days. How differently we would have thought about those two folks if they had behaved politely. Oh, someone cutting line has happened to me many times before. However, this time it reminded me, yet again, to take time for others.
I sure hope that I don't lose my respect and patience as I get older. I don't want someone to walk off and think I was a cantankerous ole woman who didn't think of anyone but herself. What a disgrace that would be!
I will continue teaching my child to put others before himself - something that is extremely hard for an almost 7 year old to do.
His daddy and I have alot of reminding ourselves, along with praying, to make sure we are teaching him to follow the Master.
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Monday, August 20, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Books, Bananas, Birds and Worms...
My only child has a bunk bed. No one sleeps on the top bunk, but it sure makes the lower bed cozy - like his own personal 'little boy cave'.
The only drawback to this cute little set-up is that there is lots of room under the bottom bunk to store treasures and whatever else his little heart desires to hide. And momma can't reach it when it's in the far corner.
I was reading Gage his bed time story and kept smelling bananas. I thought I was crazy. We had eaten all the bananas - I thought. I read a while and sniffed again. I stopped reading and looked under the bed. I could really smell bananas.
"Do you have a banana under here?!?!"
"Um..."
"Answer me! Do you have a banana under your bed?"
"Um..."
"Gage Scott! What are you doing with a banana under your bed?!"
"I put them under my bed so I could have a midnight snack"
(Them?! There's more than one under there?!?!?!?!?! Oh, my.)
I looked again. I turned on the ceiling light. There were FOUR bananas under the bed. A nice yellow bunch of bananas...way back in the corner.
I was afraid to ask the next questions, but necessity demanded it. "Do you have MORE food under there? Anything else?!"
"No, just bananas."
"I can't reach them. You get under there and get them right now!"
"I know why you can't reach them, Mom. You're just like a big bird that's eat too many worms."
Bird? Worms? Where did THAT come from??
"I didn't ask for your opinion of me, I told you to get the bananas out from under your bed."
"But Mom, it sorta does look like you've eat too many worms. I mean, not real worms, but if you were a bird, it would be real worms." Forever more. How did we get from reading a bedtime story to comparing my pudginess to big birds and worms?!
I took the bananas back to the kitchen counter where they belonged. Told my boy to NEVER put bananas, or any food for that matter, under the bed again. Finished the bedtime story. Said thankful prayers. Turned the night light on and the lamp off. Gage found his favorite blanket and was almost asleep by the time I staggered out of his room.
I used to not have to worry about bananas under beds. I also didn't have a small son to raise. It's a big responsibility...this part of my life I prayed for. In my pre-baby prayers I promised God I would give our child back. I promised I would rear him to serve God and respect man. I just didn't realize I was going to have to eat so many "worms" to have the energy to do it!!
1 Samuel 1:11
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life...
The only drawback to this cute little set-up is that there is lots of room under the bottom bunk to store treasures and whatever else his little heart desires to hide. And momma can't reach it when it's in the far corner.
I was reading Gage his bed time story and kept smelling bananas. I thought I was crazy. We had eaten all the bananas - I thought. I read a while and sniffed again. I stopped reading and looked under the bed. I could really smell bananas.
"Do you have a banana under here?!?!"
"Um..."
"Answer me! Do you have a banana under your bed?"
"Um..."
"Gage Scott! What are you doing with a banana under your bed?!"
"I put them under my bed so I could have a midnight snack"
(Them?! There's more than one under there?!?!?!?!?! Oh, my.)
I looked again. I turned on the ceiling light. There were FOUR bananas under the bed. A nice yellow bunch of bananas...way back in the corner.
I was afraid to ask the next questions, but necessity demanded it. "Do you have MORE food under there? Anything else?!"
"No, just bananas."
"I can't reach them. You get under there and get them right now!"
"I know why you can't reach them, Mom. You're just like a big bird that's eat too many worms."
Bird? Worms? Where did THAT come from??
"I didn't ask for your opinion of me, I told you to get the bananas out from under your bed."
"But Mom, it sorta does look like you've eat too many worms. I mean, not real worms, but if you were a bird, it would be real worms." Forever more. How did we get from reading a bedtime story to comparing my pudginess to big birds and worms?!
I took the bananas back to the kitchen counter where they belonged. Told my boy to NEVER put bananas, or any food for that matter, under the bed again. Finished the bedtime story. Said thankful prayers. Turned the night light on and the lamp off. Gage found his favorite blanket and was almost asleep by the time I staggered out of his room.
I used to not have to worry about bananas under beds. I also didn't have a small son to raise. It's a big responsibility...this part of my life I prayed for. In my pre-baby prayers I promised God I would give our child back. I promised I would rear him to serve God and respect man. I just didn't realize I was going to have to eat so many "worms" to have the energy to do it!!
1 Samuel 1:11
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life...
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I am not alone...
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my issues of the day, week, month, year, century...that I forget that others have frustrating things happen to them as well.
Sometimes I think I am the only one with a cross to bear...with a budget to keep...with not enough hours in the day.
Sometimes I think I am the only one with a tired child who won't sit still or be quiet and says "I have to pee" during the church sermon.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who is behind on the laundry, has dirty dishes piled in the sink, has stepped on two Matchbox cars, breaking off the wheels.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who stresses over how my child is going to "turn out" when he is grown, and wonders if he will pick out an occupation that will cause him to get shot at.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who can only focus on the "one day at a time" theory. Tomorrow will just have to take care of itself. Today has to be lived through before I start thinking about any additional information.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who has to count to 10 (at times even a higher number) so I don't end up in time-out myself.
Then something happens to let me know that I am not alone.
I took Gage to the bus stop this morning...we waited an extra fifteen minutes. I was beginning to worry that something had happened. It had.
His frustrated driver finally arrived. The door was broken on the bus. She had to undo her seat belt, get up, go down the steps, push open the door, and sit back down.
Gage got on the the bus. The driver got up out of her seat, manually pulled the door shut, sat back down, buckled in and took off to the next stop.
I could see the stress on her face. I could hear the aggravation in her voice. But she was still driving the bus, still taking care of her route. Still driving safely, however more slowly, taking a full bus of other mommy's blessings to school.
I took time to say a prayer for her. A miraculous working door would be nice - but if not that, maybe the "fixing" process will go smooth.
I also had a renewed sense of hope. I got back to the house, turned on all the lights and threw a load of jeans in the washer.
I am not alone in this race of life. All our broken doors can be fixed - if not today, maybe tomorrow. Sometimes, it just takes alot of effort to keep opening the door to all the blessings in my life.
Matthew 6:34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Sometimes I think I am the only one with a cross to bear...with a budget to keep...with not enough hours in the day.
Sometimes I think I am the only one with a tired child who won't sit still or be quiet and says "I have to pee" during the church sermon.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who is behind on the laundry, has dirty dishes piled in the sink, has stepped on two Matchbox cars, breaking off the wheels.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who stresses over how my child is going to "turn out" when he is grown, and wonders if he will pick out an occupation that will cause him to get shot at.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who can only focus on the "one day at a time" theory. Tomorrow will just have to take care of itself. Today has to be lived through before I start thinking about any additional information.
Sometimes I think I am the only one who has to count to 10 (at times even a higher number) so I don't end up in time-out myself.
Then something happens to let me know that I am not alone.
I took Gage to the bus stop this morning...we waited an extra fifteen minutes. I was beginning to worry that something had happened. It had.
His frustrated driver finally arrived. The door was broken on the bus. She had to undo her seat belt, get up, go down the steps, push open the door, and sit back down.
Gage got on the the bus. The driver got up out of her seat, manually pulled the door shut, sat back down, buckled in and took off to the next stop.
I could see the stress on her face. I could hear the aggravation in her voice. But she was still driving the bus, still taking care of her route. Still driving safely, however more slowly, taking a full bus of other mommy's blessings to school.
I took time to say a prayer for her. A miraculous working door would be nice - but if not that, maybe the "fixing" process will go smooth.
I also had a renewed sense of hope. I got back to the house, turned on all the lights and threw a load of jeans in the washer.
I am not alone in this race of life. All our broken doors can be fixed - if not today, maybe tomorrow. Sometimes, it just takes alot of effort to keep opening the door to all the blessings in my life.
Matthew 6:34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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