"A soft answer turneth away wrath..."

How I wish I could incorporate this into my life as much as I would like too... because it really does work.  I have been on both ends... an angry answer as well as a soft answer... and I can honestly say the later works better.  Some people hurt others with words, others with a silent treatment while others use hateful tactics to defame others... which ever, they are all wrong.  How do we practice a loving and tender way to others when they hurt us?  How do we turn the other cheek when we want to hit back?  How do we give them our coat when they already took our cloak?  These principles are taught in the New Testament by Jesus and they are a basic guild to help us love our enemies... whether they be a total stranger, the neighbor or a family member... we must love as Christ loved. The Christian walk is a daily trial... one that is filled with testings along with peaceful walks in the valley... it is a constant growing and maturing. We are children of the Heavenly King, and we need to act as such... even when it is really hard. 

But what about when we fail and fall flat on our faces... what about when we do the things we try so hard to not do... what about when we have done our best but it just isn't good enough...

We need to look up... He will lift us back to our feet as we cry out, "Abba Father..." He will wipe the tears away... He will say, "Let's keep pressing on together, I am by your side..." 

As the song goes, 'Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey..."
Until next time,
Jean
       

A Hard Day's Work...

I love working with my children.  The boys are hard workers, tilling, hoeing, weeding, planting, hauling wheel barrows of straw from the barn for me to mulch the beds.  I love my children, they bring a joy to my heart that only a mother can know...

Yesterday we planted another row of asparagus and a new patch of raspberries... how exciting to me. We mulched the grapes and one of the asparagus rows... Ryan and Evan picked up weeds to dump and Ethan tilled away... it was a good day! 

Taylor was with the youth yesterday in Chicago at The Museum of Science and Industry.  They were going to go into the coal mines... she was nervous... I don't blame her, you couldn't pay me to go into that thing... claustrophobia... no way!  I told her to use me as an excuse and say that I told her she wasn't allowed to go in... (I did try that) she is eighteen now, but I told her that she can always use me for an excuse whenever she doesn't want to do something.  I don't care if any of her friends like me or not... it is her that I care about.  It's not that I am  worried about her friends trying to get her to do bad things or her doing them... I just want her to know that my only concern is for her well being because I love her so much...

Isn't that what we as parents need to be for our children... their advocates right?  After all no one will ever love your child as much as you do... they will never know the depth of that love unless they have a child of their own.

But wait, there is One...  Have you ever thought about the depth of that love... I often think about God's love for me and the depth of His love... giving His only son to die such a horrible death as the cross... for me... what love, what unsearchable love the Father has bestowed upon me...  and you.

Until next time,
Jean

Home

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home..." J.H. Payne

Home is where the heart is... home is a place that should be a relief from the cares of the world... the noise and the hussell and bussell of life...  home is where we create memories, whether good or bad... home is important.  When our children get home from school and it's been a hard day, do they feel the warmth and understanding of mother, is there a nice treat, is there peace for their weary soul?  When our spouse comes home from a day where things just didn't go as planned, are there inviting arms with a hug and 'it's gonna be OK?' Home should be the place where each family member comes and can relax after a tiring day. 

This is the ideal setting...  but we live in a real world where  there and ups and downs to each family members life.  We try to be pleasant and cherry, but we've got a splitting head ache and life wasn't fair today.  Such is life, as I always say...

How do I deal with the head ache and the bad day... do my children hear all the complaints of the trash not being taken out, another broken glass, clothes not picked up, the list goes on and on... do I make excuses for my behavior or use their behavior for an excuse? I am sure most of us can say that both these setting's take place in our home's.  We would be liars to say otherwise... but back on yesterdays note on apologies.  When we have those bad days and don't react like we should or want to, a simple "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be grumpy" goes a long way, especially with children. When we can admit we were wrong and not make excuses for our behavior or theirs for that matter, they will see us set that example, they will learn to apologize and accept responsibility for their own actions as well. When our children come to us we too need to be there with a willing and open heart to their 'I'm sorry's'... such is LOVE!

Until next time,
Jean
    

Everything begins at home because home is where the heart is...

This is a pretty deep statement when you think about it.  Home is where, shall we say we are ourselves most openly.  Home should be a haven of rest where each member can come and let go of the cares of the day and simply relax and be happy. Our family consists of eight people, so to say the least, haven of rest our home is always not! Lots of noise in the way of laughter and yes crying and whining too... banging and thumping... running and chasing~ remember now five of the eight people are boys <smile>...yes I hate to admit their is even occasional yelling and heated battles that arise ever so often... it is a home where emotions fly~ remember two of the eight are females <smile>...

What do I want our children to eventually leave the nest and remember?  I am sure they will say there were both the good & the bad with the happy & the sad.  But I want them to remember dad's spooky stories & s'mores around the camp fires under the star lite night... skating on the neighbor's pond... picnic's at the lake on Sunday afternoon's... making home made pretzel's and ice cream... playing pitch & catch in the front yard... climbing the big maple tree in the back yard while dad was grilling... mom reading stories with such enthusiasm... mountain pie suppers at a friends house... camping in the U.P. and fishing...

happy times need to start at home...

Until next time,
Jean