You are Your Children's Hero

As I think back and imagine my childhood, my little kid days, I grew up with an amazing group of friends.  The kind of friends that when one of them received an “F” on his report card, we all packed our bags to run away with him … even if it was just across the street.  If I can remember correctly, 10 sets of parents were called to come get their children … funny thing is … our parents before leaving school, unpacked our bags to see what 3^rd graders were going to survive on.  They found skittles, shorts, candy bars, socks … no toothbrushes, no warm clothes, NOTHING of use to survive (this was the end of fall and it was COLD).  Very comical to remember … at that moment, we did not need our “friends” we needed our PARENTS.  Parents are who we desperately needed in the 3^rd grade, and we all had wonderful ones. Our parents shaped us into respectful children, they guided us, they led by example, and they were THERE for us, ALWAYS!

In my adolescent years, pre-teen to graduation, our elementary school merged with another district school, so we had (us) the kids who weren’t concerned with the brand of clothes we wore UNTIL we were mixed with the other school … some of us fit in perfectly, some of us didn’t so it was a struggle all throughout the rest of our (my) days in school.  I went from having close knit friends, to having a few friends that saved my life and didn’t know it.  They kept me afloat, making life tolerable.  Friends in that stage of life, struggle to stand up in fear of getting the same form of treatment because they themselves are trying to survive.  We didn’t need friends as much as we needed our PARENT’S love, support, and GUIDANCE.  Parents are who we desperately needed in our adolescent years, and we all had wonderful ones. 

                My point is, yes having great friends throughout every stage of your life is a huge blessing, but the most important piece to a child’s life is having amazing and loving PARENTS to help them through and guide them.  Parents are who we needed the most when we were younger, and parents are who we still need now that we are adults.  We never stop needing them, we never stop loving them. 

               Lord, let us be WHO we NEEDED when we were YOUNGER.  May we be the rock our children rely on, every day, always.  Let us have strength to be a powerhouse in their corner, even if it is chasing monsters from underneath their bed or from their closet.  Our children need our presence, not presents. Lord let us lead them, guide them, and love them unconditionally.  Many of us are parents, or play the role of a parent, let us be who we needed, let us be the PARENTS our children so desperately need in this hard world.  Let God place in our hearts patience, let us pay full attention to their lives, before they grow up lost and wandering. ~ Amen.

Gold is Located Underneath the Dirt you Throw

Why is it people gossip, point out mistakes, and make quick judgements on mere assumptions? Why do people make a great attempt to paint an imperfect picture of an individual before the other person has the chance to make his or her own impression of the “already labeled” person?  Why are humans so insistent upon recognizing all the negative about a person when they themselves are flawed?  We ALL have flaws … right now, I am sure individuals are reading thinking “Oh lord, here she goes again speaking about the bible, speaking about Jesus, when she is far from perfect.” Each of us were created, we were born innocently into sin, and were born again by the blood and grace of GOD.  We were saved and cleansed to lead and live more like our creator.  HOWEVER, do not expect us “Christians” to be perfect, we TRY every day to walk in his word, WE fail terribly sometimes.  We are vessels, and are supposed to be examples to the non-believer … but forgive us if we are not models of perfection, forgive us if we do not walk in a straight line 24 hours a day.  Our Jesus dwells inside our hearts, our light shines by giving, loving, and you can see it through our eyes.  At times, our flesh “earthly bodies” give in, it is in our blood from birth, but we fight.  Christians go through trials, we WILL acquire “dirt.”

Christians … you see … TRY to raise our children right, we TRY to watch our tongues, we TRY to love and forgive the way God does.  Some of us have different gifts that are not recognizable by the way we walk or talk, but by the way we love and give our time, maybe it is through prayer we live.  As I grow … I am accepting that more and more “Christians” have “DIRT” thrown in his or her face for not living a perfect life.  How about … loving us anyways?  How about … recognize the “gold” instead of throwing dirt in our faces? 

How about replacing “dislike and disappointment” with “love and forgiveness?” How about replacing “negative assumptions” with “positive possibilities?”  Let us look inside a person before pointing out the negative outside shell that fails daily, not just for Christians, but for non-believers.  Let us be slow to open our mouths of disappointment … assess our own being, prior to throwing words in the wind.  How about WE dig to find the gold, instead of focusing on the dirt we shovel to find it?  Or why throw more dirt on top of the gold underneath … kind of silly if you ask me J

Focus on the Good in people and let God point out the disappointment through prayer, amen.

PASS THE BALL, your teammate is WIDE OPEN!!!!

 

Imagine yourself at a sports event … You are a #12 fan in the stands.  Doesn’t matter if you are in a small gymnasium or huge arena, you are there ready to enjoy a great game.   You have your beer (or if at a kids event) your soda, your hotdog, and your game face on … You stand for the National Anthem and applaud afterwards, 3..2..1..it’s game time.  You are sitting on the edge of your seat cheering your favorite team on waiting for some action, but then get disappointed when you realize “ONE” person is running the show trying to outshine every other player on the team.  You find yourself yelling “PASS THE BALL, your team mate is WIDE OPEN!!!” This “ONE” player is taking all the shots, he is a ONE man team … the other players are non-existent except to pass to him so he or she looks like a superstar.  What was once a game you looked forward to attending, now is a game you look forward to leaving.

I completely understand this “ONE” player is good, but he or she would NOT be without the help of teammates.  You have a player that passes the ball in, players that set screens, players that block, players that assist, players that throw, players that kick, players that defend, all in order to help the TEAM to score points.  In reality, without teammates, that ONE person would be nothing.  The game would be forfeited without a full team. 

Each player has his or her attributes to the team’s ultimate mission or mutual goal (TO WIN) or have fun trying.  No ONE person has a more important position than the other, that is why they call it a team.  So what that some members on the team aren’t naturally talented as others, this is why again, it is called a TEAM.  Players with that god-given natural talent should help inspire and build the other team players skill levels up. 

God gave us each a natural talent and gift, but he also instructs us to GIVE that talent or gift away … This means to help others shine … help them to see what is amazing about them.  This life is NOT always about You, it’s about being a vessel of inspiration for God.  What will you do with your god given talent, keep it to yourself or give it away?

 

 

Freedom from Monotony & Routine? CHANGE things Up.

In reference to the message:

                Although I am not perfectly clear on what Alchemy is … none the less, I was searching for something good to share with everyone today.  As you look at what Paulo Coelho jotted down, I believe he meant to reach us by saying “If your life is monotonous and routine as to where you feel empty and drained, change things up.” “Change things up enough to be thankful, Change things up enough to realize you are still alive.” Sure life gets drab when you do the same thing, the same way, over and over … like Bill Murray on the movie Groundhog Day.  However, he had the chance, every day to change what he messed up the day before, to make it better.  That is the key, change. 

                Do you ever find yourself bored and lethargic-like in life sometimes?  You get out of bed, drag yourself to the shower, blah blah, etc etc … You go to work, you come home … same routine, different day.  Make dinner, get the kids showers, bedtime … same routine, different day.  All the while, not noticing, you are losing focus on what God placed in your life as blessings.  Sure, at times, we all lose focus because we get wrapped up in routine.  But we live a "real life" Groundhog Day, and we can break the routine of “BLAH.” Every day we can choose change … instead of dreading to wake up, be GLAD you are still breathing, thank God.  Then look to the other side of the bed, if you have a husband/wife, smile knowing you have another day with them (or at least a morning) … if you aren’t married … smile at the other side of the bed anyways because it is just good faith in waiting.  Hug and kiss your kids before you leave, if you wake them, who cares!!!!  Pray for them, pray for your spouse, for your family, for your friends.  CHANGE into a person with a purpose of being thankful and watch how peace and happiness follow.

                If you have a set time for prayer … never let that fall to the side, never let it fade … We need to be strong spiritually to be free of idle minds, and idle lives.  Prayer keeps our minds on all things positive and good.  Prayer helps guide us, prayer and a relationship with God makes us whole.  If we find ourselves in the midst of monotony and routine, and we have allowed ourselves to lose focus on the most important and highest blessings ... We need to CHANGE things up.  Find prayer.  Find thankfulness. We have today, so find the strength to find your way out into the happy JJ

DO as I SAY, NOT as I DO

Have you heard the saying “Do as I say, not as I do.”?  Have you scolded your children for not making their beds or cleaning their room, but open your bedroom door and it is a total disaster area?  I know I have.  I am guilty of the “Do what I say, not as I do” phrase.  How do I expect my children to keep their rooms clean when I am leading them by a bad example?  This holds true for any negative example; cussing, smoking, drinking in front of your kids.  “Well mom and dad do it, so it must not be that bad.” What about when you make an important rule, then make exceptions to that rule the next day … how CONFUSING that must be for your child.  I am pretty sure mine stay confused because I lack consistency.   Where I am consistent with love and affection, I fail in leading and guiding.

Consistency is defined as … unchanging in achievement or effect over a “period” of time.  Hallelujah, as parents, we have time to redeem our failures from not only leading and guiding our children but our personal/working relationships as a whole.  Redirection takes time … new “positive correction” habits take at least 22 days to form and take hold.  But thank GOD we can correct our mistakes.  Also remember consistency does not happen overnight, so drop that expectation now. 

Did you know that consistency establishes your REPUTATION? (Good blow to the parental ego). Wonder why your child disregards what you ask of them to do or not to do?  Lack of consistency on rules, on consequences of actions, on punishment, on warnings of punishment (that is why they buck the system).  If we lack in these area as parents, no wonder why our kids look at us with blank stares and confused facial expression.  If I were them listening to me, I would be clueless.  God says “Sparing the Rod, Spoils the Child,” this is 150% percent accurate.  When I was a child, I KNEW what was expected and could guarantee the punishment was the same each time I made a mistake.  No talking myself out of it, no whining or crying because the punishment got worse.  My mother was CONSISTENT, she never faltered, she never caved in, and taught us one of the most important lesson in life, RESPECT. 

Our children need us to be consistent so they believe what we say.  So they can truly trust us in that we say no to things for their protection.  Let’s eliminate unnecessary confusion and provide them with clear direction.  NO means NO.  Establish rules with firm consequences for breaking them.  No exceptions, no freebie card (get out of jail free passes, lol).  Rebuilding consistency takes time … but your children will thank you for it later on in life, trust in that.

Lord, please let us parents take the time to guide our children by consistency.  Let us be strong, stand firm, and lead them by being a great example.  Help us to create a peaceful home without confusion.  Please let us set aside anger and frustration as we guide our children into a new better way of life.  ~ Amen.