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Do You Have The Disease to Please?

 

  I remember when my first 3 kiddos were little, I thought everything had to be immaculate in our home.  I cleaned, cleaned and you guessed it, cleaned. I didn't enjoy my children. I got frustrated when they made a mess, and I never wanted them to play with their toys. I was in a constant state of frenzy because I felt I had to have a home that looked a certain way. I blame this on the way I was brought up, but also on the fact that certain family members would just drop by without notice and would criticize me if everything wasn't just so.  I use to be a people pleaser. I wanted their approval more than I wanted my family to be happy in their own home.

     When I turned 26, and we had our 4th baby, something just struck me like a bolt of lightening. Why was I so interested in what people thought of me and how I kept my home?  Now don't get me wrong, I still like things clean, but I also want a home that my family feels comfortable in.  I want them to play and have fun.  I want them to drag their toys out and giggle when they wrestle with daddy on the living room floor.  I want to have pillow fights and be able to play in the mud without having a mom constantly nagging them to stay clean.

      By the time we had our 6th baby, I was all over impressing others and all about pleasing my family.  This mom turned in her Drill Sergeants hat for a straw hat that she wears while playing in the dirt in our gardens. We have fun now!  We laugh and play.  We still all have our chores to do, but it isn't a constant battleground of keeping things perfect.  I set my family free!

     If you are a people pleaser like I was, please take a good hard look at what you are doing to the atmosphere of your home. Is it inviting or just a showplace where no one, especially your family members, feel  comfortable and creative?  Let down your hair and enjoy life. Don't let the years pass you by like I did. Have Fun Today!!!!!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Children are a blessing from the Lord.  We read this in Psalm 127 verse 3.  Even when we get frustrated or upset with our children, we must remember how precious their lives are and how quickly they grow up.  What frustrates us today, will be a memory tomorrow.

Our children need us in their lives on a daily basis.  We need to sit with them, talk with them and gently guide them to the Lord.  It is our jobs as parents to love them unconditionally and to encourage them on the path that the Lord has established for them.  Kids remember so much.  They are like little sponges, waiting to soak up whatever we say and do.  If you want to have children who honor God, follow his commandments, and respect you, then you must first model this behavior.  Many times the very behaviors that angers us about our kids, are modeled to them by us.  If you are having a problem in a certain area with one of your kiddos, I would suggest to take a long hard look at yourself.  See if you are the example they are following.  It's hard to imagine that we are the ones teaching our children to lie, or gossip, or be disrespectful, but it's likely we are.  Do your children ever see you lie on while on a telephone call, or do they see moms disrespecting their husbands, or dads gossiping about so and so at the office?   They watch us!   They see what we do even when we don't realize they are looking and listening.

Today, I challenge you to go to your children and have some quiet time just talking.  If you feel led, ask your children to forgive your bad behaviors and repent in prayer so they can hear you asking the Lord for his forgiveness of your wrong doings.  This will leave a lasting memory in your child's life.  In one moment of humility, you can change the course of your child's life, no matter what their age.

Think Before You Speak!

    

      I began really thinking about this principle the other evening, when one of my children brought up a time in her life where a person, who was suppose to be mentoring her in the Bible, said something really nasty and wrong to her.  She was only 9 at the time of this incident, but all these years later, it still bothers her.  Someone she was suppose to look up to and who was suppose to be a godly example to her, treated her wrong.  They opened their mouth and caused a little one to dislike learning the Word of God.  My daughter admitted it turned her off to church for the longest time. 

"If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea."

 ~ Mark 9:42 ~

     As we talked, I asked her if she had forgiven this person, and she said yes, but it still hurt when she thought about the situation.  Even after all these years, the mere thoughts of those words made her ache and brought tears to her eyes.  

     We have got to be careful about what we say and how we say it.  I don't know what that teacher was thinking when she spoke those harsh words to my daughter, but it left scars that only God can heal.  What if my daughter had refused to give anyone else a chance to teach her as she grew up?  What if it would have left my daughter unable to love God, because if the way she was treated was an example of God's love, she didn't want a part of it?  Thankfully, my daughter was set in her ways and knew this wasn't the way God wanted her to be treated and she decided to let it go and not hold a grudge.  She was saddened by the event, but not taken down.  The devil didn't get his way this time. 

     Parents, teachers, and even those who babysit our children, need to be aware that words can hurt!  They are lasting in our memories.  You may not even know what repercussions your words have until years later.  THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!!!!  

     Over the next few weeks I am going to be writing more about how we use our words.  I will also be reviewing a book I am reading titled: Keep it Shut by Karen Ehman.  I believe there is life and death in words we speak.  What will you choose?  

  

    

Let's Add it Up

     Have you taken a look at the world around you? My heart was saddened when I saw some advertisements this morning. We are never happy with what we have received.  One day there are sales on items for us to buy before Christmas, but that didn't end on December 24th.  Now we see ads for sales after Christmas.  WHY ARE WE NEVER SATISFIED???  Why do we need more and more "things" in order to be happy, and I use that word very loosely. 

     Many people will never have joy and that is because  they are constantly searching for something.  They think that next new purchase or device will bring them satisfaction and joy.  They go looking for more and more items to bring happiness into their lives.  What they don't realize is that there is an equation for joy, and that equation has nothing to do with worldly things.  

     The best things in life are FREE.  Have you heard that saying?  Well, I agree.  If we would just be content and thankful for what we have, we will have JOY!  Our hearts will be so full of joy that we will have no room for discontentment.  

     Nothing in this world will ever satisfy our souls.  This is not our home.  Things that we buy do not have the ability to fill our lives with a peace that passes all understanding.  Only Jesus Christ can provide that kind of peace.  Only He can give us true joy that can not be taken away under any circumstances.  I want to share a couple of quotes from the dear Corrie Ten Boom.  Even while her faith was being tested and tried, she had the Joy of Jesus way down in her heart.  

  Are you ready to set your eyes on things above and not on things this world has to offer? Are you ready for changes?  Do you know that in order to have true J O Y, you must have these priorities: 

J - Jesus First

      O - Others Second

     Y - Yourself Last

     I am praying for major changes in 2015 in my own life.  I want more of Jesus and less of me. What are you praying for?  I would love to hear what you are wanting for the new year.  

      

Character Quality Cards, FREE FOR YOU!!!

Here are some great character quality cards for you to print.