Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

My six year old Cutie Bug sat on the chair while daddy's hands moved through her hair in a comforting, gentle manner. When he stopped to get back to reading his book, she piped up, "Dad, don't stop - I like it when you play with my hair." Seeing that dad was busy, 3 year old Little Man picked up where his dad left off. He reached up and put his hands through his sister's hair, showing his love for her. Earlier that day, the baby's cries filled the room as I cleaned up the kitchen. He had hurt himself and sweet four year old Missy ran to his comfort. She found his nuk and put it in his mouth while uttering calming words. The baby quieted instantly at her caring touch. A girl at school was being treated poorly by her classmates, so Cutie Bug worried about this hurtful behavior. She decided to befriend the girl and stay away from those conversations of unkindness. In each instance, my children have displayed the treasure that is within. Glittering in the light o...

This fall, I received a packet from Renee Swope with a fun Scriptural teaching activity she created. It's all about digging for gold in our kids. I won't steal her thunder, but the idea has been taking hold around here as the kids are rewarded with a golden chocolate coin if I see "golden" attributes displayed in their lives. This week we focused on cheerfulness - not just the personality trait of being upbeat, but the conscious choice to be cheerful even when others aren't or the situation isn't your idea of fun. The first coins were handed out when Cutie Bug wiped down the table happily and the second went to her sister Missy for saying the silliest things and cracking me up. Little man is almost always cheerful, so it wasn't long before he had a coin too. Just thinking about their attitudes changed my own. I wondered if I could award myself a gold coin (too bad it's not really gold)? The sun shone this weekend (miracle of miracles) and I sat in my f...

I was teaching last week at Bible study about praying for healing: when it's appropriate, how God seems to work through healing or without healing, etc. We were discussing the Apostle Paul and his need for healing and I said he had a "thorn in his eye." Whoops. I think that was supposed to be a thorn in his side , which doesn't make much sense because scholars believe that he had an eye problem of some sort. The point was, God didn't heal Paul, did He? God used that irritating, frustrating and painful "thorn" to keep Paul humble and totally reliant upon Him. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Chris's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I think I might have meant to say that I have a thorn in my eye. You see (forgive the pun), I have had pink eye for a week and despite the anti-bacterial drops and prayers...