What I Really Want for Mother's Day

I need to state up front that the idea for this blog post wasn't mine. I saw a blog post similar to this and thought it was such a good idea that I stole it and made it my own. The specifics are all mine.

My beloved children:

Let me save you the trouble of rushing out for a last-minute card and flowers. I hate to say it, but that has never really done it for me. The card is overpriced and the flowers are dead in a couple of days.

What I really want for mother's day doesn't need to cost you one red cent.

I want you to love God. I want you to obey his word and seek him with your whole heart. I want to catch you reading your bible or praying. Nothing else in life will make sense until you get this first one figured out.

I want you to honor your parents. Not because we are such wonderful people - we aren't. But because God promises "you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." This is the only command that contains a promise, so God must have known he would need to bribe you to obey it.

I want you to be kind to one another. Someday, when your father and I are gone, you will mean more to each other than you can know. Please don't let some thoughtless impulse or silly grudge put a wedge in the fact that you are family. Hold one another up in the hard times, and celebrate together in the good times. Plan time together, even if it isn't convenient.

I want you to be kind to others. Be helpful. Speak encouraging words. Avoid being critical and negative.

I want you to be known for your integrity. Be honest. Let all the words you speak be true; but all that is true does not need to be said.  Don't embellish the facts for your own gain. If you make a promise, keep it.

I want you to seek ways to serve others. See something that needs to be done and do it - without being asked. Study those you love and serve them in ways that are meaningful to them -  rather than in ways  you would like to be served. Take a meal to someone who is ill. Mow lawn for a busy single mom. Go on a mission trip.

I want you to work hard at whatever you do. Avoid the temptation to slide by. Let it never be said of you that you are lazy. Be content in your work, whether you enjoy it or not. As long as you have hands that can grasp, legs that can stand, a sound mine, and food on the table you are blessed.

I want you to be financially responsible. No matter how much you earn, create a budget and stick to it. Save a little out of every paycheck. Don't borrow money you can't pay back. Avoid credit cards unless you can pay the balance entirely every month. Give cheerfully.

I want you to take care of your body. It is the only one you get. Eat healthy food. Exercise regularly. Don't smoke - ever. This is one that most people learn far too late, so start now and never get complacent.

I want you to never stop growing and learning. Seek to improve yourself continually. Read. Take a class. Cultivate your talents.

I want you to be all that God intended you to be. Push yourself to be your best. Remove anything that stands as an obstacle between you and your potential. Ask for advice - and take it. Don't ever believe the lie that it is too late.

Just in case you are still looking for that perfect Mother's Day gift, here are a few more selfish requests:

I want a clean house. I've had this on my list every Christmas, Birthday and Mother's Day for years, and it will remain on my list until Molly Maids is hired or a loving gang of able-bodied people descends upon it and gets it done. And don't forget the windows.

I love picnics. Even those that take place on the living room floor.

I love breakfast in bed, but not a full 7 course meal. A cup of coffee and my breakfast shake would be fine.

I love any dinner that I don't have to cook. It's even better if it's relatively healthy.

I'd love to sleep in.

I love photos. Of you.

But most of all, I love spending enjoyable time with you.

You. Just you. That's all I want for Mother's Day.

 

 

My Political Rant

I'm pretty selective about what I put into cyberspace via social media like Facebook, Twitter, and this blog. I especially tend to avoid sharing my opinions on social and political topics. It's not that I don't have opinions, it's just that I don't think anyone really wants to hear them. And frankly, I'm usually too preoccupied with the everyday details of my own life that I don't have a lot of leftover mental energy to devote to the controversial topics of our day.

Nonetheless, I am interested in being somewhat informed, and I do read a lot. I have read many very thoughtful and well written articles by people much smarter than me on topics that tend to have a polarizing effect. And I've read a lot of crap written by those who are only interested in hearing themselves talk. I understand why people are drawn to issues that seem to have only two sides - it's much easier to think in terms of black or white, right or wrong, legal or illegal. The grey areas are far more complex and require more thought, listening, and compromise. In graduate school one of my ethics professors used the term "binary trap" for the mental state of either/or. She would say, "If you think there are only two options, you're wrong. Think harder."

This week, in the midst of a great tragedy, I have once again heard some heated debates about how the situation in Boston should or should not have been handled. It seems that high profile news stories like this put a spotlight on every hot controversy, and rattle the ire of every person who has ever had a gripe of any kind. And the really irritating thing is I find myself getting angry at all the anger!

So I'm going to allow myself this one political rant. I apologize in advance if I offend anyone. Unless, of course, you happen to live in the same house as me. In that case, so be it.

I don't in any way mean to suggest that issues like abortion, gay marriage, legalized marijuana, universal health care, or whether to declare marshall law in order to apprehend two bombers in Boston are not important issues. They are. These issues deserve careful and thoughtful dialogue by the best minds. These issues call for passion and courage and grounding. They also require compassion and listening and mercy. And prayer. Lots and lots of prayer. I believe (and this is the rant part) that everyone should hold their tongue and duct tape their lips shut until they have prayed for at least as long as they intend to spend voicing their opinion.

Where do I get such a crazy idea? From scripture. The apostle Paul saw this tendency toward polarization in the first century church. He warned them:

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 1Tim 2:1-4,8.

You see, I'm pretty sure that angry controversies are rooted in an inaccurate view of who God is, and who we are in relation to him. The God of the universe is so far bigger and stronger and in control than we give him credit for. Our petty arguments and seemingly important concerns serve to enlarge our view of ourselves and make God seem small and weak. And when that happens, the enemy gloats.

The best illustration of this principle I've seen recently is a talk given by Pastor Louie Giglio. You might recall that Pastor Giglio was invited to deliver the invocation at the presidential inaguration, but was uninvited when a crafty reporter dug up an old interview in which Pastor Giglio had voiced concerns about the gay agenda. So Pastor Giglio is no stranger to controversy. But he has also learned that these "big" issues are small when compared to our BIG God. I promise this 7 minutes will be worth your time.

I hope this has given a little perspective to whatever issue puts a bee in your bonnet.

End of rant.

P.S. If you'd like to see Pastor Giglio's entire 40 minute talk, you can find it here: http://youtu.be/azFFc20_Ub4

New Beginnings

An old friend (well, she's not old, but we've known each other a long time) asked me whether I had stopped keeping my blog. I knew I hadn't been here in a while, but holy smokes, not since July of 2012?! It can't possibly be that long!

I don't know where to start. Life careens by at such a ridiculous pace that 9 months ago seems like only yesterday, but again seems like a lifetime. It's difficult to wax eloquent about a period of time during which life has fundamentally changed. So I won't even try. I'll let the photos tell the story. And then I'll see if I can begin again. After all, there are always things to talk about...

 

And then everything came to a screeching halt.

December 31, 2012. New Year's Eve will never be the same. Yet out of the ashes arises hope eternal. New beginnings. Life does go on.