Reflections on Cleaning from my Dirty Mirror

I was just reading a blog of a mother of 8 who homeschools.  She'd been reading things from Sandra Felton of Messies Anonymous.  It was giving her great guilt, because she had trouble with just the first "Four Sturdy Legs of the Organizing Chair."

While Sandra Felton and Messies Anonymous have made an impact on my life, I have such mercy in my heart for this poor mom.  I understand what she is wrestling with, that ugly guilt monster.

But she has 8 kids and is very pregnant.

I've decided I prefer what Michele Duggar had to say in her address at the Hearts at Home Conference I attended.  (It was something like this.)I should not demand my rights.  No one says I have the right to a clean house.  If one room in my house is clean, let's be thankful to God for that one clean room.

And so, while I hope the Lord helps me to become a better manager and steward, I say to all the mothers fighting the guilt monster: grace and peace to you. 

Love and Grace

Today was a special day in our homeschool.  We are blessed to be members of Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club.  One of the things our club does is help at the Iowa Veteran's Home when they have BINGO.  It is such a little thing that we do.  Sometimes we help people man their BINGO cards.  We pass prizes.  We call the numbers.  And we help the staff as they get people back to their rooms.  All the while, we give smiles and encouragements and whatever blessing of humanity you can give another as you spend a little bit of time together.  I always enjoy so much when we can help at IVH and wish I could volunteer there a little more frequently.

Last night, I watched a documentary called Happy on Netflix. (Be forewarned.  There are a few graphic pictures of a woman's facial injuries that my girls unwittingly saw.) There was a part in the movie when a man was working at Mother Theresa's home for the sick and dying in Calcutta, India.  And he talked about the sweetness of just bearing with another person, helping lift their burden a little bit.  The video corresponding this audio was of him supporting someone who had difficulty walking alone.  It was so striking to me. I feel like the Lord has been impressing upon me about "this the day the Lord has made" and loving those whose lives you touch that day.

Today, my daughter and I studied about Ruth and Naomi and Boaz.  What did Ruth have to give?  Not much materially, I suppose.  But she gave the gift of friendship, love, kindness, hard work, and loyalty.  And the Lord blessed it richly...abundantly.

And so what do I have to give today?  I was able to give a very little to the wonderful people at IVH.  I am able to give the love of a wife and mother to my family today.  I would like to share the love of God and myself with you, my friends and readers.

So remember Colossians 3:12 says that if you are in Christ you are "God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved..."  Rest in being dearly loved.

The Lord led me to this message of James McDonald. http://www.jamesmacdonald.com/ministries/walk-in-the-word/broadcast/#divAudioPlaylist-tab
(Hopefully that gets you to today's broadcast February 21 God's Purpose In Your Pain: Why Some Trials Never End.)  I was struck by the end of 2 Corinthians 12:9b.  "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  (Yes, Lord, rest on me.)  In my meditation from Jesus Calling February 16 the amplified version of the Bible is quoted from 2 Corinthians 12:9 " and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!"  (And again I say yes, Lord!  Pitch a tent over and dwell upon me.  It reminds me of the tabernacle.)

This is what I have to share with you today.  Like Ruth, maybe not much.  But perhaps the Lord will bless it to you richly and abundantly. 

Love, Love, Love from me.

A Few Good Books

I have been AWOL!  It's been too long to adequately do a catch up.

But, we celebrated a couple of family birthdays in January.  Had a snow day. (I was quite giddy about that.)  Had our first book club for homeschool group.  (Love the book club.)  And lots of other things.

I personally have been reading quite a bit.  I've read Choosing Gratitude: Learning to Love the Life You Have and Looking Around for God:The Oddly Reverent Observations of an Unconventional Christian both by James A. Autry. I also read The Happiness Project  and Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin. 

I read Mr. Popper's Penguins and Ramona Quimby Age 8 aloud with my kids. It is so wonderful to enjoy books WITH my kids.

But the gray February skies are wearing on me.  I've been thankful for the sunny reprieves we've had occasionally and tried to take advantage of them by getting outside for a walk in the crisp air.  Today will be one of those.

We had our February homeschool book club this past Friday.  Being February (think President's Day and Black History month)  we read biographies.  My son read a bio on Mozart and my daughter on Helen Keller. (I realize neither of them are black or presidents, but this is where I gave them freedom of choice.) Here's a picture of the corresponding projects they made.

 

This was a teacher assigned project.  So there was some gnashing of teeth.  I view that as character building.

 

So, that's my little post to try to get back in the habit of showing up here.

 

Have you read anything lately that you've enjoyed?  I'm always interested in a good read.