The Homemaker

A sign in a yard that reads 'HOME FOR SALE' makes my heart beat a little faster. Homes are not for sale, but houses are. A house is merely a dwelling place. A house becomes a home when it is occupied by residents whose associations share special sentiments and unique feelings known as family.
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Our transient society too often bypasses the traditional values of a family. We hardly have time to share a meal together. (How often have we heated and reheated a meal to accomodate our children and husbands schedules?)
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The home means many things to each family member that lives there. It should be something special and personal. To the husband, it is his kingdom over which he rules and leads. It is the dwelling that embodies his fondest dreams, the place where he goes after a hard day's work, and the primary reason for going to work.
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To the wife, it is her work station. It is her GOD ordained domain. Here she provides refuge for her husband and where she cares for their children. To the world she is a homemaker. What a glorious title!
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To both the husband and wife, the home is the fruit of their life and labors together.
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The family atmosphere shares interests, sympathies and activities. Usually by marriage and ties of blood or adoptive relationships, we develop strong bonds of affection for a lifetime. In the home one shares possessions, enjoyments, disappointments, common interests or aspirations.
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Here we learn communication, social graces, how to meet people, and work ethics. It is within the home unit where we confide our hopes, dreams, ideas, companionship, pursue common aims, goals, and destinies.
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It is in the home that we learn discipline, individual worth, right versus wrong, and share a common community, culture and beliefs. What is learned in the home shapes each members character for a lifetime. What an awesome responsibility!

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The home should be the favorite meeting place for families to sit, relax and talk about family things away from the world of stress and worldly competition. When undue strains and daily stresses of deadlines and decisions mount, we can find refuge for our soul and body at home.
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We need homes that send us forth feeling great opposed to homes that are a burden or a constant battle zone. It seems that most discipline can be handled by the mother. In order for the mother to successfully deal out discipline, she must be the extension of the father's hand. Parents need to agree upon the discipline and back each other for any discipline to be effective.
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Today's society records too many dysfunctional families. For the trend to stop, we need dedicated wives and mothers willing to be more effective in our homes.
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It is the home that is the backbone of the church, the community, and the nation. It is at home where children learn to love GOD and learn obedience to HIM, how to love their parents and neighbors, how to hate injustice and prejudice; and, in general what it takes to live not only as civilized human beings, but as Christians.
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From the home the children go forth to take their places in the world. When they go, they carry with them all the habits and feelings they learned at home, so that the home comes to mean still more things to more people.
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Although we venture to far away and exotic places our preferred retreat should be our family and home. Every family member needs quiet spaces. The home and family embrace abstract feelings. Feelings which cannot be touched or felt, but we know it is there.
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The age old maxim, 'the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world' is still true. Homemakers take a bow!

BROKEN RIBS

I appreciate all my readers. I fell and broke four ribs, so I won't be blogging for a while. LRuth

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

A message every adult should read, because your children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING
(Written by a former Child)

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, And I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, And I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, And I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer, And I knew there is a God I always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, And I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, And I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good, And I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, And I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you cared, And I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influence the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of some child today?
(copied)

And All Liars...

I believe there has not been strong enough emphasis placed on lies and deceit in our contemporary society, nor in the home nor in the church as we have placed on other immoral acts. . .murder, rape, stealing, etc.

Revelation 21:8. NKJV. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 22:14-15. NKJV. “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”

Here I’d like to refer you to Gentle Heart Whispers April archive article 'Lies We Believe". In addition to his list, there are many others that we use in jest that would be considered lies. Or would they?

Our children know that murder, rape, and stealing are wrong, but have we taught them that the same consequence applies to liars?…to deceivers?…to gossipers?…Are we like the group on the old HEE-HAW TV program? “We’re not ones to go around spreading rumors, so you better be sure and listen close the first time.”

Lies may be deliberate and unconscious--careless or unintentional. There are lies of silence. By remaining silent one gives approval, even though the person knows it is wrong and should have given open rebuke or warning.

Decisions consist of actions even inactions. We give our stamp of approval with an indelible signature by simply saying or doing nothing. This keeps us comfortable for we can blame someone else.

Colossians 3:8,9a. NKJV. “But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another.”

There are the little ‘white’ lies and fibs, stretching the truth and withholding all truth. My friends, don’t many of us fall into one of these categories at some time, perhaps, more often than not? Lying may cause more people to fall into the fiery judgment than all other sins combined.

James 3:5. NKJV. “Even so the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

Please tell me what you think.

Making a Referral

Gentle Heart Whispers is a wonderful site that I can recommend.

Dad, Son And The Big Fish

Today has been an exceptional day.

My DH is an early riser. However, he likes to take his time getting ready for the day. Our DYS arrived from Texas last night and we had decided to go fishing early today. My husband still moved very slow regardless of how we encouraged him to ‘get a move on’. We finally arrived at the fishing hole about 7:30 a.m. Not early, but not late either.

My DH at 72 only learned to fish last year. And even then he talked us into baiting the hook for him. Today was very windy. And our bobbers kept blowing into shore. A little disheartening. While our DYS, who would almost rather fish than eat, started his path around the farm pond catching a large bass on one of his first casts. We watched as he reeled the flopping fish to the bank. He brought it back to put on a stringer. Before long he made his way further around the other side of the pond and reeled in another big bass. Again he brought it back where my DH and I had stationed ourselves getting no bites at all.

DYS says, “Dad let me fix you up with one of my lures and you can learn to fish without a bobber, just skimming lure the across the water. But, let me cast the first time so you can see it done.” When he did DYS caught another big bass. Much to everyone’s surprise. So DH was so excited he went off on his own. Sure enough he reeled a big one with the help of DYS. Again he went farther around the pond and made the ‘catch of the day‘. This may not sound big to some of you, but it was about a four pounder. I’ve fished all my life and never ever caught one the size of his first one, let alone the second one.

I didn’t have to catch a fish to enjoy the time fishing and fellowshipping. To see a son and his Dad spending time together and enjoying every minute of it. When we got home we got pictures and could hardly wait to e-mail them.

Dad and son filleted the fish. We had a good ‘mess’ for lunch with a salad. There’s plenty more for dinner tomorrow. We are thankful for the farmer/rancher who gave us permission to fish on his pond. We kept only four fish of the several that were caught. Everybody needs a day like this now and then.

. . .And the Enemy Is Us cont'd

So what can be done?

First, admit that the problem exists. For a parent to proclaim their child is immune is to declare self-destruction. All parents have had to 'eat their words' while raising their children. "My kid won't. . .," but he/she did.

For teachers to deny the existence in their classroom is to declare ignorance. Many have been heard to say or imply, "That is a sticky situation and I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole." As parents we must lessen the educator's fear of reprisal.

Second, be aware of clues when a child begins to exhibit unusual behavior, such as: (1) Always wanting to wear long sleeved shirts or blouses. These will cover up the injection marks. (2) Wearing dark colored glasses indoors. These will hide the red or glassy eyes and small or dilated pupils. (3) Excessive use of breath deodorants and mints. Continually trying to overwhelm the order of alcohol and/or the sweet odor left by some drugs. (4) Falling asleep at unusual times. (5) Drop in grades.

Third, make referral to an expert. It is past for timely use of the resources at hand, the community health and guidance centers, the school counselor, ministers and youth leaders. The behavior may only be a 'growing up' syndrome, but then again it may not.

Fourth, carry out treatment prescribed. The shame of a nation is to allow its youth to damage or waste themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually during their critical period of growth.

For us to continue apathy and indifference toward our children is to accentuate the attitude, 'No one cares, so what?' We must unite the greatest forces in America. . .parents, teachers, church leaders and members, even politicians to fight the epidemic of drug use and abuse.

Society's greatest challenge of the home, the church, the school, the community, and the nation is that of guiding and leading our strongest, strategic advancement. . .our children. Isn't it time to choose extremely carefully those things that are very supportive of our mission and pursue them enthusiastically?

Anyone who fails to recognize the hand-writing on the wall must wallow in their own graffiti. Shall the 'cock' crow before we realize we are facing the enemy and the enemy is us?

Answer to Teen Despair

A sublime, splendid perception:

It seems the more things we care

about

and the more intensely we care

the more alive you are,

I am.

The fuse lights, it sparks 'you

care'

He cares. She cares.

We care. They care.

You care. God cares.

The whole-wide-world cares.

I care.

Realizing that much learning is caught not taught, could it be our children are simply mirroring the adult reflections who make up their social, moral, religious, and educational envioronment? In order to chart new directions, let us mirror ourselves first, then get to work improving our own reflections.