I've been doing a lot of writing lately. I actually have two books that I am working on at the same time. I don't know that anyone will ever see them other than me, but I love writing, and I have all these thoughts that I just feel the need to put down on paper. I came across this little bit that I wrote a few months ago, so I figured I would share it. It's still unfinished, and I'm not sure if I will come back to it someday.
Sometimes, I hide my feelings. Sometimes, I pretend that everything is okay, when it’s really not. Sometimes, I pretend I’m fine, when I really am hurting or sick. Sometimes, I pretend I can see just fine, when really, I‘m having trouble seeing the ground right in front of me. Sometimes, I get frustrated because of the things I cannot do, and people don’t realize how hard that is. Sometimes, I get frustrated that I have to depend on other people. Sometimes, people can’t tell I feel bad, or that I have trouble seeing, because I don’t want them to know.
Sometimes, I keep my opinions to myself, because I don’t want to hurt your feelings, even though you just hurt me. Sometimes, I get angry when people say untrue or hurtful things about the people I love. Sometimes, you may not be able to tell I am upset with you, because I will pretend we are just fine.
I am so thankful that our God is not like me. It’s so comforting to know that He is always the same. He is never moody. He never pretends to be something He is not. No matter how often I fail Him, He never fails me. No matter how many foolish things I do, or how many times I do the same foolish thing over & over, He never gives up on me. He never loses His patience, or His temper. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around – how could He do all this for me? How could He love me so much? And yet, He does.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Raising Manly Men
I wrote about raising girls, so I thought to be fair, I should write about my thoughts on raising boys as well. Again, I am not claiming to be any kind of expert, just sharing some of the random thoughts that fly through my mind.
If I have sons one day, I truly hope to raise them to be gentlemen; to open doors for ladies, to have good manners, and to just generally be MEN. I feel like there is too much of the gender-neutral stuff going around today. Men and women are different, and I have always felt that we should embrace and encourage those differences, not try to stifle them. I want my sons to play with trucks, and get dirty, and take things apart to see how they work.
That does not mean a man should be cruel, or a bully or ‘tough-guy.’ I am so blessed to be married to a man who is incredibly gentle and loving, but he is also fiercely protective of his family, and especially of me. I know I am fortunate to have such an example for my children to look up to. He reminds me in many ways of my father, who I know would do anything in his power for any of us. I was lucky enough to go from my father’s house, where I was loved and protected, to my new home with my husband, where I am also loved and protected. Any man who can provide this for his family would truly be considered a successful man in my eyes.
If I have sons one day, I truly hope to raise them to be gentlemen; to open doors for ladies, to have good manners, and to just generally be MEN. I feel like there is too much of the gender-neutral stuff going around today. Men and women are different, and I have always felt that we should embrace and encourage those differences, not try to stifle them. I want my sons to play with trucks, and get dirty, and take things apart to see how they work.
That does not mean a man should be cruel, or a bully or ‘tough-guy.’ I am so blessed to be married to a man who is incredibly gentle and loving, but he is also fiercely protective of his family, and especially of me. I know I am fortunate to have such an example for my children to look up to. He reminds me in many ways of my father, who I know would do anything in his power for any of us. I was lucky enough to go from my father’s house, where I was loved and protected, to my new home with my husband, where I am also loved and protected. Any man who can provide this for his family would truly be considered a successful man in my eyes.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
How Should We Pray for Our Enemies?
Oh dear! It’s so hard to remember to pray for some people! And to pray the correct way. It’s not so hard to pray for God to strike our enemies with every blight and misery we can think of, but is that what God had in mind when He instructed us to “pray for them which despitefully use you” (Matt 5:44)? I’m guessing not.
So how do we pray for them? Obviously, we ought to pray for their Salvation, but in addition, I think we ought to pray for God to bless them. If someone has wronged me, I would much rather pray, ‘Dear Lord, Please let their brakes go out’ than to pray, ‘Dear Lord, Please let them get that new car they need’ but which do you think would be more pleasing to the Lord? I think we should pray for their health, for their financial success, for their safety, and just for God to bless them in every way possible. If we are praying for someone in that way, it will be much harder to harbor resentment and anger towards them.
As we pray for others, I think we should also pray for ourselves. We could pray for God to take away the anger, or the hurt feelings, and to replace those feelings with love. It’s really hard to hate someone if you are praying for God to help you to love them! It might not be easy to pray for others, but that’s what makes it all the more rewarding. Things that are easy are never as satisfying as things that bring us out of our comfort zone, and help us grow.
So how do we pray for them? Obviously, we ought to pray for their Salvation, but in addition, I think we ought to pray for God to bless them. If someone has wronged me, I would much rather pray, ‘Dear Lord, Please let their brakes go out’ than to pray, ‘Dear Lord, Please let them get that new car they need’ but which do you think would be more pleasing to the Lord? I think we should pray for their health, for their financial success, for their safety, and just for God to bless them in every way possible. If we are praying for someone in that way, it will be much harder to harbor resentment and anger towards them.
As we pray for others, I think we should also pray for ourselves. We could pray for God to take away the anger, or the hurt feelings, and to replace those feelings with love. It’s really hard to hate someone if you are praying for God to help you to love them! It might not be easy to pray for others, but that’s what makes it all the more rewarding. Things that are easy are never as satisfying as things that bring us out of our comfort zone, and help us grow.
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