Thursday, November 19, 2009

I received this article from a friend of mine. It comes from Proverbs 31 Ministries. I loved it so much I wanted to share with you!







I Don't Want to Raise Successful Children
19 Nov 2009
Lysa TerKeurst

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

I don't want to raise successful children. That's a shocking thing to read, and a shocking thing for a mother to type. So, let me clarify.

I used to define success according to my child's report card. Good grades and academic achievement would surely equal a good child with great potential in this world. But then several of my children wound up being average students with average grades. Though we carted them off to tutors and spent many a late night at the kitchen table helping them, they remained average. And I remained concerned and frustrated.

One report card day I found myself facedown in the fibers of my carpet crying and wondering, "Where have I gone wrong as a mom?"

I dug into Scriptures. I begged God for wisdom and discernment. I prayed for God's perspective with each of my kids. Finally, one day it dawned on me - what if I simply chose to embrace the natural bent of each of my kids as God's way to protect them and keep them on the path toward His best plans for their lives?

What if my A student needs academic success to prepare her for God's plans while my average to below-average student needs to be steered away from a more academic future? What if my sports star kid needs that athletic excellence for his future assignments by God, but my benchwarmer kid is being protected from getting off course by her lack in this area?

And that's when it finally dawned on me. My job isn't to push success for my kids. My job as a parent is to recognize the unique way God created each child and point them to Jesus at every turn along their journey toward adulthood. Yes, I want my kids to learn and thrive and grow up educated, but it's not a flaw in me or them if they don't have straight A report cards and trophy cases full of sports medals.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (NIV).

I am challenged to ponder these words, "… in the way he should go." Are we training our kids that the "way he should go" is to chase worldly achievement or to chase God? Whatever they learn to chase as a child, they will chase as adults. Therefore, we must be challenged to honestly assess the way we are pointing them to go.

My daughter, Hope, is one of my average students. She has also warmed many a bench in the sports she's tried, and can always be found hiding on the back row of the stage during school concerts. Using the world's benchmarks for achievement, Hope wouldn't be seen as a child positioned for success. But God…

This past January, my 15 year old Hope, shocked me when she announced she wanted to go to Ethiopia with some missionary friends of ours and live in the remote African bush for the summer. Yes, she may not have trophies and straight A report cards but she does have a heart of gold. And because she's not entrenched in sports and academic pursuits that could have created obligations for her summer, she was free to go to Africa. Free to chase God in a really big way.

One of the first e-mails she sent me from Ethiopia read, "Mom, I've fallen in love with the AIDS orphanage children. They rushed at me when I held my arms out and I tried with all my might to hold all 30 of them at once. I love it here."

Now, don't get me wrong. I do expect Hope to return to her studies this fall, give 100% effort, and finish her high school career having done her very best. She will most likely then go to college. But she probably won't be delivering the valedictorian address or wearing the honors cords and medals. She'll be the one with a vision of a dying AIDS orphan pressing against her heart ready to chase God's plans to the ends of the earth.

So back to my original statement, I don't want to raise successful children. It's true, I don't. Though Hope's sister coming behind her is an A student and can always be found on the front row of school performances - we don't chase after success for her either. I trust God that she needs those things in her life for the plans He's unfolding in her life. We train with that bent in mind. But, we don't chase it. Just like Hope, we point her in the direction of God at every turn and pray like crazy.

I stand by what I said and I'll say it again, I don't want to raise successful children. Because--- raising God-honoring adults who will set the world on fire for Christ is just so much more rewarding.

Dear Lord, being a mom is a really tough job. Please help me, teach me and show me how to define success for my kids. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Monday Mayhem


Got this cute idea from Harriet! Thanks, Harriet.

Monday Mayhem
Every week is something different.
Have fun!


Today's meme- Have You Would You?


For each of the prompts, you may answer with an image, a sentence or however you want to.
Simply copy and paste this into a post on your site and answer the prompts.
Be sure to list your a direct link to your post and visit the other participants.


HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Go Skinny Dipping?

Uh, no...You know the saying about "frightening the fish"!



HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Woken up somewhere that you have no idea how you got there?

Yes. I have awaken from a deep sleep and wondered where I was - then, of course, remembered that I was where I was supposed to be.



HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Eaten a rabbit?

No, but I've had duck!


HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Have a meet-up with another blogger?

Nope, not yet!



HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Stolen a candy bar?

Never!


HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Roasted a pig?

Yes, and it was quite disgusting! I'll never do that again.


HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Bounced a check

Sadly, yes, in leaner, younger days.


HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Gone for a balloon ride?

Always wanted to but since I'm afraid of heights...


HAVE YOU or WOULD YOU...

Write a really cool Monday Mayhem ?

Sure, why not?


Friday, November 13, 2009

Fun Friday - Let's Dance!

Today it's all about dancing! Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up in our daily routines that we forget to take moments to just let loose and enjoy being with each other. So, take this time today, turn off the tv, get off the computer, move the furniture out of the way, and turn on some music!


Dancing is a great way to relieve stress and the everyday doldrums! Plus, it's great exercise. ;)


Kids love to see their parents cut loose! I know our 4-year old absolutely loves to dance with us! See? Even dads can cut a rug!



Don't stay indoors! Take it outside and make your own music or take a portable player. Dancing outdoors feels very "freeing".


And of course, make time for your better half. Seize the moment and twirl around the yard - or wherever the fancy strikes you. A little spontaneity never hurt a marriage! :)


Happy dancing!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

5th Grade Assignment

I got this from my daughter and thought it was cute enough to share.


A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God.

Here are some of the results: scroll down.


God is like.
BAYER ASPIRIN
He works miracles.

God is like..
a FORD
He's got a better idea..

God is like.
COKE
He's the real thing.

God is like.
HALLMARK CARDS
He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like.
TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind. ..

God is like.
GENERAL ELECTRIC
He brings good things to life.

God is like.
SEARS
He has everything..

God is like.
ALKA-SELTZER
Try Him, you'll like Him

God is like.
SCOTCH TAPE
You can't see Him, but you know He's there.

God is like..
DELTA
He's ready when you are.

God is like.
ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him.

God is like.
VO-5 Hair Spray ;
He holds through all kinds of weather

God is like.
DIAL SOAP
Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?

God is like .
the U.S. POST OFFICE
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from
His appointed destination.

God is like.
Chevrolet. . . .the heart beat of America
God is like
Maxwell House. . ..
Good to the very last drop

God is like.
B o u n t y . . . ..
He is the quicker picker upper. . can handle the tough jobs. ..
and He won't fall apart on you

Friday, November 6, 2009

Fun Friday - It's Just A Joke!


Our 4-year old is in to telling jokes lately. She mostly tries to tell knock-knock jokes that make no sense at all (but we laugh anyway!). I came across these this morning and thought I'd share and hopefully bring you a little laughter too. (They are NOT knock-knock jokes!)
If anyone is or has taken Spanish...these are for you. :) (You've got to have the accent!)
Spanish Words of the Day

1. *Cheese* The teacher told Pepito to use the word cheese in a sentence. Pepito replies: Maria likes me, and cheese cute.

2.. *Mushroom* When all my family get in the car there's not mushroom.

3. *Shoulder* My friend wants 2 become a citizen, but she didn't know how to read so I shoulder.

4. *Texas* When I'm not home my friend always Texas me. She wonders where I am!
5. *Wheelchair* We only have one enchilada left but don't worry wheelchair.

6. *Chicken* *wing* My wife plays the lottery so chicken wing.