Peace

I love when I come across a picture in my files that seems to beg for a bible verse and this was one of those.  I took it a week or so ago at a park near our house.  I love the way the sun is streaming in across the tranquil waters.  The ducks appear to be quite content and all seems to be well in the world. Peace.

  I've been having a couple of extra challenging weeks with my passionate 2 year old.  She has been testing me with incessant tantrums, potty training failure and nap resistance.  Basically she has all but, turned into a new human being and quite frankly I am missing the pleasant child that I gave up my job to stay home with. teehee.

 It is in the challenging seasons of life that we often get more discouraged and question our abilities (or in my situation my parenting skills).  Am I disciplining her right?  Am I doing enough to bring out the best in her? Am I loving her enough? How come she doesn't know how to read Shakespeare yet like those other two year olds? Am I patient enough? Have I been teaching her enough about Jesus?  Why is she dead set on chucking a block at that kid's head every time they want to play with her? Is TV frying her brain?  Or perhaps the TV should be on more often so that I take breaks from her craziness?  Does she get enough play dates...or maybe she is getting too many play dates? Blah Blah blahgity blah.  And no, blahgity is not a word.  I am fond of making up new words from time to time.  Thank you for wondering. ;)

I put my little one down for her nap today and took my ever growing angst to the Lord in prayer.  God is always so faithful to realign my thoughts in truth and calm the stormy waters in my soul.  After meeting with Him in prayer I'm left with peace.  I also become keenly aware of the fact that I am so glad that I am not God.  I can't imagine having billions of whiny adults driving me crazy all day (and fortunately we don't drive Him crazy)!  One whiny two year old is more than enough.  I am also reminded of how patient my Father in Heaven is with me and with all of His kids and I am so thankful for such a perfect parenting example.  The more I look to Him for parenting advice (or life advice) the more the chaos to the right and to the left of me begin to fade.  I know I don't have to have it all figured out.  Sometimes I just need the big guy upstairs to remind me that He has already taken care of it all and I can rest in His peace. 

Side note:  I am totally aware that the 2's and 3's and 4's and 15's are all full of new challenges and drama.  My little girl is behaving right on cue for a 2 year old.  Ultimately, I am the one trying to learn how to behave as my child's behavior will ever be changing.  Thanks for supporting me in this wild journey called parenthood!

My Political 2 Cents

 The election is just around the corner and the air is buzzing with political chatter.   I am not very active in politics, though I do watch the election news from time to time, I have voted and intend to vote this November.  Part of me wishes that I was more involved or even more knowledgeable but, then again that is the same part of me that wishes I had time to shower everyday.  Some things just don't happen when you are a mom.

I find it fascinating to observe life and the way people interact, speak out and so often attack each other.  I guess that is the type of person that I am.  I am more of an observer and an analyzer than an aggressive participant.  When I do finally feel nudged to speak, which isn't often, I take my fingers to these keys instead of my voice to a microphone.  God makes use of all of our personality types and all of our voices.  He created each of us differently and to accomplish different tasks.  That is a beautiful thing.  I love the diversity that can be found in the United States.  I love that there is an abundance of freedom in this nation.  People can speak out and even publish terribly unpatriotic things and still be welcome to live and thrive here.  We are a blessed nation to have such freedom.  We are blessed that we are able to choose to be Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever the heck we feel like.  We are blessed to be able to air our opinions to the world through Facebook, twitter, blogger (as I am doing here) etc. without censorship. We are blessed beyond measure.

Let's just say that I most admire the people who strive to be loving, honorable, virtuous and true in the way that they air their views and opinions.  The fact that we are allowed to have different views and opinions is what makes this nation great but, when we participate in stone throwing we become small and petty.  It's certainly entertaining to listen to Republicans and Democrats etc. bash each other.  Some might say that politics can even destroy families and end friendships but, I'd like to say that it isn't politics destroying anything...it's us. We destroy things when we forget this:  ^"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."1 Corinthians 13


 And this: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."  Luke 6:32-35

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20

 
I think it's safe to say that I am a lover, not a fighter.  I grieve when I hear the tone of hatred in people's voices as they spew their thoughts on those who think differently than they do.  I can only imagine how much we grieve our Father in Heaven when we forget to obey the greatest commandment of all...LOVING one another.  Remember, love is patient and kind.  It has no need to boast or be proud.  It does NOT dishonor others and it is not self-seeking....it is not easily angered.  It does not delight in evil but, rejoices in truth.  I think the world would become a better place if we all absorbed this just a little more.  If we opened our eyes and could see how much room we all have for improvement, perhaps we might have less anger in our hearts towards one another.  We might be more respectful of differing view points and political parties.  We might be able to come together more instead of tearing apart at the seams. 
  
I can handle it if you don't like the political party that I am registered with.  I can handle it if you don't agree with me on all, or any of the things that I support and vote for.  I can respect you if you feel differently and I can even give props to people who are bold enough to tactfully disagree in public but, please remember, that love should come first, always.  



"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." 2 Timothy 2:23