On Robber Flies and Grace Moments

Well, R (8) did it again. His Science narration last week was, well, creative. And although creative wasn't what I was going for, it apparently worked for him. The Lawyer and I could barely suppress our laughter when we asked him WHY his narration was incomplete. Here is what he wrote:

"A robber fly is a carnivorous bug. It waits outside a bee hive and when a bee comes out of the hive the robber"

He looked at us frankly and said, "It is finished; it's from the bee's point of view."


For this, I give thanks! For these small, happy moments.
902) R's sense of humor
903) O's attention to detail and careful arranging of our Ottoman tents around Vienna
904) L's amazement when I put M&Ms in our shopping cart tonight. I haven't purchased these in so many years I can't even remember. She was shocked and kept saying, "Mom. I just can't believe this is our cart."
905) M's word choices. He shot out of the potty recently (my fault!) and commented, "Oops! Rainbow. Mommy clean it."
906) T's loud enthusiasm. Yesterday he said, "We should do that tomorrow... because tomorrow is going to be a GREAT day!:
907) Sunshiny yellow flowers from a friend brightening our kitchen and raising my spirit.
908) Yummy ranger cookies and an entire bag full in the freezer!
909) A few dollars left in the grocery envelope still (a miracle!).
910) Finding a source for 50# of oats.
911) Giving a gift and hearing that it was one that deeply encouraged a friend.
912) Receiving a generous gift with humility and much emotion.
913) Children begging for more poems at lunchtime
914) A day without having to wash sheets!
915) Library books awaiting pick up.

A Cold Day at Mt. Vernon (Still Lovely!)

Core of Carnality

It hit me again today, the dissatisfaction that comes from comparison.

Ironically, I read from A Hive of Busy Bees for the kids today and the story was entitled "Bee Content." If you know the story of the stone cutter who wanted to be a king and then wanted to be the sun and then a cloud and then ended up as a stone cutter again, you will understand the gist of this story, too. It begs the question: are we content where the Lord has placed us?

I'm not content, apparently. For just a few hours after reading the story aloud I had a conversation with a long time friend. I highly respect this woman and often "wish" I were more like her (wishing simply means I covet what she has/does). After the phone call I heard myself digress into self-pity and questioned myself and otherwise found myself lacking in comparison with my lovely friend.

Thankfully, The Lawyer reminded me that "we have a great life!" And the book I am currently reading was also a gentle reminder. In Chip Ingram's Good to Great in God's Eyes  he says, "... comparison is at the core of carnality. . . when I compare my gifts with someone else's, there are only two places to go: inferiority or superiority. I either become envious or arrogant. It's the same when I compare personalities, success, possessions, relationships, or anything else. There's no spiritual benefit to doing that, and it comes out of a carnal, self-centered heart."

Instead of thinking on our wonderful day in Winchester and choosing praise, I slid into self-centered carnality. The truth is that "we have a great life." Christ has given me all I need for life and godliness. He loves me and accepts me- today, as I am, covered by the blood of Christ. There isn't anything for me to prove. My striving leads to failing. The life I live now is a life driven by gratitude.

Sometimes we have to own up to who we really are and claim the life we really want to live.

Unique

Last year (2011), my theme was JOY. I wanted to seek out, look for, take note of, and increase joy in my life. (And did you see; I only have 110 gifts to list on the blog before I reach my own [published] 1000!) About midyear it also struck me that I was aiming to live a principled life. Joy, after all, is a choice and an attitude that can be cultivated. There are principles (that God put in place) in life that I want to follow so that we can maximize our life (and live life to the PLUS!).

This year my mantra may be "Unique!" It's not what I would consciously choose and yet I've caught the word flying from my lips over and over in the past week. It starts with that insidious little comparison; before I know it I'm thinking about how our family isn't as good as that other family in whatever respect or I'm not as organized, crafty, fun, etc. as the super-moms I know or I'm just so tired of being in debt (blah, blah blah). The principle is: you reap what you sow. And: what you send out you will receive. And: what you think about grows bigger. And: only you can change your thoughts.

So, I've caught upon this little phrase, "Our family is unique!" No other family has our size, our personalities, our challenges, our skills, our address. And we have a great life. And that is what I want to focus on.

I'm loving the freedom I feel in embracing this idea. God has given us what we need for this time. Things look different for our family than they may look for other families- because our unique people have been given a unique set of circumstances. Oh, that grace would fill the working out of this!

As I look at our family, I see these gifts in us and given to us:
872) The fun of having a 20 month old, with new words every day.
873) The happiness we all have in teaching M new words and hearing his new phrases.
874) Lots and lots of trips to the potty with M (who is in underwear).
875) Lots of sheets to wash after wet beds.
876) Daughter L (6) with blondest hair growing long.
877) She tells me that she heard the "bee" reminding her to be truthful.
878) She becomes a horse and trots M through the house.
879) T (4) and finally seeing skin through his rash! Praise to the Healer!
880) T, known as the cheerful one, fetching an apple each morning for The Lawyer.
881) T, always hungry.
882) R (8), infections smile, goofy laugh, such exuberance!
883) R, writing in his journal. Putting pen to paper.
884) Clothes all over the boy room. Every day. All times of day. Inexplicable.
885) Oldest son O (10), waving large from the highest branches of the pine at the park.
886) My heart so warmed at the sight of O writing Latin and bent over math.
887) Willingness to swallow capsules if it will save a few dollars.
888) Excitement over pretzels, pistachios, and Greek yogurt.
889) Reading all over the house; books scattered; children "missing," reading in closets.
890) Amazingly warm winter days when I rake the leaves in January.
891) A yard that lacks grass (but we don't own it) yet has moss.
892) M says "lean! lean!" and wants me to jump on the trampoline with him.
893) A fun night with friends and good food and conversations to think on.
894) Federal holidays when The Lawyer is home with us.
895) Early morning alarms and exercising.
896) Parsley. (yum!)
897) Listening to The Baby Conference audios.
898) Sipping hot water.
899) Delivering food to new/expecting moms.
900) Christmas cards and notes from loved ones far away.
901) Feeling poor in so many ways, and humbled to be part of this anyway.