Perspective

I'm thankful for a lot of things... my family, my great God, my home, my country, the food in my pantry.  Despite all of this I was thinking that, with all honestly, there are more things that I am not thankful for. 1 Thessalonians 5:18a (NASB) instructs us, "In everything give thanks."

Really? In laundry, in runny noses, in potty training, in mud on a clean floor, in fights with my husband, in all the really horrible things?  I find that a tall order! 

 A comedian, Louis C.K., put it very well on a late night show,

“Everything is amazing and nobody is happy… We use to have to make sparks with a rotary phone to call someone… Now we live in an amazing world and it is wasted on one of the most spoiled generations.  If they have to wait on their cell phones for one second they are griping and complaining… give it a second! It is going up to outerspace! Its working at the speed of light!” (paraphrased)

Do we see just how amazing everything is around us… or are we just looking at the bad?  

I know what I am most drawn toward.

It is funny how much thankfulness in tied to our perspective in life.  We view our circumstances through a tunnel that focuses narrowly on the problems or frustrations in our life.  However, God sees the whole, as if viewing life from a grand stand. When we change our vantage point to a godly one, we are able to see the things around the problems and to see the good and the bad. 

Being a mother for instance, has a lot of down sides... you know, the constant whining, endless discipline and correction and the poop! It can make the most ardent person very weary, especially when you don't have a God-centered perspective.  Here is another look at mothering...

Author J.R. Miller from 1879 said, “O mothers of young children, I bow before you in reverence. Your work is most holy.  You are fashioning the destinies of immortal souls.” 

Your work is most holy! Fashioning the destinies of immortal souls...

I guess that makes whining and poop more tolerable... and spins a whole new light on discipline and training! Our children are precious... every bit, crafted by the hands of God!

But then, their is homemaking, housework and the endless futility of the home.  Not a day goes by that I don't work hard, very hard all day to have to get up and do the same exact thing all over again! It is enough to make me want to shake my fist. So, let's see if there is another way to look at that...

A lawyer turned homemaker said, “Yet housekeeping actually offers more opportunities for savoring achievement than almost any other work I can think of.”

Hum, really. That is probably true... also, one's work truly benefits the worker... and there are many opportunities to enjoy creativity in the home... but still, it is very futile...

Martin Luther also said, “ What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did them up in heaven for our Lord. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God.” 

Sacred!  Really? I think it might be. 

Perhaps I could imagine washing the floors of heaven when I mop mine!  

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

Perspective is everything.  It can turn a rotten snot nosed child into an immortal soul in need of molding. It can turn a dirty hovel into the living abode of the Almighty. Or a weary, bitter, bedraggled woman into a delightful servant of God. 

How we view what we do, who we are in the eyes of God are freeing and empassioning.  It adds security and significance where there is none. 

The Princess and the Goblin

I am part of a local book club...one I haven't been able to attend in over a year. But, I still do the reading. This month was "The Princess and the Goblin" by George MacDonald (1872).  I love fanasty, so naturally I was excited about this choice. However, after reading "The Princess and the Goblin" I loved it so much I had to share it!

The first thing I noticed about this book is that MacDonald does an exceptional job of understanding the mind, rational and heart of a child.  MacDonald, thankfully, strays from the normal Victorian model of writing that doesn't take childishness into mind... I have actually put down classics about children because they aren't believable in their representation of the character of children.  However, one should think MacDonald would know the mind of a child, because he had 13 of them. Even with this, he still allows the fantasy to play out and the unique character of Irene, a princess-child to be all her own... honest, loving, mature, sweet, thoughtful, confused and innocent all at once.  I love that Irene knew right and wrong, loved others weaker than her and was loyal, and still curiously afraid... I love her complexity.  

The other characters were just as richly written.  I loved how Luttie, the nursemaid, was concerned with her job, had fondness for Irene, but was also a bit drawl and had lost her curiosity... like many adults.  She treated Irene how most adults treat children... with a pat on the head and a brush off.  I loved Curdie... the hero, miner; all boy and yet a man at 13. His love and affection for his mother in working overtime to buy her a new red petticoat because she was a good mother. I loved his chivalry, his honor, his quick wit and good manners despite his lower situation in life... the truth that nobility is of the heart.  

I loved the mystery involved... the fantasy, yet believability of the whole book.  MacDonald's description was very believable and clear.  Most of all I loved that the book seeped out goodness, love and sweetness, yet with out being sickly sweet or moralistic or preachy. It gave lovely glimpses of "heaveness." I learned that "oldness" doesn't mean weakness or less beauty. I loved the illustrations to Biblical truths: omnipresence, sovereignty, destiny, faith, perseverance, doubting, and purity in love. 

"The Princess and the Goblin" is a seriously under appreciated children's classic... it should be right up there with "The Chronicles of Narnia" and I am disappointed that it is not! I am adding it to my favorite's list... right near the top! Do read it! You won't be disappointed. 

Helpful Habits

I was thinking recently of things I do as a mother that really help me, my children and our family to enjoy each other and live in harmony. I love verses that paint a picture of what our homes are to be like... 

"Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!" Psalm 118:15

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1

"Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table."  Psalm 128:3

"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars." Proverbs 9:1

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1

Words like joy, wisdom, fruitful, and victory are wrapped up all in them.  As if the habits of our day reflect these qualities...

Our home isn't always delightful, peaceful, full of wisdom or joy... but I am thankful for older women who have taught me some habits to help our home be full of these qualities:

Habit 1: Get rest and a full nights sleep. 

More than any other thing this helps me to be joyful and a better mom. I have put lots of time and research into developing a plan that fits our family... but honestly, I always think... nothing is worse than sleep deprivation. Get your babies to sleep... any means! Recently I was talking to another mom who said, "I use to think it was weakness to take a nap or get rest during the day. Then I realized if it makes me a better mom, it makes our family better."  Get rest, you'll find your children are much happier when you all get rest.

Habit 2: Speak lovingly and no shouting.

I often find that my children model what I do... recently I've been practicing speaking even softer when I am serious... it is amazing how it works... shouting does no one any good!

Habit 3: Alone time.

Starting when my babies are a year old they do "room time" or a measured amount of time playing alone (30 min-1hour). Right now all my children are in there rooms playing happily while I finished vacuuming and am now getting some TLC... in 10 minutes we will all play together. I don't know how to express how much this has helped me during hard seasons, pregnancy, sickness and busyness.  And, they learn to love it too... my oldest daughter askes, "Is it room time, yet. I want to play doll house."  

Habit 4: Breast feeding.

This isn't really a habit, but a method or feeding your baby. But, it has saved my sanity on many occasions... easy, warm milk, ready any moment you need it... no cost, no preparation needed.  Plus it gives me a reason to sit down, relax and enjoy my sweet littlest one. 

Habit 5: Reading aloud.

Reading aloud to my children use to be a chore to me... I thought of all the other things I should be doing while reading a drawling boring book for the 1000th time!  Not so since I decided to start reading chapter books... everyone listens, 4 year old, 2 year old and baby playing on the floor... It is an instant calmer and most of the time I end up crying when I read "Little House." It inspires me to be a better mom.  

Habit 6: Conversing with the Almighty.

I am really working on "practicing the presence of God."  It is discouraging at times.  As I seek to always be in God's presence, conversing through out my day with Him, coming to Him as I work, teach, train and care for my children... I find I am hardly ever in His presence... but even that makes me long more for Him and that is a good thing.

Habit 7: Laugh!

I laugh easily, maybe too much so... but it keeps me joyful and puts my heart at peace... laugh when you are frustrated, angry or overwhelmed... it will give you joy.

Habit 8: Seek out wisdom.

"If things aren't working for you, change it..." - A friend/mentor and mom of 7 once told me.  Those words have often reminded me that wisdom makes a difference in our daily lives and that I am not a victim of my circumstances. 

Snow!

It came...

Chai Ice Cream

About a year ago I had a wonderful pear tart topped with Chai ice cream at one of our local nice restaurants... I was hooked! Ever since I've been hunting for Chai Ice Cream... had it one other time at an ingenious ice cream parlor known for odd favors.  There and then I determined to make my own... Here are my results.

Ingredients:

2 cups of heavy cream

2/3 cup of sugar

1 t. vanilla extract

4 of egg yolks (this thickens and adds nice favor)... really don't leave them out, I was skeptical too.

1 cup of whole milk

1 T. cinnamon

1 1/4 cup liquid chai concentrate (the stronger the better)

 

Directions:

• Heat cream, sugar and vanilla over med heat until simmering.
• Meanwhile place egg yolks in medium bowl and whisk.
• Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream mixture into egg yolks then add yolk mixture back into the rest of the cream mixture and heat to 160 degrees or until slightly thickened.
• Remove from heat and add milk and chai, mix in cinnamon.
• Chill to room temperature and then refrigerate to cold before freezing in an ice cream maker.

If you make this, please let me know what Chai you used... I'd like to hear what you think is best!... I used Oregon Chai... it was a bit too sweet and didn't have the "bite" I wanted. 

Rag Rug

A friend inspired me to make a rag rug.  I crocheted it with a huge hook. I cut an old king size sheet into strips and made this approximately 3 foot round rug for in front of my kitchen sink. It is very nice and cushy to stand on. I love it!  I have new appreciation of rugs and rags now...

Monumental Mothers

“The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral—a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body...Even the angels have not been given such a grace! What is more glorious than this—to be a mother.” 

Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty Reason