Parenting and Religion

Growing up is not always easy. Especially when you are the parent.
I know, parents are already all grown up, right? Well, maybe on the outside, but there is still a little bit of child in each adult.
I know, you probably think I am getting into the “release your inner child” stuff…that is far from the truth.
What I am talking about, is growing up to the point of being willing to be like a little child- with our faith.
Jesus said that we need to have faith like little children. That means we need to believe with abandon, believe whole hearedly, have the faith that will not be shaken- even in the midst of a storm around us. Have faith that stands, even when we feel like we are falling.
I think in those respects, I don’t want to grow up. It would make life too hard.
When we are faced with adult things, such as illness, death, children who wander, marriage challenges, and anything else that would try to shift our faith into oblivion, we need to remain as little children do- holding on to what we know is true.
Faith repeats what God says in the face of opposition.
Faith talks outloud, when everything around is saying “Be quiet!”
Faith offers peace, when it is tempting to give in to dispair or confusion.
Faith takes hold of the promise of God, whatever the need is, rather than allowing the promise to be stolen by fear or doubt.
Growing up in the things of God is not easy. It means maintaining the childlike faith that will take us to the place of perfect peace; while denying what seems to be true- but often times is a lie, in the face of walking in faith.
Growing up to be like a child is my goal…in faith that is.

No matter what your political affiliation,
No matter who you voted for;
If you are a Christian, you have a responsibilty to our new President, to pray. You have a responsibility to God, to pray. You and I are told to pray for those in authority- not only if we agree with them, but because prayer can move the hand of God, and God can change hearts and minds.
Because as the leader, our president needs to be lifted up in prayer- for protection, for wisdom, and for his own spiritual condition to be one that honors God and his position.
God draws the hearts of those who call Jesus “Lord”.
Praying for our new president, will not only line us up in God’s will for our attitudes, but it will also make change for the good more likely- no matter what the press says, or what we think.
Prayer can change things, and prayer makes a difference. For both those who are prayed for, and those who are praying.
Take responsibility- pray.

This time of year always brings something back to me, that never was- My first baby.
I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks, in 1983. My baby would have been born in January. She would be 25 this week.
Somehow, the loss has never left me- and the memory of what might have been still comes to me every year around this time.
Maybe God allows me to think on it to remind me of the miracle it was for me.
After all, we all need to remember times when God showed up strong on our behalf.

The week my baby would have been due to be born, I began to go through a depression. I stayed in my nightgown, didn’t open the curtains, and was sleeping a lot….I didn’t want to think about what might have been.
The night the baby would have been due, I was hurting so much. I was laying in bed, crying quietly, and woke Dan up.
He asked me why I was upset, and I told him that our baby would have been due that day.
He put his arms around me, and began to pray for me.
Then, he rolled over and went to sleep.
I felt a little better, but was still very sad.
When I closed my eyes to go to sleep, God showed me something.
I saw Jesus, and he was holding the hand of a little blond girl. Immediately, I knew that He was holding the hand of my child.
I was still sad for my loss, but the depression was replaced by the joy of knowing that I would be able to one day hold her, and that she was being taken care of by my Lord.
It’s funny…but a couple of times I have thought that I saw an older blond girl in a photo with my other children.
I have had dreams of my children playing, and there has been an older blond girl in the dream with them. Always, she was a part of my family.
I know that some people may think I am being overly sentimental, or that I am being too religious about life and loss, but the truth is, a baby is a baby from the time God joins those two precious parts that unite in conception.
When loss of life occurs, there is no loss in heaven.
I am convinced that remembering what might have been is an important part of remembering how good God is.
He didn’t cause me to have a miscarriage, but He did take that baby in His arms, and He did let me see that life goes on there, even when it ends here.

As I think about the cold winter, I am preparing for later this week. I live in the northeast, upstate NY. They are calling for sub zero temperatures at the end of the week. On my mind….soup or chili…blankets, blankets, and more blankets…..hot chocolate and tea…..does everyone have clean socks?…. movie marathon days……popcorn nights…..no..don’t go out!…..no, you can’t go sledding…..ahhhh…earl grey…
Get the picture?
Winter is here in full force, and I am getting ready to stay in for a couple of days….if I can avoid going out, I will!
Stay Warm,
Jean

Have you ever begun to lose your hope that Christ really is coming back?
Sometimes, seeing everything that’s happening in the world, it seems like we may have been forgotten. That’s why we were admonished not to give up on hope. Not to take our eyes off of what Jesus said would happen, and what God has ordained and allowed us to see all through His word, the hope of being reunited with Him, with the glorious return of our Lord Jesus.
Let’s be ready. Keep putting on hope. Even looking silly to the world, we need to continue encouraging each other that the time is indeed at hand. We need to have the prayerful attitude of, “Come quickly Lord Jesus!”, and we need to be constantly having out eyes on Him, praying and reading the Bible, fellowshipping and encouraging fellow believers.
Keep hoping. Keep building up your faith. Keep your eyes on Him.

We have been having more snow and ice this winter than I remember having since many years ago, and the kids love it.
I tolerate it…barely.
When I know it’s going to storm out, whether it’s a snow storm or an ice storm, I make sure we have enough milk and bread in the house to last a couple of days, and then, if at all possible, I stay inside until it has been over for at least a day.
I like to be inside when it’s nasty outside.
My kids, on the other hand, love the thrill of the snow and ice. They love to play in it, look at it, touch it, throw it, and even shovel it.
Sounds like me when I was a kid.
What happens between the kids years and the grown up years that takes that sense of adventure away? Don’t get me wrong, I do like to take a walk in it and go sledding, but only if the temp is above 25 degrees, including the wind chill.
Then, when I come home, I stay in where it’s warm and drink hot tea (Earl Grey keeps me warm).
I miss the days of loving being in the cold.
Maybe that means that I am really a grown up now?
I have to admit this, though, I love snow days. Maybe I am still part child.