Loving Our Children

It has been said that the Lord places children in our lives not only to bring laughter, joy and blessings (which they do) but also for our sanctification. So many moms have shared that they never had issues with anger before having a preschooler! Praise our God that He does not leave us to flounder!

“Know this, my beloved [sisters]: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of [Mom] does not produce the righteousness that God requires… receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:19-22

Long ago, I memorized the first verse in this passage. And the Lord has used it in my life- His Word truly does not return empty! But today, the next few verses came alive for me. When I get angry with the children, I don’t calm down just by chanting some verse. “Allie, listen. Be slow to speak and don’t get angry!” No, God’s Word, planted in my heart, is able to save my soul!

I am so excited about this! This is why we, as a church family, memorize passages of scripture with the children each month. We store up God’s Word in our hearts so that we won’t sin against him (Psalm 119:11).

As mammas, we love our children in so many ways. Kissing boo-boos and tucking them in (even two or three times in the winter!) are special ways to share love. But the most important way we love children is sharing our love for our Savior and His Word!

Keeping Christ Central

Kim gave me a Christmas Cactus with vibrant pink flowers last year. I love
the brilliance of the blooms and the fact that these plants are so easy to care
for! I water it sparingly, as succulents prefer, and that’s about it. But
December saw the cactus, like it’s owner, swamped. I was displaying it on the
back porch and it rained. The soil is saturated and it is drooping from too
much, too much, too much water. I was so disappointed that I would miss the
simple beauty of the Christmas Cactus’ blooms!

At the beginning of this week, I felt like my cactus! I was droopy from much too much ____ (fill in the blank: travelling, cooking, parties, errands, projects). I had drenched my schedule and lost the simplicity of the season. Then I read in Brenda’s blog, “Take time to quiet your soul and savor the Savior. A few precious words from our Lord will minister to the deepest needs of your soul and you will fill
strengthened, refreshed and ready to encounter whatever He has waiting for you.”

It was Christmas Eve! But it was not, and is not, too late to focus on Christ’s birth!! So that morning I sat on the back porch with the children, reading Mary’s First Christmas and sharing some delish pine bark. When we finished, Andrew was covered in chocolate and wouldn’t let Ben hose him off. When I got up and went over to clean Andrew up, I saw that my Christmas Cactus is COVERED in buds!! Isn’t this just like our God?!?

It was not by my careful cultivation. Nor will I (or the children) see the goodness of our Savior through my careful instruction. Our God cares enough for me to cause a flooded, droopy plant to bloom!! And His miracles stretch far beyond plants… He is
causing my overwhelmed, self-sufficient soul to see His goodness. It wasn’t too late. He mercifully lead me to keep Him first this Christmas.

Christmas Traditions- Gingerbread Nativity

I love Christmas traditions! They knit our family together and form the fabric of our lives as year after year we emphasize what is important to us. I never realized how many “little things” we repeat annually until Alissa laughingly said to me, “You guys have a lot of traditions!”

Some traditions, like receiving a special ornament in our stockings yearly and recalling Christmases past as we hang them on our tree, are from my childhood. Others, like finding new pjs on the bed after the kiddos’ Christmas Eve bath, are from Chris’ family. Then we have some of our own… like the not-all-that-successful-but-I’ll-die-trying tradition I’ll share with you today.

Every year, we attempt to build a gingerbread nativity. It is part of our annual Christmas unit study for school. I am not a gifted baker nor am I crafty, but we give it a go each Christmas. The unit is Christ-centered and fun, including songs and Bible readings to accompany each day’s assignments. Over the course of the month we bake, assemble and decorate the stable, animals, stars
and even a gingerbread Jesus. I regularly burn the cookies and the whole stable collapsed on Mary and Joseph one year, but that has become part of the fun.

There are meaningful lessons being subtly communicated through this not-so-perfect tradition. Christmas is about Christ, not our perfect displays. Sometimes, things don’t turn out as we plan… and that’s part of the fun in life. And no matter how bad a situation (or gingerbread nativity) may look, something good can always come out of it.

What good comes from our misshapen nativity? No, we don’t eat it. We do something better. The boys get to burn it after Christmas! (I hope that isn’t sacriligous!) I guess that could be a lesson, too. The only part of Christmas that’s sacred is Jesus Himself. However you celebrate, keep Him central! Merry Christmas!

Thanksliving- A Godly Heritage

“Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.” 2 Samuel 7:29

David prayed this after the Lord promised never to depart from David’s house. This scripture is special to me because I desire the Lord to bless my sweet little family and want nothing more than for my children’s children’s children to continue living before the Lord. I’m sure it’s the desire of your heart as well!

Matthew Henry comments, “That prayer which is found in the tongue only will not please God; it must be found in the heart; the
heart must be lifted up and poured out before God.” This week I am thankful for the godly heritage our family has and the special time we spent singing and praying and sharing in His goodness yesterday. My prayer is the same as David’s, and hopefully with the fervency Henry writes of. Let it be so, Oh Lord!

Cranberry Waldorf Salad

Thanksgiving is a holiday full of warm family memories. Forty something of my “closest relatives” on Mom’s side gather at Uncle Kenny’s in Tallahassee for dinner at lunchtime, dessert all day, and a time of sharing what the Lord has done in our lives over the past year. What a blessing to testify of the Lord’s goodness with family!!

My Uncle Walter died this year- that only leaves my GeGe and Aunt Ruby still alive. I want to bask in their wisdom and soak up their love for the Lord. Their generation walked through so much and yet are so grateful for what the Lord has done for them! They never complain but always proclaim His faithfulness.

GeGe, Georgia Maxine Hart, daily prays for Chris and me, our children and their children on down the line. Next Thursday, she will wrap her arms around us and do it in person. Puritans and Indians and the Lord’s Providential hand on our nation are all wonderful… but family is what Thanksgiving is about to me.

Cranberry Waldorf Salad
(This is a guideline- I like to do a dash of this and a handful of that. I also increase ingredients exponentially to feed a crowd!)

1 lg granny smith apple, chopped
1 lg red apple, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
¼ c walnuts, (you guessed it!) CHOPPED
½ c dried cranberries
¼ c grapes, halved
¼ c vegenaise (or mayo!)
A dash or two of nutmeg

* Combine.
* Sprinkle with additional nutmeg.
* Chill.
* Serve on a bed of spinach. Yummy!
* If you have any leftovers, stuff into pita halves with some fresh salad greens. This is a great diversion from the typical Turkey
Sandwich!