A Christmas Version of 1 Corinthians 13

I read this good reminder on my friend, Connie's, blog:

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchens, carol in the nursing homes, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the tree with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

--Author Unknown

Unpalatable Costs

"I think the that surest sign that a worldview is false, the surest confirmation that it is simple wish fullfillment is if you happily claim each of your beliefs. The most certain sign of a worthy ally or interlocutor is a disciplined acceptance of the unpalatable costs of their intellectual commitments." - Stanford Gibson

This statement really resonants with me and I wanted to put it out there to see what you think...

Habakkuk 3:17-19, A Mother's Version

Though the milk be poured out by the toddler
Upon mattress and the floor,
Yet will I praise Him!

Though the cat has dug up the garden
And the duck has eaten the beans,
Yet will I praise Him!

Though the water be on the cookbook
And the trays in the oven be burnt,
Though I am yelling at the children
And the blahs of self-pity knock at my door,
Yet will I praise Him!

For He, yes the Lord, gives me peace,
He lifts me above the chaos of motherhood,
He gives me grace to smile
And strength to clean up,
He pours out His love upon me
That I might pass it on!

Adapted by Karen Goodsell, Australia

True Prosperity

"If there is anything that deserves a struggle in this world, it is prosperity of the soul." J.C. Ryle

Gleaned Goodies

One thing I love about browsing other blogs is the insights and humorous escapades from other people's lives. I think I need to start a category of "Gleaned Goodies" that I snatch from other people's blogs.

This one is from Organized Chaos. Organized Chaos got this quote from the book "Train Up A Child".

"A child learns of the character of God through observing his parents. Parents don't have to be perfect, just a balanced representation of God's personality. Everything that God is in character and government, parents should display within the limits of their humanity. Parents need not be all-powerful, just the child's source of strength. They don't have to be all-wise, just wise enough to guide the child and warrant admiration. Parents need not be sinless, just demonstrate a commitment to goodness."

It is so reaffirming that parenting is all about God and His glory and all my failure is fine, part of the plan even, because I can use it to point my child to the Perfect Parent. Of course, being a source of my child's strength, wise enough to guide my child and demonstrate a commitment to goodness is enough to have me on my knees all day, everyday. But, the best place to live from is being wholly submitted to Christ anyway.

This got me thinking...

"We have not got far enough if we play a game of cards with the children "merely" to amuse them or to show that they are forgiven. If this is the best we can do, we are right to do it. But it would be better if a deeper, less conscious, Charity threw us into a frame of mind in which a little fun with the children was the thing we should at that moment like best."

C.S. Lewis in The Four Loves