Woe's of a Writing Contest

It sounded like a good idea - encourage the children to write an essay about homeschooling for a contest. What better reason is there to dive into writing than a cash prize?

Well, that's my reasoning. My kids, however, aren't as eager. I suppose that has a bit to do with the theme of the writing contest: "Advice for Homeschooling Moms from the Experts, the Kids!"

Yup. I'm asking my kids to write about the things that I do that they like in regards to homeschooling. As I thought about it, what do they have to write about? I'm not being hard on myself or searching for a compliment here, but it's an honest question that deserves an even more honest look at the answers. And not just in terms of homeschooling, but in all aspects of life.

* What do I do in homeschooling that inspires my children?
* As a wife, how do I inspire my husband?
* As a daughter, how do I please my parents? Are they happy with the choices I've made? Does their happiness in my life really matter?
* When people think of me, do they smile, roll their eyes, or cringe? (I suppose that depending on the person, thinking of me can elicit all those response - just being honest.)
* In my career, how do I bring others up?
* How am I an example of God's love in any given situation?

I have no idea what my children will write about. Perhaps I'll post it for you to read. But this has given me pause to think of what I would write about...

Sin

Sin. Isn't that a great title? Don't you just want to dive into this entry and learn all about sin?

No?

Then consider for a moment that almost every television program we watch is interesting because of sin: the characters are plagued with pride, commit adultery, want something that doesn't belong to them, can't admit they committed a crime and lie (which is the central idea in every procedural cop show out there). It comes down to this: sin sells.

Why? Why are we so fascinated with sin? Why do we continue to make the same mistakes again and again? What is central in sin?

S.I.N. "I" am in the middle of my sin. I sIn because I want something that God doesn't want for me, but I do it anyway, putting God in second or third place.

How to counter sIn? Plan your day around God instead of trying to squeeze Him in. Start your day with prayer, spend time throughout the day thinking of God, and end your day with prayer. Fr. Larry Richards advises: "Bible before Breakfast, Bible before bed."

The Best Intentions

So... I had the best of intentions when I decided to write a daily thought for each of the Jesse tree symbols. You can see that it didn't happen. I can list a dozen excuses (a baby in the house being #1), but the truth is, I became overwhelmed by the Christmas season; which was exactly what I was trying to avoid.

My plan B was to just what I could, then take a picture of the Jesse Tree to show you. This is where my husband's 'best intentions' interfered. He graciously took down all the Christmas decorations while I did the grocery shopping. It was wonderful, but the Jesse Tree was taken down before I could snap the picture.

sigh.

If this were an experiment in faith, my hypothesis was, "If I commit to the Jesse Tree, I will have a greater understanding of the meaning of Christmas."

My data collection was sketchy at best as I was unable to formulate my daily schedule to be consistent enough to even finish the Jesse Tree.

The conclusion: despite the Jesse Tree, I fell victim to the 'rush' of Christmas, the deadline of cookies, and the pressure of gift-wrapping. There was a difference, however, that didn't show until after the Christmas flurry. I found silence and peace in the Christmas Mass. The words in the readings resounded loudly in my ears, for I knew the long line of stories that lead up to the Nativity.

I pray that your Christmas preparations were more successful than mine. I will certainly try again for next year. Faith persists!

Knowing Yourself

I was taught a valuable lesson today about myself.

Last night my children spent the night at my girlfriend's house. Nothing strange or inspiring about that - until you know a bit about her. She has three children who are the absolute walking-talking definitions of 'graciousness'. My friend and her husband are also caring for his mother who suffered a stroke a few months ago. Mom came with a list of therapists and doctors appointments, and two dogs; bringing the number of dogs to 4. And she asked for my children to stay for the night.

Not impressed yet? My youngest is 6 months old.

Now I know you are impressed!

There's more. She said she wanted to do something for herself and having my children there was that something. That's amazing to me. If I think about doing something for myself, I think: time alone to write, pedicures, or extra sleep. I don't think about other children coming to my house.

Does that make me selfish?

I feel like I just met me...and I don't like me very much.

I've learned many wonderful lessons from this friend, from her example and her care for me. I've never known anyone like her. How blessed am I to know someone who truly is an example of Christianity? God put her in my life and our friendship has blossomed. I pray with every fiber of my being that I can be as considerate and gracious as she. I pray that I can find the joy in people that she does.

God Bless you, Becky!

Jessica

Sunday, First Day of the 3rd Week of Advent

Person: David
Reading:1 Sam. 17:12-51
Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed star

Who doesn't love the story of David and Goliath? It's the ultimate nerd vs. bully story in which the nerd wins.

But David was hardly a nerd, just a young man who had been chosen by God and anointed by Samuel. In God's perfect plan, the Savior would be born of David's lineage.

Look closer at the story...David agreed to fight Goliath because Goliath had spoken ill of the armies of the Living God, our God, the Father. David had already proven brave against a lion and a bear, so really, a giant with no claws or fangs probably didn't seem all that frightening. David must have known that God's helping hand would be with him, that Goliath would be 'delivered into his hand' because 'the battle is the Lord's"(47).

Are we fighting a good fight? Do our 'Goliath's' taunt us into corners or do we fling stones of the Lord into the foreheads of giant troubles? Haven't we been anointed into our faith by our baptism and confirmation? Are we listening to the gift of the Holy Spirit so we have God's word in our heart and his spirit by our side, telling us what the good fight is?

Are we preparing for Jesus' coming or are we focusing on our shopping?

Saturday, 2nd week of Advent

Person: Jesse
Reading: 1 Sam. 16:1-13
Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staff

And today we meet Jesse, the father of David, the ancestor to Jesus. Another foreshadowing: What was David? A shepherd. And what do we call Jesus? The Lamb of God. The Good Shepherd. God must love symbolism!

It’s today that we hear God tell Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”

Not by Hollywood or glamor magazine standards are we to be judged, but by the faithfulness and love in our hearts. That is what’s important. That is how God judges. Therefore, I will spend today looking past the faces I meet and try to peek into the heart of the person.

Friday, 2nd Week of Advent

Person: Samuel
Reading: 1 Sam. 3:1-18
Symbols: lamp, temple

Can you imagine what it would be like to hear God calling your name? I would probably respond just as Samuel did and assume that it was the person in the next room. How interesting that God didn’t not reveal himself to Samuel, but allowed him to wake Eli three times. It was only after Eli told Samuel that it was the LORD speaking to him that the LORD actually gave Samuel the revelation. This makes me wonder what I’ve missed. If someone had told me to listen for God, would my ears be more tuned to the heavenly frequency? Have I surrounded myself with people who will recognize when God is working on my life and tell me to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” A better question is, Am I the type of friend who encourages others to listen for God?

Hmm...

The second part of this reading is a real hum-dinger. Eli, who served God so well, failed to correct his sons’ behaviors. God saw that and punished them severely. Imagine this in earthly terms:

Your son robs a bank, a crime you knew he was going to do, but did nothing to stop him because you figure, “Well, he’s all grown up and he makes his own choices.”
Your son is caught by the police.
Your son is incarcerated for his crime.
As his parent, you are also fined a huge penalty; a fee you will pay every month for the rest of your days.
Nothing you do will ever be enough to rid yourself of the actions of your son.

Eli accepted the Lord’s punishment, knowing that God was just. I praise God that my crimes are not forever held against me, that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paid for my sins. It’s still true that nothing I do can be a full retribution for my sins, but if I believe in Jesus and follow his teachings, I have a full pardon.

Two valuable lessons in one day. Thank goodness it’s Friday!