This time it hasn't been too long since I've written. I'm getting better at this. Composing my thoughts and my pics is definitely the hardest part. I still use my phone for pics and loading them to the computer feels like more of a burden than it truly is. I am grateful, however.
That reminds me daily of two important verses: Philippians 2:14 and 1 Timothy 6:6.
1st: "Do everything without grumbling or arguing," NIV or "Do everything without complaining and disputing." NKJV
That is Philippians 2:14. If no one has ever mentioned, that is hard to do but complaining means that we are ungrateful. Stop for a moment and think. We complain because of the stop lights on the way to work but have you ever had to pass through a busy intersection when the lights weren't working and you didn't instinctively have the right of way? Those lights are there for order. We ought to be thankful. My wonderful children struggled through dinner tonight with much grumbling and I reminded them that God has never let them starve. Even now, my oldest is baking cookies. We eat because it is God's provision for us, Sometimes we don't love what's cooked but the alternative in my house is you don't like this, you get nothing else and no dessert. When we don't feel like doing dishes, we must remember that we have a sink full because we are being fed. I am reminded of this as I pass the local Food Bank in the morning and the line wraps around the building. Many of the most needy go without. It's easy to assume that people just want a handout or are lazy. Yes, some are. I have overheard those conversations. We also say that if they were real Christians, they would be blessed by God and not be in this situation. Nope. Jesus himself said that we will have the poor with us always (Matthew 26:11). Many Christians you know live below the poverty line but are blessed to obey the Word and be good stewards. That makes the difference. But, just as in Bible days, the widow and the injured cannot help themselves and cannot qualify for many, if any benefits. The underemployed couple with no children, or few children and the elderly suffer. Imagine feeding yourself on $200 a month with the cost of groceries what they are. Besides, we judge the homeless but it is doubtful that anyone would invite them to dinner. Trust me, I struggle with that truth too.
That leads to 1 Timothy 6:6, "But Godliness with contentment is great gain." Christmas is fast approaching and the "lists" are rolling out and the materialism is on the rise. The ads entice us to want this and want that. A gallup poll showed that the average American will spend $786 this Christmas. First I was shocked. Way out of my price range. Then I remembered how easy that would be. One iPad and one new game system and you're nearly there. Most of this consumerism is simply leading to more debt and a lower quality of family life for kids. I don't claim to be perfect, but here are some points to remember when shopping for your kids:
1: They won't remember the toy in a few years, let alone who bought it.
2: They won't be happy with it long and will already be plotting their birthday gift a few days later.
3: Toys will never take the place of time spent together.
4: For babies and toddlers, the box will always be more interesting than the toy within, rightfully so.
5: For babies and toddlers, studies have shown that all of the flashing lights and sounds do not
improve a child's ability to focus. It may hurt it.
I was an only child. I pretty much got whatever I wanted and my fondest memories are still about time spent. Trips we would take and the simple times we dined out together. I still love New England hot dog buns because they remind me of eating with my mother at Friendly's and having a hot dog and clam chowder. Oyster crackers are the best! Ask me to name one toy she bought me...sorry, no dice. Food memories are the strongest for me. Great catfish in Atlanta, crawfish etoufee, beignets and coffee in New Orleans (gator on a stick too), chimichangas at a place called The Ground Round that no longer exists in New York. Now, we eat in mostly and I'm not perfect, I need to spend more time with my children, but I know that spending $800 on my family isn't going to change the need for time spent. It will further damage my credit, though.
Speaking of gratefulness and contentment, I have not bought anymore yarn but have cast on a very simple nursing shawl. It makes good use of the bamboo/cotton yarn I purchased on impulse from Ebay.
It's a bit further now. I knit as much as I can when I can. I pretty much take it with me anywhere. I recently watched the Left Behind movie with Nicolas Cage and I couldn't stand it. It was just so glamorized and I felt it detracted from the truth. It almost seemed as though the Rapture was a bad thing and not one what we should strive to make. But I've never finished the series of books because I had started reading them before they were all published and every time I started again, I felt I had to start at the beginning. I just couldn't start at the beginning again. I did find an audio series on Youtube, though. It's great listening for knitting. Check it out. It was done for radio, so the storyline is basically the same but there is far more dialogue. It is like those classic radio shows. I am already into Assassins. I am having the hardest time uploading them from Youtube, but you can check it out. Just search Left Behind audiobook on Youtube and click the second series playlist. That way, you can sit and listen and not have to get up to change the book. I am truly grateful for this because it has added a moment of peace and joy to my day.
I have much more to post, I have been busy. However, this post is long enough. Take some time monitor your complaining and remember that you are blessed whether you have much or little. As long as you have God, you've got it all.
