Funny, when you get two kids, you seem to get half the sleep. My son, and second born, is most decidedly not a good sleeper. He just started getting used to sleeping for 6 hours straight. He wakes up and stays up at 6 am (seeing as how we fell back a short while ago, yes, he woke up at 5). Now that fall has come, it is dark out when I get up and going in the morning. My husband comes home from work around 7 and I need to be up and presentable, if not fully awake by the time I come home. Needless to say, caffeine has become my friend.
"She riseth up early, while it is yet night, and prepareth meat for her household and a portion for her handmaidens." Now I don't have any handmaidens, but, GIRL, do I wish I had some on those days where I just want to be L A Z Y. However, that is not an excuse for us not to give our best to our families each morning. My eyes are bleary, my teeth feel fuzzy until I have brushed them. . . usually not until my daughter goes to school. . . and the strength to handle all the irons on my fire is just too much sometimes. I determined a long time ago, my family will have good breakfasts in the morning. For daddy, two egges and toast (with butter put on the exact moment the toast comes out of the toaster. For the daughter, cereal, cereal and more cereal (with milk added each time you have a new bowl regardless of whether or not there is a whole bowlful of milk already in there). For little bit, or son, scrambled eggs with mayo, whole wheat bread and if available a bananna. (only 2 and already eating us out of house and home.)
For me, you ask? What do I eat? When do I eat? Since everyone has different breakfast times, I eat after or when my whole family eats. I'll eat a small bowl with daughter, munch on some toast with fruit spread with Daddy and share some eggs with son. But that's not the point. The point is, the virtuous woman learns to meet her families needs. She puts them and their comfort first. Yes, there is a time to rest, and no it's not when you are dead. But you need to find your groove. My peaceful time comes during the school week and little bit and Daddy are down for a nap. Or after Daddy's gone to work and the kids are working on their 6 hours of sleep. It depends on when your quiet time fits into your schedule.
Get it yourself is not a saying in our house. It's what can I get for you, dears. Have you had enough? Do you want some more? If you need to get up a bit earlier so that you can provide a good healthy start to your day for your family, it's worth it. Even if your not a morning person, make your coffee, pop the toast in the oven, pour the juice and milk and enjoy the look of surprise on your family's face as you take care of the most basic of their needs. Breakfast in the morning.
Now if you are single, how does this apply to you. Well, I lived with my mom until I got married. My day started off with making her coffee in the morning. Coffee and conversation before I rushed off to work. When I was in college, I would ask my friends at the table if I can get them anything and joyfully do it. It's all in attitude. Whether it's making coffee for your mom in the morning, getting your buddy a latte and bagel to get them through their classes, or doing a Dunkin Donut run for your friends. Learn to provide for another before you provide for yourself. Learn to put your family, whomever they may be, first.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Words I say. . .
"Let the words I say and the things I do let my Life-Song sing to you."
If you listen to Contemporary Christian you may have heard of Mark Hall and his band Casting Crowns. Today, I was a bit perturbed by some sarcastic comment/joke that a person posted after me in FaceBook. My first reaction was to be bitingly sarcastic back as has been my fallback for most of the years of my life. It's like a survival instinct. My pride is hurt, so I want to hurt back with sarcasm or by letting the person know they really, actually hurt me. However, my recent study into what a pastor's wife is like, what a Proverbs 31 Woman should really be like actually held my typing fingers at bay.
In Proverbs 31 verse 26 says, "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." The Holy Spirit's prompting caused me to post Mark Hall's words on my profile instead. This verse (among others that talk of the tongue being dangerous and flammable) is one I claimed a couple of years ago when my family and I first moved to where we are currently (and temporarily) serving in a local church. When I told my husband this was the verse I chose, he actually got teary eyed and told me that often my words really hurt and injure him. I had never been so convicted, but I did not change, to my regret.
The study I am doing on being a good pastor's/minister's wife caused me to reflect on a woman I believe defines what a true pastor's wife is all about. Mrs. Ginny is always dressed beautifully (whether at church or visiting members or working at the church), even when she is gently rebuking sinful behavior one feels that it is a warm fuzzy the way she delivers it. Her words are seasoned with salt and filled with grace. She served without complaint and ran a tight ship as far as organization of church activities was concerned. She is unmeasurably kind to all she meets and you feel special just knowing that even after years of not seeing or hearing from you, she opens her arms and welcomes you back. I was an impetuous, independent single woman at the time I spent with her as my pastor's wife and did not fully appreciate her. It wasn't until I became a minister's wife that I realized her true value and that of all the pastor's wives I have met and worked with or under, she was the one I want to most emulate.
Back to the song, the word "let" struck me as out of place at first. Then, as a grammarian and former English teacher, I examined the phrase more carefully. The word "let" in this phrase means to allow. Let the words I say and the things I do allow my life-song (to) sing to You. Are the words I am speaking letting others know that I am not only a born-again, blood washed believer, but also a minister's wife? Are the words I say wise and kind or are they bitter and filled with sarcasm? If we, as women and not just minister's wives, are to strive to be the epitome of what God wants us to be to our husbands, we need to "Let your (our) speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one."
In the end, I am glad that I held my temper and sarcasm in check. I think Mrs. Ginny would be proud of me knowing me as she does. But most importantly I honored my husband and my Lord Jesus by allowing God to work through me and keep my testimony.
If you listen to Contemporary Christian you may have heard of Mark Hall and his band Casting Crowns. Today, I was a bit perturbed by some sarcastic comment/joke that a person posted after me in FaceBook. My first reaction was to be bitingly sarcastic back as has been my fallback for most of the years of my life. It's like a survival instinct. My pride is hurt, so I want to hurt back with sarcasm or by letting the person know they really, actually hurt me. However, my recent study into what a pastor's wife is like, what a Proverbs 31 Woman should really be like actually held my typing fingers at bay.
In Proverbs 31 verse 26 says, "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." The Holy Spirit's prompting caused me to post Mark Hall's words on my profile instead. This verse (among others that talk of the tongue being dangerous and flammable) is one I claimed a couple of years ago when my family and I first moved to where we are currently (and temporarily) serving in a local church. When I told my husband this was the verse I chose, he actually got teary eyed and told me that often my words really hurt and injure him. I had never been so convicted, but I did not change, to my regret.
The study I am doing on being a good pastor's/minister's wife caused me to reflect on a woman I believe defines what a true pastor's wife is all about. Mrs. Ginny is always dressed beautifully (whether at church or visiting members or working at the church), even when she is gently rebuking sinful behavior one feels that it is a warm fuzzy the way she delivers it. Her words are seasoned with salt and filled with grace. She served without complaint and ran a tight ship as far as organization of church activities was concerned. She is unmeasurably kind to all she meets and you feel special just knowing that even after years of not seeing or hearing from you, she opens her arms and welcomes you back. I was an impetuous, independent single woman at the time I spent with her as my pastor's wife and did not fully appreciate her. It wasn't until I became a minister's wife that I realized her true value and that of all the pastor's wives I have met and worked with or under, she was the one I want to most emulate.
Back to the song, the word "let" struck me as out of place at first. Then, as a grammarian and former English teacher, I examined the phrase more carefully. The word "let" in this phrase means to allow. Let the words I say and the things I do allow my life-song (to) sing to You. Are the words I am speaking letting others know that I am not only a born-again, blood washed believer, but also a minister's wife? Are the words I say wise and kind or are they bitter and filled with sarcasm? If we, as women and not just minister's wives, are to strive to be the epitome of what God wants us to be to our husbands, we need to "Let your (our) speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one."
In the end, I am glad that I held my temper and sarcasm in check. I think Mrs. Ginny would be proud of me knowing me as she does. But most importantly I honored my husband and my Lord Jesus by allowing God to work through me and keep my testimony.
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