Be Not Discouraged

Happy Sabbath,

I want to encourage you to think about the good things that the Lord has done for you this week instead of all the chaos that may be going on around you or even in your home.

The Lord allowed it that I was able to go to church today and I thank Him for it. Today I received very helpful advise from a wise source, someone I would not quickly consider, but yes, a child.  The children of the church I have been attending are well brought up (well at least some of them are listening and she is one of them). 

I have had some "fail" moments as a parent and today was of no exception, but I don't want to dwell on that. As an adult, I will accept advice, but I usually am more hesitant to hear it if it comes from another adult.  One parent came to me to see what my views were on spanking my child and I shared them.  I noticed that they corrected themselves or seemed to try to make it seem that they discipline their child the same way I do.  An childless adult criticized my selections of food for my son who has many food allergies and is extremely picky.  On the positive side, I have noticed some people step in to distract my son from his bad behavior and help him to follow along with the original instructions I gave him that he rebelled at (button up your coat, join the other children, clean up the blocks…). 

This little girl said she watched the Super Nanny shows which when my son was first born, I would look at these, but believed and still believe that spanking has it’s place in the process.  This little girl, couldn’t be no more than 13 offered such great advice and provided examples that actually worked. In an instant, my son was sitting, following instructions and out of his tantruming that he did for most of the service.  He also may have been tantruming because he didn’t have breakfast before leaving out for service and he was hungry, I don’t know.  I want to put this blog post out and go in an try some of what she shared with me. I’m not ashamed to say a child taught me a thing or two about parenting better.  I mean I was taught to swim by a 5 year old when on vacation in the Bahamas (I was about 11 or 12 at the time); there is much to learn from others when they are following Christ and continue to grow in a Christ like home environment. 

Friday before last Sabbath, I went on the suggestion of my mother and went to the store and purchased a bunch of items I imagined would work together to construct an ice cream birthday cake.  I put the cake together much like those layer cakes I see, dressed the sides with oreo and cookie dust, did a sharp design at the top with his name and put it in my parent’s deep freezer.  Monday, I took my son to his 4 year old wellness appointment, tried the dentist but they took too long so we left, and headed to a children’s attraction for him to run around, play on slides, climb through holes, and run out his energy.  He had a great time and then we came to my parents house where I finished setting up the party decorations while he napped for a bit.  His fourth birthday was a froggy birthday.  I did the cutouts for the frogs, glued on eyes and even made lilly pads.  I already blew up a huge balloon display on Friday so that was ready to go and he had a blast.  He enjoyed the ice cream cake and opened gifts afterwards.  I might do a Wonderland birthday for his fifth and he can come dressed as either the Hare or the Mad Hatter.  It really was a nice party. I thank the Lord for allowing me to enjoy my son at his 4th birthday and for a wonderful weekend leading up to that day.

My week had it’s hang ups but all in all, it was a good week.  I learned some concerning news about my health from my doctor over the phone yesterday, but with the Lord’s help I can get better and do better than what I am already doing.

Today I was able to talk to this woman who I met with before and even though my son was tantruming, I was able to share one of my testimonies with her.  She is living with her parents, her husband and two infant children and her parents have custody of her children.  Her husband is not an American citizen and is limited to working for her dad who continues to be verbally abusive to them and has even threatened to deport her husband when they get into arguments.  She comes to church in search for peace and answers so please pray her for.  We’ll call her Hope.   Please also pray for my cousin who is still in the hospital after his brain anerurysm. 

This country is in a big mess and it is hard to see any good coming (perhaps 4 years from now, maybe Bernie will run again just saying).  I’ve seen narcissism at its worst in my childhood home and Hope is dealing with the effects of it in her parents’ home today.  Now this country is in the hands of a narcissist and I don’t forsee any decisions being made out of true concern or passion for justice coming from the new commander and chief.  Pray for the people of this country and pray that people do not give up hope.  We are just people but it’s amazing how much of a mess we make for ourselves and further we dig ourselves into holes we can’t get out of.

There are and will continue to be demonstrations, marches, racism, sexism, hatred against any and all that are different.  These are the last days but just because we know this, it doesn’t mean that we should give up trying to live for God and allowing what is happening around us to get us down. 

Keep thinking of what God brought you through and don’t give up.  Evil men will wax more and more worse and storms, trials, disasters will come, but Jesus hears, He sees, and He knows.  May the Holy Spirit help you through what ever you are going through right now and guide you in the direction you should go and comfort your hearts.  May you have a great week!