Aesop's Fables

I've started reading through Aesop's Fables in order to add a little more culture to my reading. I never realized the humor in these stories. I really enjoy them and look forward to reading more. My favorite so far is the one below.

The Mischievous Dog
A DOG used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he met, and to bite them without notice. His master suspended a bell about his neck so that the Dog might give notice of his presence wherever he went. Thinking it a mark of distinction, the Dog grew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over the marketplace. One day an old hound said to him: Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself? That bell that you carry is not, believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a mark of disgrace, a public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill mannered dog."
Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

Skiing the Big Mountain

So this week we realized a truth about our parenting. It is one of those truths that you learn and slap yourself in the head in vintage V8 fashion. How did we miss that one? We have searched for a new perspective on our parenting. We've felt like idiots who beat their head against the wall hoping the wall will crumble before concussion sets in. It is the grace of God that continues to enlighten us to the new and wonderful lessons of parenthood, and I am forever thankful for his faithfulness.
So you're wondering what the lesson is, or maybe you're not. I'm going to tell you anyway. My son tackled a fear this week. He has been wanting to ski with us for a couple of years now, but we've been sending him to ski school to prepare him. This year he got his chance. He was terrified and we knew it. To be honest I was terrified. I wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to feel the confidence that comes from tackling a fear. He was willing to try but reluctant to put himself completely into the task. After about one hour of "negotiating" my son took on the bunny hill. My son won. After he conquered the bunny hill he was ready to take on the big mountain. I wasn't so ready. His next task was taking on the big mountain. It was at this time daddy and I realized the only thing that stood in the way of him and the big mountain was us. He wanted to try it and we were going to have to let him. He took it on. He won. The lesson learned. Listen to your child. If he thinks he can take something on, let him take it on. Otherwise, it translates "Mommy and Daddy don't think you can handle this. We think you will fail." Not the message I want to send either of my kids.

You Personal Best

So this week we seem to have a theme going. My daughter and son play sports and I've heard them say a few times now that they aren't concerned about winning. I thought this was a good idea to have with regard to sports. We don't want them to be consumed with winning, but I realized what they meant with this statement. "I am not concerned with winning, so I won't give my best effort." Now, I don't want them to be obsessed with being better with everyone else, but I do want them to be the best that they can be. I want them to take Ecclesiastes 9:10 to heart. I want them to do whatever their hands find to do with all of their might. I want to do whatever my hand finds to do with all of my might. So our motto has become: Work hard to give 100% and winning takes care of itself. We can't always win. We tell our kids that. There is always someone better than you. But if you give 100% you can walk away from the game (in this case) knowing you gave your all.

Passing on My Faith to the Kids

Okay so I've been challenged by God lately to pass my faith on to my kids in a very deliberate way. I usually do by accident, but the time has come to get deliberate about it. I had a Bible time with them this morning and it was so neat to be able to share my faith with them. It was, of course, at an eight year old and six year old level. But it was very exciting to be able to share how God works in me with them. They had questions and comments and were interacting in a way I've never experienced before. I'm sure not all our times will be like this, but what a neat way to start. We did Bible time yesterday and they were apprehensive to say the least. But today, when I walked out with my Bible in hand, they were excited to start. I'm not sure if it's because we're reading the Bible or if it's because they get to hear about Mommy and how God has helped her. Either way, I look forward to more of our times together.

If - By Rudyard Kipling

I read this today and really liked it. I thought I would share it.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

I Hate Being Sick

So everyone in my house has been sick, including me. This week as pretty full and I've enjoyed the challenge of staying on top of my game, but I took a knee on Friday and I gave in to some sickness. I tried to will myself to go to my martial arts class but finally conceded that if I went to the sparring class I would probably get my butt kicked. I hate being sick. It keeps me from doing all that I want to do. However, I did enjoy the rest. But I'm feeling better and ready to start taking on the world again.

I Wanted To Change the World

Okay, so yesterday was a tough one. I didn't think I was going to make it with my sanity or my faith in tact. I remember as a little girl praying and asking God to use me in whatever way He saw fit. I NEVER dreamed He would do with me what He has. Don't get me wrong, I'm still up for the race, but did you ever get the feeling you signed up for the wrong competition. Like I'm a amateur and I wonder sometimes if I accidentally signed up for the pros. There's no way I'm in the right competition. Ephesians 3:20 says it best. "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." My husband and I asked a good friend for guidance on the situation and I knew when she started with "she's not going to like what I'm going to say" that this was another opportunity for me to grow. It's good to have friends who will be honest with you. Firends who will tell you the truth even though they know it's not what you want to hear. It is the faithfulness of such friends that Proverbs speaks of in chapter 27 verse 6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Someone asked me yesterday how I was and I started crying (something I hate to do in public). My only response was "it's not a pain free job, changing the world". And my only hope is that is what we are doing. Otherwise, what's the point?
For those of you keeping track, my next fear to overcome is the fear of appearing incompetent.

Yellow Belt, Ear Infection, Urgent Care, Two-A-Days

That pretty much sums up the last 72 hours. I tested for my yellow belt this weekend...yes I passed. I couldn't believe I actually broke a board with my hand. I felt like kicking someone in the teeth. Okay, that might be a little extreme. However, next to giving birth to my children, that was the most empowering experience of my life. I joined martial arts so I could overcome some of my fears, but I never imagined I would feel confidence in fear's place. It's a good feeling. The buzz was dulled by my 6-year-old's ear infection. So, as we sat in urgent care I felt the strength drain from my body as I listened to the barrage of coughs, sniffles, and children's moans. GERMS!!! Not to mention John was fighting a ferocious headache. So a quick trip to the nearest Walgreens saw me return with Tylenol, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and Airborne. We're all okay now, but as I watched the Super Bowl yesterday (which was one of the best games I've seen in a Super Bowl) I realized I was not prepared for two-a-day practice week for our volleyball team. How did I become this person? I used to be so scared of everything. I felt so inspired I began to write.

Afraid to live
Afraid to die
Afraid of truth
Paralyzed by lies

Paralyzed by fear
Paralyzed by doubt
Paralyzed by failure
Is there no way out?

Enraged by my weakness
Empowered by my resolve
Encouraged by my faith
Enveloped in His love

I know it's a girl poem, but it's a pretty accurate depiction of what can happen in the life of one who lives in fear. I haven't overcome it all, but DAMN it feels good to have overcome one more hurdle. Now to conquer the fear of heights.