Playing catch, catch-up, and ketchup (?)…
As of late I’ve found myself in catch-up mode. Being behind on this blog by more than 5 weeks is just one example. When I set out to catch up this week on the blog (among many other things), three words kept running through my head- catch, catch-up, and ketchup. So, after a few days of processing, here goes…
We try to catch time, catch our kids being good, and catch moments that will last. When we feel as if we’ve missed the mark, then we panic and suddenly feel as if we’re playing catch-up. We try to catch-up on missed time or opportunities, catch-up to their development or how they’ve changed, afraid that if we don’t all will be lost. And what about ketchup…that comes later…wait for it.
I think all parents in one way or another want to play catch well so playing catch-up is not necessary. Is this even possible or just a dream that lives in Hallmark cards, or shows like Leave It to Beaver, The Wonder Years, and After-school Specials? I think it’s possible, and although I’m far from mastering the skill to make it happen every time, I have hope that I’ve caught more than I’ve dropped the proverbial ball.
Every time we read a story to our kids, pray with them, play a game with them, cheer them on, direct/correct/redirect them, discipline with love, and do it all again- we’re catching. Think about the actual game of catch for a moment- it takes at least two people committed to the game. There is a give and take happening. You have to be watching- paying attention. There is a repeated to almost monotonous level of activity, but somehow that monotony becomes a fun part of the process. When Matthew and I play catch (yes, I still do that sort of thing) we like to count to see how far we can get before dropping the ball…okay, before I drop the ball. The point is, the monotony of it becomes part of the fun. Reading the SAME story every night becomes tedious, but isn’t it worth it to know that you’ve caught a moment with your child? Monotony suddenly becomes, well…less monotonous. Parenting is an ongoing game of catch, and that is why we worry, fret, and lose sleep over dropping the ball.
For sake of argument, we have to admit as parents that we do drop the ball every now and then. We’ve all missed opportunities, we’ve all raised our voice and later regretted it, and we’ve all wanted a do-over. This is when we feel the need to catch-up. What if I didn’t teach them enough, what if I said the wrong thing? I think catch-up is slightly futile. Maybe I’m kidding myself, but I trust that if I’ve missed it, God will give me another opportunity. This doesn’t mean I have an excuse to be a lazy parent, but it does mean that there is grace for me- even when I’ve missed it- or messed up. God loves our kids more than we do, so I have to trust that He will make sure that any gaps I’ve left along the way (and there will be lots) are filled in a way only He can do.
2 Corinthians 12:9 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
This doesn’t mean I don’t have some slight anxiety at times when it comes to my children. I’m human and I’m a mom…this means I’ll mess up and then I’ll worry about it. This is where ketchup comes in- french fries and ketchup. Nothing says “I’m sorry” and “I love you” like sitting across a table with your kid sharing a big plate of salty fried spuds. And even if your kid (like mine) would rather have ranch dressing, I’ll take mine with a healthy serving of ketchup on the side…and some catch-up time, and a new round of catch.
This Week’s Announcements:
Ways you can help:
- Sunday, March 30th is a 5th Sunday. Our nursery volunteers run on a 4 week rotation so this means we will be short-handed next Sunday. Please contact Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org if you can help fill in for us in nursery-3k preschool
- Sunday, March 30th is also an outreach Sunday for our children in 4k-5th grade. Our small group leaders will be “off” that day. Please contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org if you would like to know more about this opportunity to serve.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past SEVERAL Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
As part of a game, a small group leader passed around a basket of Starburst candy. One little guy, trying his best to use self-control planned to put his candy in his pocket to save for later. (He had mentioned earlier that he had to ask his dad if he could have it). Well…temptation won and the little guy ate the candy. Realizing that he may be caught by dad at the end of the morning- he ran over to his small group leader, blew in her face, and asked “Can you smell Starburst on my breath?! Do you think my dad will smell it?”
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Unless you’ve been out of the country, don’t own a TV or computer (then how are you reading this?), or just have a strong affinity to what my Aussie friend calls, “that other kind of football”- then you know there was a big sporting event last Sunday night. I personally love the Super Bowl; not because I’m looking for a big score on a bet, but because I love any excuse to sit around eating junk food with no guilt.
It’s always interesting to me that on the first Sunday in February every year, Americans (including myself) cheer for teams they have no connection to, watch to see if the halftime show will be any good, and suddenly take an interest in commercials. I mean, how many of us even watch commercials anymore? If you have a DVR, you are skipping commercials, am I right? But, not on Super Bowl Sunday. The commercials get as much airtime days before and after the Super Bowl as the game itself. Amazing.
If you watched the game or have at least read or heard about it this week, then you know the commercials were far more interesting. My guess is that the only people who loved this year’s game were those ‘12th man’ diehard Seahawks fans. It was a blowout of historical proportions. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe there has only been one other Super Bowl where the score was more skewed than this year.
Before the game begins each year, Matthew and I pick our teams. We have no connection to either team, but we pick one to root for during the game. I picked the Seahawks, and he picked the Broncos. Now…you would think I took bragging rights early and frequently, but actually something else happened.
As soon as the first snap of the game went flying over Peyton Manning’s head, my devotion changed. Without any real conscious decision, I almost immediately began to root for the Broncos. I found myself cheering aloud and internally for something to go right for the team where everything seemed to be just the opposite. I think there is something about applauding the underdog that innately resonates with all of us. I’ve been wondering off and on all week why that is.
If we’re made in God’s image then there must be something of God’s character in us that leads us to support those who need support. Look at the evidence…
God chose the underdog over and over to carry out His plans (Moses, Gideon, etc.). God rescues the sinners (what could be more of an underdog) - not the saint. Jesus ate with the hated tax collectors, and tells us that whatever we “do for the least of these” we do for Him. I think I’m pretty safe in likening “the least of these” to underdogs.
This week I’m discussing with our kids how the “modern” idols in our lives are just as dangerous as the false gods and idols worshipped in the Old Testament. One of the things worshipping false idols can lead to is pride, along with its ugly cousin, entitlement. Every one of us can fall into the ditch where pride and entitlement live. I think one way to crawl out of that ditch is to ask ourselves, “Am I putting myself first or am I doing my part to lift up the little guy?”
Jesus doesn’t pick teams- He loves the sinner and the saint. He loves to see justice for the underdog, and He loves those who bring about that justice. He said this…
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-12)
I wonder if the bullying in our schools would cease to exist if we had more people cheering for the underdog…
This Week’s Announcements:
Ways you can help:
- We are growing! We need additional leaders in some of our age groups. Please let us know if you’d like to help disciple children.
- Subs needed: Sometimes we need subs for our regular volunteers. Take this past Sunday for example- 3 volunteers woke up with the stomach bug. Please let us know if you can be considered as an ‘on call’ sub for us. Email Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org if you can help us in this way.
- One-on-one special friends are needed for some of our children. Please contact me (Penny) at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org if you would like to know more about this opportunity to serve.
A friendly public service announcement….
I’ve noticed over the last several weeks that some children are being dropped in the wrong age rooms. Many of them are being placed in rooms with younger siblings. I know some of you may be unaware that this is even happening. Since elementary age children walk themselves upstairs, some of them are ‘sneaking’ into younger rooms without your knowledge. Some of you may be aware, and just haven’t thought of it as any kind of problem. Please help us with drop off of your children, specifically making sure that they are in the right age/grade group. Here is why…as I write lessons each week, I spend a great deal of time praying and thinking about what is age appropriate and at the same time will challenge kids in their Spiritual growth. Obviously what is best for a 2nd grader is not the same thing for a 4k preschooler. When an older child is in the room with younger kids, I see two things happen. One, the older child is not being challenged. Two, younger kids don’t participate in discussion as freely when older kids are in their midst. The older kids answer quicker, and younger kids are left out of the discussion. Our heart in PathFinders is to partner with you in the Spiritual growth of your children. We want to do our part to provide a fun, safe, and challenging environment for all ages. We have kids grouped by age/grade to help with this environment. Please help us maintain those guidelines. *For those of you who think logistically, I’ll throw in this added reason…the rooms are full as is, so adding kids who don’t belong in those rooms throws off our adult to child ratios. If you have any concerns or special requests about this topic, please feel free to contact me.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
Two children’s leaders were talking about God's knowledge as revealed in His Word....
The teacher asked, "What is the most reliable source of knowledge we have?” A child answered, "THE INTERNET!"
Don't think that was answer she was looking for.
It’s always interesting to me that on the first Sunday in February every year, Americans (including myself) cheer for teams they have no connection to, watch to see if the halftime show will be any good, and suddenly take an interest in commercials. I mean, how many of us even watch commercials anymore? If you have a DVR, you are skipping commercials, am I right? But, not on Super Bowl Sunday. The commercials get as much airtime days before and after the Super Bowl as the game itself. Amazing.
If you watched the game or have at least read or heard about it this week, then you know the commercials were far more interesting. My guess is that the only people who loved this year’s game were those ‘12th man’ diehard Seahawks fans. It was a blowout of historical proportions. Don’t quote me on this, but I believe there has only been one other Super Bowl where the score was more skewed than this year.
Before the game begins each year, Matthew and I pick our teams. We have no connection to either team, but we pick one to root for during the game. I picked the Seahawks, and he picked the Broncos. Now…you would think I took bragging rights early and frequently, but actually something else happened.
As soon as the first snap of the game went flying over Peyton Manning’s head, my devotion changed. Without any real conscious decision, I almost immediately began to root for the Broncos. I found myself cheering aloud and internally for something to go right for the team where everything seemed to be just the opposite. I think there is something about applauding the underdog that innately resonates with all of us. I’ve been wondering off and on all week why that is.
If we’re made in God’s image then there must be something of God’s character in us that leads us to support those who need support. Look at the evidence…
God chose the underdog over and over to carry out His plans (Moses, Gideon, etc.). God rescues the sinners (what could be more of an underdog) - not the saint. Jesus ate with the hated tax collectors, and tells us that whatever we “do for the least of these” we do for Him. I think I’m pretty safe in likening “the least of these” to underdogs.
This week I’m discussing with our kids how the “modern” idols in our lives are just as dangerous as the false gods and idols worshipped in the Old Testament. One of the things worshipping false idols can lead to is pride, along with its ugly cousin, entitlement. Every one of us can fall into the ditch where pride and entitlement live. I think one way to crawl out of that ditch is to ask ourselves, “Am I putting myself first or am I doing my part to lift up the little guy?”
Jesus doesn’t pick teams- He loves the sinner and the saint. He loves to see justice for the underdog, and He loves those who bring about that justice. He said this…
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-12)
I wonder if the bullying in our schools would cease to exist if we had more people cheering for the underdog…
This Week’s Announcements:
Ways you can help:
- We are growing! We need additional leaders in some of our age groups. Please let us know if you’d like to help disciple children.
- Subs needed: Sometimes we need subs for our regular volunteers. Take this past Sunday for example- 3 volunteers woke up with the stomach bug. Please let us know if you can be considered as an ‘on call’ sub for us. Email Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org if you can help us in this way.
- One-on-one special friends are needed for some of our children. Please contact me (Penny) at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org if you would like to know more about this opportunity to serve.
A friendly public service announcement….
I’ve noticed over the last several weeks that some children are being dropped in the wrong age rooms. Many of them are being placed in rooms with younger siblings. I know some of you may be unaware that this is even happening. Since elementary age children walk themselves upstairs, some of them are ‘sneaking’ into younger rooms without your knowledge. Some of you may be aware, and just haven’t thought of it as any kind of problem. Please help us with drop off of your children, specifically making sure that they are in the right age/grade group. Here is why…as I write lessons each week, I spend a great deal of time praying and thinking about what is age appropriate and at the same time will challenge kids in their Spiritual growth. Obviously what is best for a 2nd grader is not the same thing for a 4k preschooler. When an older child is in the room with younger kids, I see two things happen. One, the older child is not being challenged. Two, younger kids don’t participate in discussion as freely when older kids are in their midst. The older kids answer quicker, and younger kids are left out of the discussion. Our heart in PathFinders is to partner with you in the Spiritual growth of your children. We want to do our part to provide a fun, safe, and challenging environment for all ages. We have kids grouped by age/grade to help with this environment. Please help us maintain those guidelines. *For those of you who think logistically, I’ll throw in this added reason…the rooms are full as is, so adding kids who don’t belong in those rooms throws off our adult to child ratios. If you have any concerns or special requests about this topic, please feel free to contact me.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
Two children’s leaders were talking about God's knowledge as revealed in His Word....
The teacher asked, "What is the most reliable source of knowledge we have?” A child answered, "THE INTERNET!"
Don't think that was answer she was looking for.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Last week I found myself in the middle of the same conversation I’ve had over and over since having children. The topic…food; specifically what my kids eat. I have a 16 year old boy which means one thing- a high grocery bill! A mom of another teenage boy and I were comparing notes on how much they eat. Let’s just say, it’s a lot. No one won the comparison contest…we both lose when it comes to the amount of time we spend either buying or making food to fill our bottomless pits.
The food discussions didn’t start when my boys hit puberty. It was long before that. Think about all the time we as parents spend discussing food and our kids. Breast fed or bottle fed, when to start solid food, when to give them peanut butter, only to find out that they have a food allergy. It’s an ongoing, never ending topic of conversation among moms.
Before I continue, I feel the need to interject two things…
One, I wonder if we discuss it so much because it’s a topic where we can safely make comparisons without the risk of feeling like we’ve failed in some way as a parent. The friendly competition of “my kid eats more than yours” doesn’t really set us up for hard feelings.
And, two, I proudly admit that I’m very happy my children were “raised” in the era of chicken nuggets and Kraft mac and cheese. Just ten years ago we moms didn’t worry about our veggies being organic or making gluten free brownies as an option for the birthday party. I’m sorry that moms have that added pressure in childrearing these days.
Back to topic…
Our children don’t live on milk forever; they graduate to solid food, and then to eating us out of house and home. We spend many waking hours buying and preparing food for them. We agonize over whether or not they are getting enough of what they need.
As I thought about all the food discussions I find myself in with other moms, the verse in Hebrews about milk and solid food came to mind.
Hebrews 5:13-14 “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
This verse is somewhat of an admonishment for those who were slow to listen and learn the Truth of the Gospel. Some commentaries liken it to the fact that those “living on milk” are “not acquainted” with the Gospel due to simply not making a practice of studying it.
Think about how this is related to feeding our children. If we gave them only liquid sustenance forever not only would they miss out on the good stuff, they wouldn’t grow. We’d have some unhappy and unhealthy kids on our hands.
The same is true spiritually. We have to feed our kids. It’s our responsibility as parents to make sure our kids are getting what they need to not only sustain them, but to help them grow strong Spiritual muscles. This means teaching our kids at a young age the basic Spiritual disciplines of reading the Bible and prayer, not to mention the “meat” of what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
My boys graduated a long time ago from milk as a source of nutrition, and as I’ve said, now eat until the pantry is bare. I am blessed to say that despite chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, they are very healthy.
I hope, that in time, I can say with as much certainty that my boys have the strong Spiritual muscles I’ve tried to help them grow. Wouldn’t we as parents be better served in our conversations to encourage the nutrition of our kids’ spiritual growth as much as we discuss what we made them for dinner? Even better, wouldn’t we all love to have that conversation without fear of comparisons?
This Week’s Announcements:
Daddy/Daughter Dance ~ Friday, February 7th, beginning at 6:30pm. This event is open to dads of all ages and girls age 3years through 5th grade. The cost is $10 per family. Registration closes at noon on February 4th so sign up quickly. To register, go to www.signupgenius.com and search under penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
*Note that there are no lessons attached for 4k-5th grade for Jan. 26 because it was an outreach Sunday.
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
As I asked the kids if they had anything special to share from the last week, one boy raised his hand and called out, “I got a crushed.” Not sure what he meant, (did he mean he had a crush on someone, or someone had a crush on him…?) I waded in…“What do you mean- someone has a crush on you?” Luckily, this particular child has a great sense of humor and laughed along with the other kids. He then corrected me and said, “No…I mean my team got crushed in basketball.” Oh…that makes more sense.
The food discussions didn’t start when my boys hit puberty. It was long before that. Think about all the time we as parents spend discussing food and our kids. Breast fed or bottle fed, when to start solid food, when to give them peanut butter, only to find out that they have a food allergy. It’s an ongoing, never ending topic of conversation among moms.
Before I continue, I feel the need to interject two things…
One, I wonder if we discuss it so much because it’s a topic where we can safely make comparisons without the risk of feeling like we’ve failed in some way as a parent. The friendly competition of “my kid eats more than yours” doesn’t really set us up for hard feelings.
And, two, I proudly admit that I’m very happy my children were “raised” in the era of chicken nuggets and Kraft mac and cheese. Just ten years ago we moms didn’t worry about our veggies being organic or making gluten free brownies as an option for the birthday party. I’m sorry that moms have that added pressure in childrearing these days.
Back to topic…
Our children don’t live on milk forever; they graduate to solid food, and then to eating us out of house and home. We spend many waking hours buying and preparing food for them. We agonize over whether or not they are getting enough of what they need.
As I thought about all the food discussions I find myself in with other moms, the verse in Hebrews about milk and solid food came to mind.
Hebrews 5:13-14 “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
This verse is somewhat of an admonishment for those who were slow to listen and learn the Truth of the Gospel. Some commentaries liken it to the fact that those “living on milk” are “not acquainted” with the Gospel due to simply not making a practice of studying it.
Think about how this is related to feeding our children. If we gave them only liquid sustenance forever not only would they miss out on the good stuff, they wouldn’t grow. We’d have some unhappy and unhealthy kids on our hands.
The same is true spiritually. We have to feed our kids. It’s our responsibility as parents to make sure our kids are getting what they need to not only sustain them, but to help them grow strong Spiritual muscles. This means teaching our kids at a young age the basic Spiritual disciplines of reading the Bible and prayer, not to mention the “meat” of what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
My boys graduated a long time ago from milk as a source of nutrition, and as I’ve said, now eat until the pantry is bare. I am blessed to say that despite chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, they are very healthy.
I hope, that in time, I can say with as much certainty that my boys have the strong Spiritual muscles I’ve tried to help them grow. Wouldn’t we as parents be better served in our conversations to encourage the nutrition of our kids’ spiritual growth as much as we discuss what we made them for dinner? Even better, wouldn’t we all love to have that conversation without fear of comparisons?
This Week’s Announcements:
Daddy/Daughter Dance ~ Friday, February 7th, beginning at 6:30pm. This event is open to dads of all ages and girls age 3years through 5th grade. The cost is $10 per family. Registration closes at noon on February 4th so sign up quickly. To register, go to www.signupgenius.com and search under penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
*Note that there are no lessons attached for 4k-5th grade for Jan. 26 because it was an outreach Sunday.
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
As I asked the kids if they had anything special to share from the last week, one boy raised his hand and called out, “I got a crushed.” Not sure what he meant, (did he mean he had a crush on someone, or someone had a crush on him…?) I waded in…“What do you mean- someone has a crush on you?” Luckily, this particular child has a great sense of humor and laughed along with the other kids. He then corrected me and said, “No…I mean my team got crushed in basketball.” Oh…that makes more sense.
Monday, January 13, 2014
On Saturday my oldest son left home to return to college. He was home one month, but it seemed like a day. I’m not the Lord- OBVIOUSLY- but it felt like the whole “a thousand years is but a day” thing happened. (Look at 2Peter 3:8 if I’ve just completely confused you)
Anyway…he left on Saturday at 4am. As we hugged goodbye for about the 5th time, he said, “Mom, I left a little part of me behind for you.” After the comment he chuckled and said, “I mean I didn’t make up my bed.”
For this to have relevance you must know this about my eldest- he is messy. I don’t mean that he just leaves things lying around every now and then; he is the messiest person I’ve ever had the privilege of living with. No…scratch that, he’s the messiest person I’ve ever known.
Leaving his bed unmade was no surprise- I would’ve expected nothing different. Comforter half on the bed and half in the floor, one pillow smashed in a corner against the wall, the other at the foot of the bed, sheets so tangled that you wonder if he can tie knots with his feet….all of it was much more than just another example of his messiness; it was a picture of something he wanted me to “get.”
Even more than the unmade bed, his pointing it out in the way he did was his way of saying something to me. He was saying, “I’ve been here and I want you to remember that I’ve been here.”
I think as human beings we want to be remembered. We want to know that when we’re gone, we’ve left something behind that someone can look at and say, “That was (fill in the blank with your name).” We want to leave our fingerprints on things, but more than that, we want to leave our mark on the hearts of others.
We leave our fingerprints all over the people we influence. Isn’t this the antithesis of why we as parents are at times so neurotic about how we raise our kids? There are many quotes in the annals of parenthood (“Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!”), but none more often used than this one- “Don’t do as I do, do as I say.” And why is that? Fingerprints.
The truth is whether it’s what we say or what we do, we leave a mark. Our life with the people we love might be neat and tidy at times, or it may be messy…really messy…knots in the sheets messy. The point is that we want to be there- for better or worse. The dinners we eat together, the conversations we have, the laughter, the tears, even the fights, they all mean something- or at least they should.
I want few things more in this life than for my kids to look back and say, “She left a little part of herself behind for me…and it was a good part.” I want to leave my fingerprints, even if they are a little smudged in certain places.
If I’m really honest, I wouldn’t mind if they also said something along the lines of … “the days were like years (there was so much packed into them), and the years were like a day (because it wasn’t long enough).” I would take a chance, write my own eulogy, and hide it for later, but no one would ever find it with all the unmade beds.
This Week’s Announcements:
Our next welcome reception is on Sunday, January 26th. If you are new to StoneBridge or just want some answers to those “burning questions” you have, join us at 7:30pm in the 164 space. Childcare is provided WITH reservations. Contact Kim Kremer at kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
As one 4k/Kindergarten leader was reviewing Bible stories we have discussed this year, she drew pictures (like Pictionary) so the children could guess the story. After correctly guessing the story, they would discuss what they remembered about the story and God’s Truth from that story. On one turn, she drew a large wall surrounding a city. The kids correctly guess “Jericho!” As they discussed what God instructed Joshua and his men to do, the leader asked, “Do you remember how many days God told them to march around the city?” One very proud little boy yelled out, “I do…40 days and 40 nights!” Good answer, wrong story. Here is the well-known (although unspoken) fact among kids at church- the answer is always “God” or “40 days and 40 nights.”
Anyway…he left on Saturday at 4am. As we hugged goodbye for about the 5th time, he said, “Mom, I left a little part of me behind for you.” After the comment he chuckled and said, “I mean I didn’t make up my bed.”
For this to have relevance you must know this about my eldest- he is messy. I don’t mean that he just leaves things lying around every now and then; he is the messiest person I’ve ever had the privilege of living with. No…scratch that, he’s the messiest person I’ve ever known.
Leaving his bed unmade was no surprise- I would’ve expected nothing different. Comforter half on the bed and half in the floor, one pillow smashed in a corner against the wall, the other at the foot of the bed, sheets so tangled that you wonder if he can tie knots with his feet….all of it was much more than just another example of his messiness; it was a picture of something he wanted me to “get.”
Even more than the unmade bed, his pointing it out in the way he did was his way of saying something to me. He was saying, “I’ve been here and I want you to remember that I’ve been here.”
I think as human beings we want to be remembered. We want to know that when we’re gone, we’ve left something behind that someone can look at and say, “That was (fill in the blank with your name).” We want to leave our fingerprints on things, but more than that, we want to leave our mark on the hearts of others.
We leave our fingerprints all over the people we influence. Isn’t this the antithesis of why we as parents are at times so neurotic about how we raise our kids? There are many quotes in the annals of parenthood (“Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!”), but none more often used than this one- “Don’t do as I do, do as I say.” And why is that? Fingerprints.
The truth is whether it’s what we say or what we do, we leave a mark. Our life with the people we love might be neat and tidy at times, or it may be messy…really messy…knots in the sheets messy. The point is that we want to be there- for better or worse. The dinners we eat together, the conversations we have, the laughter, the tears, even the fights, they all mean something- or at least they should.
I want few things more in this life than for my kids to look back and say, “She left a little part of herself behind for me…and it was a good part.” I want to leave my fingerprints, even if they are a little smudged in certain places.
If I’m really honest, I wouldn’t mind if they also said something along the lines of … “the days were like years (there was so much packed into them), and the years were like a day (because it wasn’t long enough).” I would take a chance, write my own eulogy, and hide it for later, but no one would ever find it with all the unmade beds.
This Week’s Announcements:
Our next welcome reception is on Sunday, January 26th. If you are new to StoneBridge or just want some answers to those “burning questions” you have, join us at 7:30pm in the 164 space. Childcare is provided WITH reservations. Contact Kim Kremer at kim@stonebridgemarietta.org to sign up.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
As one 4k/Kindergarten leader was reviewing Bible stories we have discussed this year, she drew pictures (like Pictionary) so the children could guess the story. After correctly guessing the story, they would discuss what they remembered about the story and God’s Truth from that story. On one turn, she drew a large wall surrounding a city. The kids correctly guess “Jericho!” As they discussed what God instructed Joshua and his men to do, the leader asked, “Do you remember how many days God told them to march around the city?” One very proud little boy yelled out, “I do…40 days and 40 nights!” Good answer, wrong story. Here is the well-known (although unspoken) fact among kids at church- the answer is always “God” or “40 days and 40 nights.”
Saturday, January 4, 2014
I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions. I’m not taking a stand or making some sort of grand gesture…I’m just- well…either lazy or realistic. I’ve made my share of them over the almost 50 years of my life. Let’s see, there has been the obligatory losing weight resolution, along with exercising more. I’ve resolved to get more organized, eat healthier, save money, cook more/eat out less, watch less TV, and read more. I’ve resolved to clean out clutter, drink less coffee (what was that about?!), and get all of my yearly health check-ups. The list could go on and on, but why do that, when I can just say- I kept none of them for long.
So this year, again, not as some grand gesture, I’ve decided to resolve nothing. Maybe I’m lazy, or maybe I’m just realistic. Or…maybe my self-esteem can’t take one more failure. Whatever the real reason, I’m not doing it.
Someone actually asked me if not making a resolution is actually making a resolution not to change…hmm…? That may be the conclusion in all of this, but I certainly don’t think that’s my heart. I want to change as much as anyone else. Don’t we all have things we wished we were better at doing or not doing? Of course we do.
Here is the bottom line of what I’ve decided on the topic…I’ll make this the year of change not through my resolve, but through “God-solve.” Cliché- maybe. Corny- probably. More realistic- for sure. None of us can change no matter how hard we try unless God is leading that change. So this year will be about the changes that God brings, not what I decide.
I’ve asked my boys (who don’t make resolutions either- unless you count, “not taking out the trash” a resolution) to think and pray about this too. We know God is never done with us so there are things He wants to do in and through us. He just needs an open door invitation into our lives.
Okay…so it’s no grand gesture, but I am taking a stand. I’m standing still at the door and saying, come on in God…do what You must, solve what only You can. It’s not a resolution, but maybe it’s a goal. The goal for 2014…an open door.
Revelation 3:20 ~ “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Praying that we all - as individuals, as families, and as the Body of Christ- open the door wide so He can step inside.
This Week’s Announcements:
No new announcements for this week! Nothing you have to remember…Happy New Year!
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
I was handed a very wonderful Christmas gift on Christmas Eve. The gift was from one of our third grade boys. It was a handmade card and note that said, “Dear Ms. Penny, thank you for all you do for me!” He signed it and then put an arrow pointing inside the card with the caption- your gift is inside. When I opened the card, a $1 bill fell out. I told him how generous he was, to which he replied, “I wanted to give you more, but I couldn’t find any more of my money. My dad made me take it to the bank last week.” To say the least, it was one of my favorite gifts of the season!
So this year, again, not as some grand gesture, I’ve decided to resolve nothing. Maybe I’m lazy, or maybe I’m just realistic. Or…maybe my self-esteem can’t take one more failure. Whatever the real reason, I’m not doing it.
Someone actually asked me if not making a resolution is actually making a resolution not to change…hmm…? That may be the conclusion in all of this, but I certainly don’t think that’s my heart. I want to change as much as anyone else. Don’t we all have things we wished we were better at doing or not doing? Of course we do.
Here is the bottom line of what I’ve decided on the topic…I’ll make this the year of change not through my resolve, but through “God-solve.” Cliché- maybe. Corny- probably. More realistic- for sure. None of us can change no matter how hard we try unless God is leading that change. So this year will be about the changes that God brings, not what I decide.
I’ve asked my boys (who don’t make resolutions either- unless you count, “not taking out the trash” a resolution) to think and pray about this too. We know God is never done with us so there are things He wants to do in and through us. He just needs an open door invitation into our lives.
Okay…so it’s no grand gesture, but I am taking a stand. I’m standing still at the door and saying, come on in God…do what You must, solve what only You can. It’s not a resolution, but maybe it’s a goal. The goal for 2014…an open door.
Revelation 3:20 ~ “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Praying that we all - as individuals, as families, and as the Body of Christ- open the door wide so He can step inside.
This Week’s Announcements:
No new announcements for this week! Nothing you have to remember…Happy New Year!
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the links below to see the past two Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
I was handed a very wonderful Christmas gift on Christmas Eve. The gift was from one of our third grade boys. It was a handmade card and note that said, “Dear Ms. Penny, thank you for all you do for me!” He signed it and then put an arrow pointing inside the card with the caption- your gift is inside. When I opened the card, a $1 bill fell out. I told him how generous he was, to which he replied, “I wanted to give you more, but I couldn’t find any more of my money. My dad made me take it to the bank last week.” To say the least, it was one of my favorite gifts of the season!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
The calendar is not yet reading December 25, but I’ve already received several wonderful and generous gifts. All the gifts I’ve received have shown that the person giving them knows me personally. Every gift is thoughtful (I’m sure the word thoughtful is somewhere in the definition of gift), but some take more thought.
A few months ago I was buying a birthday gift for a friend, and my youngest son happened to be with me. He commented, “Wow, you’re putting a lot of thought into this…” This is not to say I’m the end all/be all of gift giving; I’m not, but don’t we all long to give a gift that will tell the person- I know you, I care about you, and I’m giving you something I hope will tell you just that. We all love gifts that we can tell took some thought…something that says we are known, even to the point of what brings us joy.
That brings me to Christmas. Not to sound cliché, or fall into the “Stuff Christians Say” realm, but Jesus was the ultimate expression of a thoughtful gift. God knows us. He knows our deepest desires, He knows our sin, He knows what breaks our heart, and what makes it skip a beat with overwhelming joy. He had a gift in mind that would be everything we ever needed. His gift would protect, provide, and redeem us. His gift would love us tenderly, but at the same time with great fervor. His gift would continue to give us other gifts, like hope, peace, and assurance. His gift would be a gift not for one day, but for eternity.
We will all receive gifts next week. Many of them will be thoughtful, and others may fall (or be thrown) in the ‘return as soon as possible’ pile. No matter what we get next week, we’ve already been given the ultimate gift. The Giver was thinking of us corporately and individually when He gave it. He gave it without regard to His own sacrifice. He gave out of a love that we can’t even begin to comprehend.
As I watch the people I care about open gifts next week, I will take great joy in seeing their faces light up. I wonder if God watches us this way…waiting to see if our faces will light up, or if our hearts will skip a beat, as we fully and completely comprehend the extent of His gift to us. We’ve been given the gift, but do we know how truly precious it is?
This Week’s Announcements:
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 4pm and 6pm on…Christmas Eve of course! Each service will last an hour, but will vary in “feel.” The first one at 4pm will be more interactive (great for kids) and will feature our student ministry worship team leading us in worship. The second one will be more traditional.
Drag everyone away from the tree for a little while, and join us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth together on Christmas Day at 11:00am. (*Kids, feel free to wear your PJ’s to this service)
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
This was overheard while one four year old was praying and thanking God for Christmas… “Jesus, I’m so sorry that I missed your first birthday.”
A few months ago I was buying a birthday gift for a friend, and my youngest son happened to be with me. He commented, “Wow, you’re putting a lot of thought into this…” This is not to say I’m the end all/be all of gift giving; I’m not, but don’t we all long to give a gift that will tell the person- I know you, I care about you, and I’m giving you something I hope will tell you just that. We all love gifts that we can tell took some thought…something that says we are known, even to the point of what brings us joy.
That brings me to Christmas. Not to sound cliché, or fall into the “Stuff Christians Say” realm, but Jesus was the ultimate expression of a thoughtful gift. God knows us. He knows our deepest desires, He knows our sin, He knows what breaks our heart, and what makes it skip a beat with overwhelming joy. He had a gift in mind that would be everything we ever needed. His gift would protect, provide, and redeem us. His gift would love us tenderly, but at the same time with great fervor. His gift would continue to give us other gifts, like hope, peace, and assurance. His gift would be a gift not for one day, but for eternity.
We will all receive gifts next week. Many of them will be thoughtful, and others may fall (or be thrown) in the ‘return as soon as possible’ pile. No matter what we get next week, we’ve already been given the ultimate gift. The Giver was thinking of us corporately and individually when He gave it. He gave it without regard to His own sacrifice. He gave out of a love that we can’t even begin to comprehend.
As I watch the people I care about open gifts next week, I will take great joy in seeing their faces light up. I wonder if God watches us this way…waiting to see if our faces will light up, or if our hearts will skip a beat, as we fully and completely comprehend the extent of His gift to us. We’ve been given the gift, but do we know how truly precious it is?
This Week’s Announcements:
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 4pm and 6pm on…Christmas Eve of course! Each service will last an hour, but will vary in “feel.” The first one at 4pm will be more interactive (great for kids) and will feature our student ministry worship team leading us in worship. The second one will be more traditional.
Drag everyone away from the tree for a little while, and join us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth together on Christmas Day at 11:00am. (*Kids, feel free to wear your PJ’s to this service)
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
This was overheard while one four year old was praying and thanking God for Christmas… “Jesus, I’m so sorry that I missed your first birthday.”
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
I’ve come to discover that traditions for this time of year vary greatly from family to family. Here are a few I’ve heard about recently: a visiting elf who watches you for Santa, special pajamas to be worn on Christmas Eve, watching “Charlie Brown Christmas” while drinking hot chocolate (this was a must!), putting reindeer food in the yard, putting the baby Jesus in the nativity on Christmas morning- but not before, believing in Santa, not believing in Santa, giving only 3 gifts, giving too many gifts to count…the list could go on and on.
Traditions were never a huge deal in my family. I don’t remember us doing anything around the holidays exactly the same every year. I don’t think this was a bad thing….we just didn’t. I remember every holiday being fun and full of family time. Maybe that was the only tradition we really needed.
I started several traditions with my boys through the years- some stuck and some didn’t. There are a few that we still continue to this day. The first is the new pajamas tradition. We take great pride in picking out our Christmas PJ’s. We all go shopping together a week or two before Christmas, and pick out just the right ones. The only rule is that they cannot match. It’s a tradition, but we’re not “that” family. The second is the Nutcracker collection. Each of my boys receives a new nutcracker every year from me. I try to find just the right one- something that reminds me of them from that year. Each one is unique to their personality, what they’ve been interested in that year, or something that elicits a great memory. For instance, Mitchell got a nutcracker dressed all in the color orange last year because he became a Syracuse “Orangeman” when he went to college. These traditions don’t add anything to the Spiritual emphasis of Christmas. They are just fun.
The Spiritual emphasis we place on Christmas doesn’t have to come with a list of traditions, it’s a tradition all its own. The faith in a Savior born in Bethlehem, who grew up to die for our sins, and then rise again on the third day is part of who we are as a family. We don’t have to add a whole lot of traditions around that to make it important to us. We don’t have to think of ways to make the birth of Jesus special…it was special then, and it’s special now- period. This is not to say that we don’t do things to specifically celebrate Jesus- we do. We read of His birth in God’s Word together, we have a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake for dessert on Christmas Day, we do a “Walk to Bethlehem” somewhere around town…just to name a few.
The point is this, all of those things are good, but even if we stopped doing them, Christmas would still come. One day – maybe sooner than I want- my boys will stop shopping for pajamas with me. One day, they will display their nutcracker collections in their own homes- or at least put them in a box in their own basements. One day I will no longer sit on a couch with boys on each side as I read Luke 2. One day someone will decide that the birthday cake is no longer needed for dessert, and sadly, one day a walk around Bethlehem will be a faint memory. Despite all of that, Christmas will still come. Jesus will still be born. Jesus will still be King. Jesus will still be a Savior who loved us enough to die for our sins.
Our traditions don’t make or break Christmas. Only our belief in a very real and living God can make or break…everything.
This Week’s Announcements:
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 4pm and 6pm on…Christmas Eve of course! Each service will last an hour, but will vary in “feel.” The first one at 4pm will be more interactive (great for kids) and will feature our student ministry worship team leading us in worship. The second one will be more traditional.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
One little girl, trying to gain her friend’s attention, calls out, “Eleven!” The friend’s name is Evelyn. She may have wondered why the friend never answered.
One 4 year old brings his special “backpack” to church each week. This is funny for two reasons; one, it’s not a backpack, but is instead the empty case for a folding chair, and two, it is always filled with something different and unique. This week’s treasures included his sister’s polka-dotted slippers (which he put on as soon as he entered the room), and some “gold” he found in his backyard. The gold was in fact a Q-tip dipped in some sort of yellow paint. (Proof once again that we should just give our kids empty boxes for Christmas!)
Traditions were never a huge deal in my family. I don’t remember us doing anything around the holidays exactly the same every year. I don’t think this was a bad thing….we just didn’t. I remember every holiday being fun and full of family time. Maybe that was the only tradition we really needed.
I started several traditions with my boys through the years- some stuck and some didn’t. There are a few that we still continue to this day. The first is the new pajamas tradition. We take great pride in picking out our Christmas PJ’s. We all go shopping together a week or two before Christmas, and pick out just the right ones. The only rule is that they cannot match. It’s a tradition, but we’re not “that” family. The second is the Nutcracker collection. Each of my boys receives a new nutcracker every year from me. I try to find just the right one- something that reminds me of them from that year. Each one is unique to their personality, what they’ve been interested in that year, or something that elicits a great memory. For instance, Mitchell got a nutcracker dressed all in the color orange last year because he became a Syracuse “Orangeman” when he went to college. These traditions don’t add anything to the Spiritual emphasis of Christmas. They are just fun.
The Spiritual emphasis we place on Christmas doesn’t have to come with a list of traditions, it’s a tradition all its own. The faith in a Savior born in Bethlehem, who grew up to die for our sins, and then rise again on the third day is part of who we are as a family. We don’t have to add a whole lot of traditions around that to make it important to us. We don’t have to think of ways to make the birth of Jesus special…it was special then, and it’s special now- period. This is not to say that we don’t do things to specifically celebrate Jesus- we do. We read of His birth in God’s Word together, we have a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake for dessert on Christmas Day, we do a “Walk to Bethlehem” somewhere around town…just to name a few.
The point is this, all of those things are good, but even if we stopped doing them, Christmas would still come. One day – maybe sooner than I want- my boys will stop shopping for pajamas with me. One day, they will display their nutcracker collections in their own homes- or at least put them in a box in their own basements. One day I will no longer sit on a couch with boys on each side as I read Luke 2. One day someone will decide that the birthday cake is no longer needed for dessert, and sadly, one day a walk around Bethlehem will be a faint memory. Despite all of that, Christmas will still come. Jesus will still be born. Jesus will still be King. Jesus will still be a Savior who loved us enough to die for our sins.
Our traditions don’t make or break Christmas. Only our belief in a very real and living God can make or break…everything.
This Week’s Announcements:
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 4pm and 6pm on…Christmas Eve of course! Each service will last an hour, but will vary in “feel.” The first one at 4pm will be more interactive (great for kids) and will feature our student ministry worship team leading us in worship. The second one will be more traditional.
What God is Teaching Us:
Follow the link below to see this past Sunday’s curriculum:
This link is no longer available
Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
One little girl, trying to gain her friend’s attention, calls out, “Eleven!” The friend’s name is Evelyn. She may have wondered why the friend never answered.
One 4 year old brings his special “backpack” to church each week. This is funny for two reasons; one, it’s not a backpack, but is instead the empty case for a folding chair, and two, it is always filled with something different and unique. This week’s treasures included his sister’s polka-dotted slippers (which he put on as soon as he entered the room), and some “gold” he found in his backyard. The gold was in fact a Q-tip dipped in some sort of yellow paint. (Proof once again that we should just give our kids empty boxes for Christmas!)
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