Have you ever heard someone say that "family is number one to me?"
I often laugh at this, because people's ideas of "family" are so all over the place these days. Are they talking about their wife and kids? Their parents and siblings? Their grandparents? In-laws? Friends? Neighbors? Pets?
I like to think that my family is very important to me, too.
And, to answer your question, I consider my "family" as my husband, brother, parents, in-laws, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and beyond.
That's a lot of people to keep track of!
Last weekend I took my sister-in-law to my parents house out-of-state, and during the visit we did our normal visit things, like family dinner with my parents and grandparents, and games after dinner. When we got back home from our trip, my sister-in-law made a comment to my husband on how much she "loves my family." That really touched my heart, because she was referring to my family, as hers. She went on to say how inviting my parents and grandparents are to her and how she loved having family dinners together and playing "chicken foot" after dinner and having fun together. She even said, "That's how a family should be."
She and my husband did not grow up like I did, and hearing her say that, and knowing that I grew up like that and she and my husband didn't made me appreciate my "family" even more.
But, "family" would not be possible to me without my parents. They are the ones who brought me into this crazy family to begin with.
I am one of the lucky ones who actually really truly loves her parents. I always have. I may not have always liked them from time to time, but I have always truly loved them.
I really miss having my parents live in the same town as me. And I have found it hard since they moved to keep feeling close to them via email and text and occasional visits.
This is just a wrap around way of saying that I really love you, mom and dad.
I know I have put you through lots of troubles and I have caused a lot of hurt growing up, but I didn't mean it. You two loving me the way you do is something I will always cherish and try my best to show to my future children.
Others may think they have the title, but mom and dad, you really are the world's best parents!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
He loves me, He loves me not
I am often in awe over how much I love Christ Jesus. He is the reason why I am married. He is the reason why I serve him in his church. He is the reason I wake up each day.
And how lucky I am that he loves me even more.
The past seven weeks my boss and I have been teaching 12 pre-teens about the church and God and the Bible through a United Methodist confirmation class. After the seven weeks, the youth will be confirmed into the church and also become members.
Teaching pre-teens, which I usually don't do, because I teach teenagers and beyond, is a real test of faith for me.
Pre-teens are just a little too young for my teaching style. They are up and out of their seats. They don't listen. They whine. They are always hungry and thirsty. And they always say, "this is boring."
I just want to shake them because to me, this isn't boring! Learning about your faith is the most important thing that you can devote your time too.
But, teaching this confirmation class has reminded me of a lot. It reminds me that God wants us to have childlike faith (Mark 10:13). And you can't get more in practice with that scripture than by teaching faith in a child(like) setting.
I guess religion and doctrine and old time scrolls are not too childlike anyway.
Jesus' love is the most authentic, the most childlike understanding of our faith. Nothing is more simple than love. Children, babies in fact, understand the concept of love. Whereas they don't necessarily understand the concept of religious prophecy and ancient texts.
We need to let love shine. And we need to keep that love authentic and sincere (Romans 12:9). No matter the age.
And how lucky I am that he loves me even more.
The past seven weeks my boss and I have been teaching 12 pre-teens about the church and God and the Bible through a United Methodist confirmation class. After the seven weeks, the youth will be confirmed into the church and also become members.
Teaching pre-teens, which I usually don't do, because I teach teenagers and beyond, is a real test of faith for me.
Pre-teens are just a little too young for my teaching style. They are up and out of their seats. They don't listen. They whine. They are always hungry and thirsty. And they always say, "this is boring."
I just want to shake them because to me, this isn't boring! Learning about your faith is the most important thing that you can devote your time too.
But, teaching this confirmation class has reminded me of a lot. It reminds me that God wants us to have childlike faith (Mark 10:13). And you can't get more in practice with that scripture than by teaching faith in a child(like) setting.
I guess religion and doctrine and old time scrolls are not too childlike anyway.
Jesus' love is the most authentic, the most childlike understanding of our faith. Nothing is more simple than love. Children, babies in fact, understand the concept of love. Whereas they don't necessarily understand the concept of religious prophecy and ancient texts.
We need to let love shine. And we need to keep that love authentic and sincere (Romans 12:9). No matter the age.
New mission bring new troubles
Over the past year I have been involved in starting a new mission at my church that feeds the hungry for free in our community once-a-week.
This mission is finally underway and tomorrow will be the fourth time we have offered a free meal.
I think the mission is already proving fruitful as we have seen numbers over 50 coming and eating and fellowshipping together.
One thing I have learned over the years of being on staff at a church is that people are strange. People act in all different ways. The church is more about relationships sometimes, than God. And that makes me sad.
What I believe the purpose of this new mission is, is to bring food to the hungry, and open our church doors to people who otherwise would not step foot in a church.
The very first night that we were opened for business, we had 11 guests. Not the number we were expecting, much lower actually, but still, we had 11. And from that 11 came some very inspirational stories. One mom who has two very small children, was walking by our church on her way to the market which is four blocks down from us, and she came in. We learned that she only has $40 to spend on food every other week, and with no car, she and her children walk to the market every other week with that $40 to purchase food. She and her children have come back to the dinners each Friday there after.
This mother and her story is what I think of when I think of this mission. People who are needing comfort and shelter and nourishment.
But today my eyes were opened to that what I believe to be in the forefront is not, and instead people are getting in the way of this mission's success. Leaders are back stabbing each other.
It's not about egos. Or who is the "main" leader. Or who should take the credit for the success of this new mission.
It's about God.
God made this mission possible. God made our lives possible. And it was our choice to follow Jesus, nameless in the eyes of our neighbors, because we wish to put Jesus' name above our own.
This mission is finally underway and tomorrow will be the fourth time we have offered a free meal.
I think the mission is already proving fruitful as we have seen numbers over 50 coming and eating and fellowshipping together.
One thing I have learned over the years of being on staff at a church is that people are strange. People act in all different ways. The church is more about relationships sometimes, than God. And that makes me sad.
What I believe the purpose of this new mission is, is to bring food to the hungry, and open our church doors to people who otherwise would not step foot in a church.
The very first night that we were opened for business, we had 11 guests. Not the number we were expecting, much lower actually, but still, we had 11. And from that 11 came some very inspirational stories. One mom who has two very small children, was walking by our church on her way to the market which is four blocks down from us, and she came in. We learned that she only has $40 to spend on food every other week, and with no car, she and her children walk to the market every other week with that $40 to purchase food. She and her children have come back to the dinners each Friday there after.
This mother and her story is what I think of when I think of this mission. People who are needing comfort and shelter and nourishment.
But today my eyes were opened to that what I believe to be in the forefront is not, and instead people are getting in the way of this mission's success. Leaders are back stabbing each other.
It's not about egos. Or who is the "main" leader. Or who should take the credit for the success of this new mission.
It's about God.
God made this mission possible. God made our lives possible. And it was our choice to follow Jesus, nameless in the eyes of our neighbors, because we wish to put Jesus' name above our own.
Times Flies
Wow, poor little blog, been neglected for almost three months!
It's amazing how time flies when you are having fun, or not having fun. Haha
You know, I wanted to get a certificate last year for a side job I was considering and I wanted to get it done in three months. Well, I looked today at the last time I logged into the system for that, and it was November 1, 2010. Almost a year ago! How sad is that? I have been looking at the material in my hall closet for almost a year, and have not touched it.
It is crazy to me how the days go by so slow, but the years go by so fast.
When I was younger I never understood how I would ever love being in heaven for "eternity." That's too long.
But, now I can see that eternity is just not long enough.
It's amazing how time flies when you are having fun, or not having fun. Haha
You know, I wanted to get a certificate last year for a side job I was considering and I wanted to get it done in three months. Well, I looked today at the last time I logged into the system for that, and it was November 1, 2010. Almost a year ago! How sad is that? I have been looking at the material in my hall closet for almost a year, and have not touched it.
It is crazy to me how the days go by so slow, but the years go by so fast.
When I was younger I never understood how I would ever love being in heaven for "eternity." That's too long.
But, now I can see that eternity is just not long enough.
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