Archive for the ‘Be the change’ Tag
The truth about Twelve
Filed under: God, Reflection | Tags: God, Children, Grace, Hope, Be the change
Leave a Comment Twelve is nine weeks now and a joy to all of our lives.
She will undergo open heart surgery in just 28 days.
I spend a lot of time just rocking her.
Six asked me if I ever got bored doing that.
Sounding a lot like Seven I said, “what…showing her God’s love?”
Maybe Seven is rubbing off.
At another time in my life I probably would not have had the time to spare for her…too many meaningless meetings to attend and so-called important memos to write.
But the truth is three other families considered taking her into their home and then turned her down.
Too much work?
Too much risk?
A ship is safe in harbor – but that’s not what ships are for.
God is in the business of saving lives.
We are in the business of helping God save lives.
But here’s the question…arr we saving Twelve…or is she saving us?
From selfishness?
From not caring?
From a wonderful to show the world the love God has shown us?
To be that conduit of God’s love?
Yes…yes…yes…
Different worlds
Dinner conversation.
Two sisters…worlds apart…countries apart too.
One is excited about scoring a reservation at a restaurant without a menu…where the waiting list is more exclusive than her son’s preschool…where the tab is $250 per person.
The other, excited about her new daughter, just five weeks old, requiring a commitment that may last the rest of her life.
Pretty exclusive I’d say.
Scoring the reservation was the best thing that happened to her that day.
The best thing that happened to me the same day was bringing home number twelve…oh yeah…a bonus…sharing my recipe for peach salsa with Number Two.
We live in different worlds and I wouldn’t switch if I could eat that 15 course meal every day!
What I learned from 33 English teachers
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Be the change, Big Family, Children, My Code
Leave a Comment Seven is at it again.
He won another award.
This time he was a Hero to his two English teachers.
They called him their hero because he tries hard…has shown improvement…has a good sense of humor…and…
They said he dealt with the loss of his sister, Lucy, by expressing his feelings through poetry.
I think Seven was more of a hero than many of the 32 other heroes…but I may be prejudice.
I like to pick up useful tips every time I go to something like this.
Think about it…33 English teachers…all making speeches about their student heroes.
Some may call this boring…like Ten who fell asleep on my lap.
But I was alert and listening carefully for wit…wisdom…creative language…like a Michigan Avenue panhandler begging for bucks from the rich and beautiful.
Actually the pickings were slim.
But what I did get was good.
One teacher said her student hero “created sparkle” when she came into the classroom.
I love this phrase. It immediately reminded me of Ten!
Our sweet Ten who just turned six yesterday has been creating sparkle in our lives and the lives of everyone she encounters all her life.
Another teacher said her student hero brought something to class that was difficult to teach…audacity!
I love that word.
I want to think that I’ve instilled a sense of audacity in you children.
What is audacity?
The dictionary defines it is fearless, daring, intrepidity.
It goes on to say…bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints, as of those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention.
I like audacity as it pertains to creativity…unconventional…different drummer marching.
I’ve seen it in all of you.
Aren’t we audacious as a family?
Well two out of 33 doesn’t make for a good batting average but if you are taking gems of ideas it is great.
Thanks and congrats Seven…you audacious kid!
Bringing work home
Filed under: God, Reflection | Tags: Be the change, Blessings, Boot Camp for the Real World, Children, God, Hope, Thanksgiving
Leave a Comment She’s at it again…bringing her work home.
I’m talking about Mom and the child she brought home from work yesterday.
A child in need with lots of issues.
A boy.
Is he #12?
Didn’t we retire that number?
Is he 13?
Do we assign a jersey if we’re not sure how long he is staying?
Do we call him #71 for the number who have passed through our family…sounds like food going through the digestive process…not a bad analysis…we need to process…digest the newcomer.
Here’s what blows me down, Popeye…he has some serious issues…not to mention 12 toes and 12 fingers…or that he barfs every time he eats…we are not phased by this.
I think we are amazing…I’m so proud of my family…Lucy taught us to have compassion for those less fortunate…the least of our brothers and sisters.
Our children have love to spare for those that are otherwise unlovable.
Well blow me down!
God has given them…given us the gift of compassion…a priceless gift…we REALLY are being conformed to the character of Christ!
How can you say this without sounding proud?
I don’t want to…I’m mostly surprised…I feel like the caterpillar that all of a sudden notices he’s grown wings.
What am I trying to say?
I think I am realizing that caring for Lucy changes us all…for the better…eternally speaking.
It gave us all hearts…hearts for those in need.
This isn’t the last you’ll hear from me about this. I need to ponder this some more.
Seeds of hope
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Be the change, Blessings, Children, Hope, Thanksgiving, Together Time
Leave a Comment Our church is in the process of sending seeds to start gardens for half a million starving families in
Zimbabwe, Africa.
It is based on the principle, “give a man a carrot and you feed him for a day…give him a pack of seed and you feed him for life.”
I’m glad God lead us to a church that does more than entertain Christians.
It puts feet to the Gospel.
We all know that faith without works is dead.
There’s another benefit…it instills the Gospel in our children.
I helped pack seeds with Five, Eight and Nine.
It was a memorable event.
We have so much and others have so little.
It is our hope that our precious children will recognize the difference and be compelled to do something about it.
So the seeds we packed bring hope to the hungry…they also bring hope to the not-so-hungry…food-wise anyway.
I hope we can instill a Christian world view in our children.
That’s hope for the future
Is it a job is you don’t have a regular payday?
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Be the change, Blessings, Thanksgiving
Leave a Comment Jobs.
Responsibility.
Came in twos.
On the same day last week.
One is a ministry that can be huge.
One is real consulting that can be big.
Feels good.
My time in the dessert must be ending.
But these will be like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
Excited?
You bet.
Seeds.
I’m thankful.
Trusting God to make them grow…into whatever He wants them to be.
Working in the new reality
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Be the change, Hope
Leave a Comment Now this is more like it.
Why didn’t I work like this years ago?
Sunny day.
Warm breeze.
Slow walk…slower dog…slower child (Eleven).
Making phone calls…texting…reading and sending email.
Doing business…making plans…enjoying life.
Hey, sometimes you can have your cake and eat it…you just need to recognize the cake when you see it.
Lucy is still the baby of the family
Filed under: Memories, Reflection | Tags: Be the change, Big Family, Hope
Leave a Comment Eleven is irate!
Ten referred to her as the “baby of the family”!
Eleven only heard the word “baby” which is a fighting word when you are under six years of age!
When it was explained that the youngest member of the family was lovingly referred to as the baby of the family she shouted, “Lucy is the baby of the family not me!”
So, in a sense..in a very real and eternal sense…especially in Eleven’s mind and all of our hearts…Lucy is the baby of the family…at least for now.
Once again, Eleven has taught us a lesson…while Lucy is not in our presence…she can be as alive in our hearts and minds as we we want her to be.
May it be that way for all of us!
Resolutions finalized
I look at New Year’s resolutions differently than most people.
I look at them as an operating system that I will follow as I attempt to live my life through my pre-determined goals.
Sounds MBA?
Well this is me…take me or leave me.
I’ve narrowed down my resolutions…my operating system…my Windows…to three statements.
Drum roll please:
- Avoid inane conversations.
- Don’t fight with professional fighters.
- Practice humility.
I could probably get away with just practice humility but an anal person such as I am can’t resist a list of three.
Maybe it is the all day retreat I attended on January 2.
Maybe it is the warm feeling of thanksgiving that I’m feeling.
But I want to practice humility in 2010 and beyond.
Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted.
So far, I’ve made a quick exit whenever either a professional fighter or an inane conversationalist entered my space. I heard a quote from an unknown author that goes like this: “I don’t have to attend every argument I’m invited to.”
P.S. inane refers to age appropriateness…otherwise I’d have to avoid Nine through Eleven.
Higher standards and lower tolerance
Another resolution.
Not sure what it means but it sounds good.
It is the child of my pet peeve list.
Like a corporate slogan.
Lower tolerance.
Like refusing to tell certain family members to do their homework, stop watching TV, or go to bed.
Consequences (as soon as I figure them out) will be swift and without warning.
That’s lower tolerance.
Does lower tolerance lead to higher standards?
I hope so.
