Shepherds or sheep?

The sheep imagery came up last week in our scripture, and I wondered if part of our trouble as parents is seeing ourselves as both shepherds and sheep? We are lambs of God, but charged with keeping His sheep... I think sometimes I'd rather be a sheep than a shepherd. It's a great responsibility with which we've been charged, and often feels overwhelming. This study has helped me be more mindful of my behaviour as an example to my children, but in so many ways I still feel more like a sheep wandering lost, than the shepherd.

Stephanie asked that I post this from her for everyone:
Thinking is something all humankind is capable of doing. Often we get tired
of thinking and only react. But the absence of thought is considered empty
minded and foolish. We should really try to think through all
things.....reason, ponder, meditate, consider, cogitate, suppose! Don't
depend on thinking only while you are "on the job", because as
parents......we are always "on the job". Ask God for his wisdom, we can all
use more of it, especially HIS. Don't let age come all by itself!

It is so hard to be mindful, but to live a good life it seems we must be ever mindful: of our mouths, that our actions match our intentions, that we are living our values not just going along with the herd. May God be with us all as we struggle to be as He would like us to be.

Making Children Mind...

Thanks to Stephanie Rice for facilitating our first session of Dr. Kevin Lehman's Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours. It was great to see all the new faces in the group, we will so enjoy having fresh faces, thoughts and ideas. I thought it was interesting that the subtitle is "How to Bring Out the Best in Your Kids By Doing What is Best for Them". That seems very different from the 'making children mind' of the title. I know they came up with that to be catchy and cute, but I like the subtitle better!
See you next week!

Kids and the Common Good

Or... how sharing a room with your sister is good for the future of our society!
I was reading an article about the difficulties of raising children in today's society (that I will share with you at class some time) and came across what I felt was a profound statement: "...[the couple's] six children share bedrooms as well as belongings, and Todd believes that such large-family necessities expose children to the notion of 'the common good' in a very direct and concrete way." I know that kids learn best from experience, and Christ tells us that we each have an obligation to contribute to the common good (take care of our neighbors), but little did I realize that I am training them in the ways of Christ by making them share a room! (Just wait 'till someone asks for her own room again...) The serious message is that economic and cultural changes of the last 20 years have had many unintended impacts, including the NOT teaching of these critical lessons in direct, personal ways so that children internalize the message - THUS making the job of good, concerned parents even harder. Something to think about as we start our parenting study this week! Please post and comment with your thoughts on the subject. Jenn

CHRISTMAS EVE

Join us for the Christmas Eve service at Wesley at 6PM! This service is designed to be at a family friendly time, so if enough of us come, they might continue to offer it!

May this holiday season find you all blessed with family and friends and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!

He's Almost Here...

We've had a week FILLED with holiday events. The youth did a great job with "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". I know everyone had a good time; it was fun to laugh at the jokes (intended and unintended). Wednesday night the children did a wonderful job with their presentation. I was pleased so many people stayed to watch the performance. The Cherub Choir was so full of personality, and the SPIRIT kids had a great sound for such a small group. Any opportunity to see the puppets is a treat, too!

All these fun events can leave us feeling run-around and tired; maybe even a little crabby. I know on Wednesday I started my day at 7:30 and got home around 9PM (I had an event AFTER church, too!) and was pooped. But being in fellowship with all of you really helped lift my spirits and stay in the spirit of the season. And isn't that the reason for these holiday season special events - to give us a moment out of the ordinary to come together and worship? As tempting as it is to cut things from the schedule, I am choosing to embrace them as opportunities, despite the inconvenience. So far, works for me... anyone else have survival tips?

Friday Night Fun

Friday's holiday get together proved full of laughs! Most of the class was able to attend, and we managed to completely redesign the back room at Monterrey's, as well as work one poor server to death. The ornament exchange was tons of fun, with much stealing, opening and ooh's and aahs. The best behaved guest was Noah Harrell, not much of a suprise considering the company. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

You never know...

Sometimes you learn things about people you never knew....