Roots and Wings

I posted this on my blog and hope it is a thought provoking post. I realize from the comments I got there that there are numerous scenarios and circumstances which  make our upbringings and our own raising of families different. I have left the post as it was, but wanted to acknowledge, as was discussed in those comments, that no matter what mistakes are made GOD can and does change heart and lives.

This is only my thoughts on this one quote which I think is true for us as we raise children for the Lord.

Roots and Wings

“Good parents give their children Roots and Wimg”

Roots, to be firmly established and grounded in love. and wings to fly and reach heights beyond your expectations.

Psalm 1 tells us that the man is blessed who does not walk in the council of the ungodly, nor stands with sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But rather delights in and meditates on the law of the Lord.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

The roots of a strong faith, a loving family, parents committed to one another,
enable a child to grow into a grounded and confident adult. To dare to dream dreams and know that the home team is cheering. Always supporting and encouraging. This child reaches for goals that we as parents may have never dreamed of.
WingsSee how the Eagle soars! Such grace, such freedom, such confidence! He has trust in his abilities, his skill and he knows he has a firm and protected base to return to. He dares to soar out beyond the line of vision and try new pastures.

As parents, though we have invested many years, many tears, many prayers into the raising of our children, our job is not done until we have rooted and grounded them firmly enough to let them go. They are going to make mistakes, they are going to make decisions we do not agree with. They know what we believe on things. that our life and faith is grounded in the Word of God, yet they will at times make contrary choices. But if they know that we are behind them, upholding them in prayer, loving them, then they will spread their wings and fly!

Ah, there are reams that could be written about the does and don’ts of child rearing. From catechising to spanking, not supporting our children in sinful lifestyles, not holding on, not letting go,….. but just for now think of

Roots and Wings!

Sorry the formatting changed a ittle in transit!

For Laura!

 Happy Birthday Laura!

 

(Just read this at the Puritan Board)

Hind’s Feet in High Places!

Habbakuk 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

 

If you are weary, lonely or  heavy laden , perhaps in pain physically or emotionally, then you will take comfort from these beautiful words written by the prophet Habbakuk, inspired by the Holy Spirit. How often do we doubt. We think things look hopeless. We feel that our lives are shrivelled up and fruitless. We cannot see a way of escape. But God….

  

Thinking especially of Heidi today and those who suffer in one way or another. May we all take strength in the God of our Salvation and look to him with joy even in adversity.

Something to Ponder

Myself

by Edgar A. Guest

I have to live with myself, and so

I want to be fit for myself to know,

I want to be able, as days go by,

 Always to look myself straight in the eye;

I don’t want to stand, with the setting sun,

And hate myself for the things I’ve done.

I don’t want to keep on a closet shelf

 A lot of secrets about myself,

And fool myself, as I come and go,

Into thinking that nobody else will know

The kind of a man I really am;

I don’t want to dress up myself in sham.

 I want to go out with my head erect,

I want to deserve all men’s respect;

But here in the struggle for fame and self

I want to be able to like myself.

I don’t want to look at myself and know

 That I’m bluster and bluff and empty show.

I can never hide myself from me;

I see what others may never see;

I know what others may never know,

I never can fool myself, and so,

Whatever happens, I want to be

Self-respecting and conscience free.

I thought this poem was thoughtful. It is self centred but we know that God sees and knows all that we do and say and think. For us as christians, this helps and encourages us to truly seek to be Christlike in our life and conversation. I think we will all admit that at times we ignore, or at least pretend that we do not have certain faults and failings (sins!). I am provoked to examine my own self coming into this new year of 2010. Will I be a peron I can live with? Will I reflect my Lord and Saviour and walk before the Him ?. By  God’s grace.

May He bless each one in the year ahead .

The Weaver

My Life is but a weaving                                     

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver’s skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

B.M. Franklin

Pumpkin Soup

1 kg (2lb) pumpkin

 750g 1.5 lb) tomatoes

 500g (1lb) onions

pepper and salt

water

2 chicken stock cubes

Peel pumpkin and cut into pieces; skin tomatoes; peel and chop onions. Put all vegetables in pan. Add water to cover, stir in crumbled stock cubes.

Bring to boil; reduce heat, simmer until pumpkin is tender. Puree or rub through sieve. Season to taste. (Refrigerate if serving cold) Garnish with a little sour cream and chopped chives.

Serves 6 to 8. We love this as a hot soup but is nice cold as well. I usually put the ingredients into the crock pot, adding a couple of peeled, diced potatoes and slow cook until soft. (The picture  is not mine! I have never actually served Pumpkin Soup out of the pumpkin.)

Enjoy!

Wisdom from my Kitchen

This little gem appears at the bottom of my Macaroni Beef  recipe which I posted at  Mumma’s Place  earlier.

ooOOoo

HOW TO PRESERVE A HUSBAND

 

Be careful in the selection. Do not choose too ripe or too old. Best results if he has been reared in a healthy atmosphere. Some insist on keeping him in a pickle, others prefer to keep him in hot water, such treatment may make husband sour, hard and sometimes bitter. Many housewives have found that even poor varieties can be rendered tender and good by a garnish of patience, the sweetening of a smile, and the flavouring of a kiss to taste. Wrap him in a mantle of charity, place him over a warm steady fire of domestic devotion and serve with peaches and cream!

When thus preserved a husband will keep for years!

Paying it Forward

The events in this blog happened in May of this year. I am republishing them here from my blog because a similar thing has happened to us recently, which reminded me of God’s gracious provision and the blessing that brethren can and should be to one another.

One of the amazing blessings I have observed over the years is the way the Lord provides for his people…. sometimes in the most unexpected ways! We’ve all heard stories of money/ food /clothing, desperately needed, turning up, seemingly out of the blue. “Our God shall supply all our needs…”

This week, we had one such chain of events, though minor, which reminded us of God’s gracious provision for us and the way he attends to even the least of our needs. And how our good deeds and blessings are “paid forward”, so to speak.

A friendly neighbour, who often drops in home grown produce, sent a pile of pineapples over early in the day, which we really appreciated and we decided to pass them around.

Now some elderly friends have been really struggling with poor health, adult children and grandchildren problems and generally coping with everything. When hubby returned from a visit there in the morning he suggested I go over to help in the afternoon. I took our (already prepared) chicken casserole dinner over, both of us feeling we could manage without it that night and have a “scratch” tea. I spent a lovely few hours both doing chores and visiting. What a blessing these aged saints are and have been to us. I came home refreshed, though concerned for their plight.

We ate our basic evening meal and I was surprised as I did the dishes to receive a call from a dear friend. Could they call round briefly? Of course, that would be lovely! (But secretly I’m thinking – this is unusual?) Now these friends have had a very difficult year. Hubby, who is self employed, has been off work for 4 months, had an operation, and will be off a few months yet. I was wondering, are they okay?

When they arrived they came bearing several kilos of steak, sausages and mince!!

During their period of hardship many have given “care packages” to their large family and this day they had been generously given a large meat order. They in turn felt led to share some of this bounty with us!!
Marvellous provision indeed!
And we’ve all really enjoyed the pineapples!

Contentment

I am very thankful to Heidi for inviting me to post on “keeping house” and quite excited to join this lovely group of ladies. I have been reading, learning from and enjoying your posts and trust that I will be able to add a little to the mix.

I am thinking this evening, as I sit here enjoying the cool after a warm Spring day, that our very hot and humid Summer is just around the corner. This seems so strange when you are posting about Autumn and shopping for Winter clothes. Here in Central Queensland the heat becomes oppressive, we sit right on the Tropic of Capricorn! Even in our Winter it is so mild we never see snow and rarely need a second layer of clothes through a whole day.

So, I am contemplating CONTENTMENT….

As I brace myself for the inevitable heat, the humidity, the lethargy, the frustration of day after day, week after week without rain, I realize that one can begin to rail against God and His providence in such conditions. Complain. Whinge. Protest. I have often fallen into an obsession with the weather and what it will or more so won’t allow me to do.

Does the cold produce this faithless response as well?

Let’s uplift one another in facing the oncoming challenges with temperature. Encourage one another to keep running the race, keeping our eye and heart set upon the goal! I want so much to focus on what I can accomplish and not what I am missing out on.

Some Reasons to Love this HOT climate…(or let’s play the Pollyanna Game!)

I’m glad we have about 15 hours of sunlight per day in Summer.

I’m glad we have about 360 fine days per year.

I’m extremely glad that the beach is only 40 minutes away. Phew!

I’m glad I can make great savings on the cost of running a clothe’s dryer. Clothes dry in unbelievably quick time. (Be careful not to leave them out as the sun can really fade them quickly too!)

I’m glad that the Public Library, Supermarkets have Air Con and we use it A LOT.

“…But Godliness with contentment is great gain.”