Beatitudes For Parents

Blessed are those parents who make their peace with spilled milk and mud, for of such is the kingdom of childhood.

Blessed is the parent who engages not in the comparison of his child with others, for precious unto each is the rhythm of his own growth.

Blessed are the fathers and mothers who have learned laughter, for it is the music of the child's world.

Blessed and wise are those parents who understand the goodness of time, for they make it not a sword that kills growth but a shield to protect.

Blessed and mature are they who without anger can say "no," for comforting to the child is the security of firm decisions.

Blessed is the gift of consistency, for it is heart's-ease in childhood.

Blessed are they who accept the awkwardness of growth, for they are aware of the choice between marred furnishings and damaged personalities.

Blessed are the teachable, for knowledge brings understanding, and understanding brings love.

Blessed are the men and women who in the midst of the unpromising mundane, give love, for they bestow the greatest of all gifts to each other, to their children, and -- in an ever-widening circle -- to their fellow men.

Blessed are those who read these words...but more blessed will be they who follow them!

By Marion E. Kinneman (1895-1985)

Multitasker Person & To GOD.Com

This is an illustration.... and ooo.... How true it is....

I'm a master multi-tasker.
I eat breakfast while I drive.
Even make calls while I'm steering.
In one hour, I work five.
I check scores while sending e-mail.
It's called working while you play.
I can exercise while reading.
And I worry while I pray.

I can shave while I am showering.
I watch news while getting dressed.
I drink coffee walking Fido.
Maybe that's why I am stressed.
Doing just one thing seems lazy.
There's so much that must get done.
So I'm dreaming while I'm working how to sleep while on the run.

Copyright 2005 by Greg Asimakoupoulos, Mercer Island, WA Rhymes 'n Reasons/The Partial Observer

It's a funny pray yet meaningful....

Dear Lord,

Every single evening As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer Keeps running through my head:
God bless all my family Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm and safe from harm For they're so close to me.
And God, there is one more thingI wish that you could do; Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too.

Now I know that it's unusual To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second While I explain it to you, Lord.
You see, that little metal box Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments Rest so many of my friends.
I know so much about them By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal Takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them Much the same as you
We share in what life brings us And from that our friendships grew.
Please take an extra minute From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book That's filled with so much love.
Wherever else this prayer may reach To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inboxAnd each person who hits "send".
When you update your Heavenly list On your own Great CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer Sent up to GOD.com

Amen

Thump-Thud, Thump-Thud

When a potter bakes a pot, he checks its solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it “sings,” it’s ready. If it “thuds,” it’s placed back in the oven.

The character of a person is also checked by thumping.

Been thumped lately?

Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt meals. Flat tires. You’ve-got-to-be-kidding deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are those irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat-footed. They aren’t big enough to be crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out! Traffic jams. Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the floor. Even as I write this, I’m being thumped. Because of interruptions, it has taken me almost two hours to write these two paragraphs. Thump. Thump. Thump.

How do I respond? Do I sing, or do I thud?

Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (Luke 6:45). There’s nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart. The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living.

If you have a tendency to thud more than you sing, take heart.

There is hope for us “thudders”:

Begin by thanking God for thumps. I don’t mean a half-hearted thank-you. I mean a rejoicing, jumping-for-joy thank-you from the bottom of your heart (James 1:2). Chances are that God is doing the thumping. And he’s doing it for your own good. So every thump is a reminder that God is molding you (Hebrews 12:5-8).

Learn from each thump. Face up to the fact that you are not “thump-proof.” You are going to be tested from now on. You might as well learn from the thumps—you can’t avoid them. Look upon each inconvenience as an opportunity to develop patience and persistence. Each thump will help you or hurt you, depending on how you use it.

Be aware of “thump-slump” times. Know your pressure periods. For me, Mondays are infamous for causing thump-slumps. Fridays can be just as bad. For all of us, there are times during the week when we can anticipate an unusual amount of thumping. The best way to handle thump-slump times? Head on. Bolster yourself with extra prayer, and don’t give up.

Remember no thump is disastrous. All thumps work for good if we are loving and obeying God.

This article is Max Lucado's