Sarah's Fairy Tales

Two nights ago Priscilla and Timo asked for a bedtime 'Johnny and Suzie story'.  These are the names my Dad used in telling stories so I carried on the tradition.  Here was my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-imagination story.  (I didn't think it was great, but they laughed and laughed and told me to post it here for future reference):

Once upon a time there was a boy named Johnny - sometimes known as 'naughty little Johnny' - and he had a sister named Suzie.  Suzie was Johnny's older sister.  ("Hey!" they chimed in - "that's wrong - Johnny was always older!" "But this time it's different.  In this story Suzie is older."  Little did they know I tailor made their ages to fit the audience).

One day Suzie and Johnny were out in the backyard in their little play house.  They were playing house and Suzie was being the Mommy and Johnny was the Daddy.  Before too long they started to fight.
"Quit telling me what to do!" said Johnny.
"I get to tell you what to do because you're supposed to help me make supper."
"No you don't.  You always boss me around."
"No, you just have to learn how to play house."
"Well, I don't want to play with you.  You're always mean to me."

And on and on their bickering went.

When all of a sudden...

Grrr... Woo woo!!!

A scary sound outside.

"Johnny, did you hear that?!"
"No, you're making things up.  You just want to trick me.  You're always teasing me."
"No, really, I heard a noise outside."
"C'mon Suzie.  You're just trying to get me to do what you want.  Well I'm not gonna."
"Johnny!  I heard a noise outside!"
"I don't want to play with you bossy-pants.  I'm going to go and tell Mommy!"
"Don't go out there Johnny!  There's something out there."
"I'm going.  You can't tell me what to do!"
"Don't go!!!"

But Johnny didn't listen.
He opened the playhouse door.
He went out into the yard.







And sure enough...





A coyote scurried right up to him and gobbled him all up.  And that was the end of Johnny.


The End.

Thoughts on a Walk

Today Hannah begged me to take her on a walk.  So we took a leisurely stroll to a cemetery nearby, and I saw the lovely Oak Trees and couldn't help but to jot down my thoughts:


The stately Oak Tree stands towering,
Tall, unmoved -
Arms outstretched
Strong and firm.

Full clusters of leaves
Spread
To catch the faintest summer breeze,

Amidst the graveyard of souls long gone
Whose mark on earth
Mysteriously begets
Curiosity.

Beneath the Mighty Oak
A lone stone sits.
One year engraved on the weather-worn canvas -
Solitary on that sad monument
Recalls a child whose name unknown
To us
But known above
Yet now lives to glorify
The Maker of Oak Trees,
Stones and
Life.

Is Being Chronically Late Selfish?

I was pondering lateness recently - since someone used the term 'unfashionably late'.  I ended up with a thought conversation with myself, which I am apt to have going on in my head at any given time.  Here is what it looked like:

Hmmm... UNfashionably late implies there is fashionable lateness.  Well, I guess I qualify for both categories since I'm usually late to things.  Oh well.

What do you mean 'oh well,'?!  Many people consider lateness to be rude, selfish, thoughtless, and disrespectful.

Well, they're just on the Western end of the cultural spectrum.  I just happen to be at the other end.

Hey, don't excuse yourself so easily!  Cultural or not cultural, do you want people judging you by your lateness?

No, I don't.  But it's their problem for being so snooty - and might I add, just a wee bit self-centered too since they imply the late person is so selfish for making them wait?  Because no time is wasted if you have an engaging mind and something to do.  If you're waiting for a late person, that time could be used praying or observing the sunshine or snow and thanking God for it.  The concept of wasted time is really for the un-imaginative soul.

Well, that may be true, but you should probably not add to the judgements heaped upon yourself by being late all the time.

Okay, but now, let's actually consider: Is is selfish to be late?  My answer is NO.  It may be poor planning or scatterbrained-ness but unless you know or have inside knowledge into the late person's heart, it is unfair to label their lateness as selfish.

Why do I say that?  Because while being late may inconvenience others, and this is an oversight on the late person's account, late people in general (at least the ones I know of) are not late because they want the world to revolve around them.  They are not late because they think of self so much.  They are late because they don't plan well.  This does cause others grief and inconvenience.  But it offers the others the opportunity to be gracious and grow in patience and kindness.  And while we're laying blame here, let me add a doozy to the mix.

I believe the Self-Righteous Whiners About Late People are actually guilty of the greater fault.  They judge.  They think of themselves as better, superior, of greater wisdom and kindness than their less-organized friends.  They are guilty of a greater fault: Pride.

Yes, I need to work on lateness. But my lateness has humbled me on more than one occasion.  The 'have-it-all-together' types just don't have opportunities for growth in humility like I do.  So they need to work on their pride.

And now that I have judged them, I guess I'm guilty of pride too.

Ugh.

Purity and Prayer - a Link

I don't normally post links on my blog, but sometimes I come across something worthwhile and think my readers would appreciate.  So here is a link of a beautiful wedding photo as well as the story behind it.  Maybe you'll be blessed by it as I was:

The Power of Prayer

When Words Do Damage - 7 Tips for Communicating during Conflict

Today I'm linking you over to A Biblical Marriage Blog where I wrote very honestly about my struggles in communicating in marriage.  Maybe you will relate to my tendency to fury and passion - and the lack of self-control!

As always, I enjoy hearing from you in the comments!  Thanks!

Loving and Communicating Hand in Hand - Part 1

And here is the link for Part 2 where I give 7 tips for communicating in marriage:

Loving and Communicating Hand in Hand - Part 2

Prayer of a Modern Pharisee

Oh Lord,

I thank You for the redemption I now have which, though a gift from You, came by my choosing.  I am so glad I was able to see the light and have chosen well.

Others aren't as blessed as I am.  I thank You that I can live at peace knowing I have crossed every 't' and dotted every 'i' in the realm of spiritual living.

Thank you for my freedom which I use so wisely and that I don't live as a slave to my job or to money or to my hobbies but that I give myself to much worthier pursuits...unlike SO many others.

Thank you for helping me to see the better way and please help me to instruct others accordingly, because I know they will be so blessed by my superior knowledge.


For these things I thank you,
Amen...


Do I need to comment on the above?  I hope not.  I hope it is apparent what I mean by putting this out there.  Don't our prayers smack of this sentiment sometimes?  Instead, let our prayers reflect the sentiment of the tax-collector who knew the sinful condition of his heart:

Oh Lord,

I am sorry.  I fail.  I have no hope in this life but You - You only can meet me in my need.

You only can satisfy me.

I have pursued other things.  I have wasted myself in ungodly endeavours.  I have not loved You with all that is in me.  Help me.  I am desperate for You.

Only by Your mercy can I dare to lift my head.  In Your holy presence I shudder.  I have no worthiness to seek You.  But Your Son has opened the door.  Though undeserving I have accepted His gift.  But without Your life-giving Spirit I could not know You.

I thank You for seeing me, in all my ugly filth, and coming to me anyway.  You stooped down to rescue a wretched sinner.

I am grateful.  I am needy.  I am dependent on You.  For all Your grace, I thank You.

Amen.

Cuando estás en el final de la cuerda Parenting

Ayer fue difícil para nosotros. Uno de nuestros hijos tenían percepciones por fusión bajadas continuas y el mal y nos hizo nuestra cena en tiempo casi insoportable. Otro niño enchufado orejas y dejó la mesa en un momento sólo para escapar del caos.   Sorprendentemente , no perdió los estribos. (Inserte aquí aplausos). 

Admitir esto al público es algo atrevido, y si yo era el tipo sensible que no podía hacerlo . Todo el mundo piensa que saben cómo manejar a un niño con necesidades especiales ... hasta que lo tiene. Yo confiaba en mi crianza hasta que la vida nos lanzó una curva.  podría haber aconsejado a todos los padres por ahí exactamente cómo manejar cada acción disciplinaria posible imaginable.Yo era creativa, valiente, inquebrantable, obstinado incluso.   era una mamá a tener en cuenta.

Y luego tuvimos un niño que no encaja en el molde. No rodar con los golpes.  Él no 'get' nuestro método.  Él no conforme, presentar, responde o parece incluso entender la causa y el efecto de la disciplina! Si alguno de nuestros hijos demostraron la rebelión en contra de nosotros nos diéramos cuenta y fue abordado inmediatamente.   Con un niño con necesidades especiales a menudo se da cuenta de que, aunque sus respuestas son inapropiadas, que a menudo su respuesta es el dolor o malestar en vez de un centro de rebelión.  

Cada niño es único y este es el punto exacto de la dificultad de ser padres. Un modelo singular - que apunta a resultados como galletas - no es 100% a prueba de tontos. Uno de los a-ha! momentos para mí fue cuando vi a un niño menor de nuestro supere una más antigua en la estabilidad emocional y la madurez.   De repente me di cuenta de que el nivel de desarrollo en uno de nuestros hijos fue año tras otro!   Y sin embargo, yo había esperado que él responde con la madurez adecuada.   

¿Me excuso su mal comportamiento?  De ninguna manera. ¿He entendido de manera diferente que antes? Sí .  ¿Cómo uno se ocupa de un niño de dos años de edad, será diferente a veces que un niño de seis años de edad. Pero si su hijo de seis años de edad, no está avanzando más allá de dos emocionalmente, volviendo al modelo de dos años de edad, puede ser una opción. 

Yo ni siquiera me gusta el término 'necesidades especiales', pero voy a tener que utilizarla para mayor comodidad. Dios diseñó cada uno completo con nuestras fortalezas y debilidades. Sé que tiene razones de esto. Independientemente de las razones, que sólo puede ser agotador a veces.

Cuando miro a nuestra situación y quiero quejarme me reprendí a mi espíritu. Es agotador. Es más creo que puedo manejar. Rezo por la sabiduría.  Rezo para el cambio . Rezo por el crecimiento - a veces más por mis hijos que para mí ("¿No estoy hecho cada vez más, Señor ¿no crees que ya he tenido suficiente de crecimiento por ahora?" Y casi puedo sentir su sonrisa amorosa que Él oye mi del corazón). 

frustraciones vienen porque la vida no es lo que esperamos.  Queremos diferente. Por lo menos, yo sólo quiero un descanso a veces . Esta es la disciplina de tener hijos - que a veces hay tramos largos sin interrupciones. Las familias aseado-little-ordenada-paquetes que hacen todo bien y la vida orquestar para ejecutarse en un horario totalmente predecible han recibido una gracia especial de Dios misericordioso que elude el resto de nosotros. (¿Existen esas familias? Tal vez, todavía estoy buscando!) Rutinas, la organización y los horarios son grandesy todo ... no me malinterpreten. Lo que quiero decir es que a veces la vida se complica aún, se cae a pedazos y los niños siguen haciendo las cosas mal el uno al otro y que, ya menos que usted vive en un cuento de hadas que se a veces dan ganas de gritar y tirar de los pelos - no, lo dicho: tire su  . pelo 

En esos momentos yo estoy orando por la paz y la calma y la presencia de ánimo . 'Stay encima de la refriega "me digo. 'No te arrastrado a esto. " "Que el drama permanecer donde está - con ellos. ' " Alguien  tiene que mantener la calma. Que sea usted como mamá. " 

Pero al final del día puedo no tener todas las respuestas.  Puede haber un tiempo para simplemente mételos en la cama, orar por ellos y rascarse la espalda, inclusocuando no lo hacen merecerlo.

Y me recuerda que sus misericordias son nuevas cada M orning. 

Grande es su fidelidad ...

Incluso cuando usted es una mamá que lucha.