growing old or just growing?

Life is what happens while you are making other plans.  How true that is.

I’ve been thinking about growing old.  It kind of sneaks up on a person.

age 7 or 8  — I am playing football on the road in front of our house.  I didn’t think about just how stupid that was.   That is until I skinned up my knee.  Ouch! The scar has gotten smaller with age.  The memory of the event, quite possibly,  has grown with age.

age 16 -17  — Ah, freedom!  I have a license to drive.  The world is my playground.  OK, maybe not the world, but certainly a 25 mile radius!

Choices were all around me.  As I look back I clearly see the hand of God protecting me on lots of occasions.    i.e.  My boyfriend, who was taking me to my Junior prom, ended up in jail  for drug possession one week before prom.  Try explaining that one to your God-fearing, church going, loving parents.  Truth is I did not know that he was selling. (It did explain some questions that I had.  Like how he could afford his Cadillac and the fact that he always seemed to have money.)

That whole process made me very aware of the importance of relationships and the company you keep.

age 26 – 27  I have married my best friend  and we have  the most adorable twin boys.   Life has taken on a whole new dimension.   Again the hand of God is evident in our lives over and over again.    i.e. My sister, the boys and I were in her little red Pinto traveling down the highway when we hit a patch of ice.  The car is sliding sideways down the road headed right for a vehicle that had stopped.  Just as we were about to hit the other car, our car swerved around it.  I can still see the driver’s eyes as we passed by.  Think what you want, but I know that it was God.

age 37-38  The boys are growing up and it is time for me to take the next step in my life.   I went through the process required to be an official minister.  At that time the church was going through some issues.  I was stretched  in ways that I had not been familiar with before.  Again the hand of God in my life.  Sometimes He works in miraculous ways.  Other times He takes our hand and walks us through.

the 40′s found us empty nesters for a while.  That was harder than I imagined.  Big changes took place.   God walked us through.   It is exciting to see the men that our boys have turned into.  Why does it seem like just yesterday we were playing trucks or reading books together?

I am truly enjoying having my son and daughter  live with us while they are in transition.   It is a new chapter in all our lives.    The house is bustling with activity once again.

Life marches on and truly waits for no man.

I am approaching that 50 mark.  Some days I just don’t know how that can possibly be.  Then there are other days.

Lately I have been aware of how people older than I behave.  I have said on many occasions, usually at work, that I do not want to be like that when I grow up.   Then I think of my Opal.  She turned 100 last year.  I want to be like her when I grow up.  She is proof that you don’t have to be cantankerous and unhappy as you age.

Growing old does kind of sneak up on you.   I am grateful that through all the years God’s grace has been indeed more than enough.   With each situation my faith grows.

I know this next decade will be an exciting journey.

til next time

you have stress?

It seems that everyone I talk to is under stress.  For some it is one or two really huge things.  For others it is a bunch of little things that have piled up on top of each other causing an overwhelming sense of despair.  Whatever it is — stress seems to dominate many conversations.

Much  stress is a result of poor decisions.  Sometimes we make bad decisions and sometimes those around us make bad decisions that causes us stress.

Relationships are a huge source of stress.  Romans 12:18  “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  This is great advice for reducing stress.  We cannot control another person, but we do have control over what we say and do.

Family dynamics can be a huge source of stress.  Whether it is spouse, children, grandchildren, in-laws, siblings, etc — their actions can have an impact on the whole family. This one, in one way or another, seems to be the most common.  Maybe it is because we can choose to step away from friends who stir up strife, but family will always be family.

I consider it one of the highest compliments I can receive when someone implies that they don’t think I have any stress.   Now it may take me awhile to process it but the end result is that it is a compliment.

For the record, ministers are not immune from stress.  Truth is, they have the ‘usual’ stress that comes with living and then there is the stress involved in ministry.

There is a spiritual battle going on.  Ministers lead by example and are right there on the front lines.   If the enemy can take out the minister and/or family, he has won a great victory.  Much damage is done to the cause of Christ when a minister falls.

So what can you do about stress?  Take ownership of your own actions.  Whatever is happening to you – you are still responsible for how you handle it.

The Serenity Prayer is  a wonderful tool.  Use it!  Be sure to read the rest of the prayer.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

–Reinhold Niebuhr

Truth is stress will always be a part of life.  How you handle it will determine if you live stressed out or you live with purpose.  Don’t forget – God has a plan and He is in control.

He will work all things out for the good to those who love Him.  This is a promise we can depend on.  God isn’t stressed about whatever is going on and He wants us to lean on Him and trust Him.

Is it easy?  Not always.  But it can be done.  This is why I consider it a huge compliment when people imply I have no stress.

til next time

stirring or stilling??

As a proclaimer of the Gospel I have found that I operate in one of basically two roles.

Stir the pot or still the storm.

There are right ways to do this and most certainly wrong ways to do this.  

Sometimes Christians fall into the trap of complacency.  It is real easy to go from that to  a rut.   Once there the passion and joy of life is pretty much buried under the load of  just going through the motions.  This is where stirring the pot comes in. 

If you are cooking something (especially if it has milk in it) that has come to a boil and  it is to simmer awhile – it needs to be stirred.  If you leave it alone, a film can form on the top and it can scorch on the bottom.  When that happens you pretty much need to start over. 

Paul speaks of the need for reminders.  Many times he repeated “Rejoice in the Lord”.  Why?  I think because our pot needed stirring.  Reminding us that no matter what was going on around us, Christ is in us and with us.    We have hope!  Hang on!  Make a choice to enjoy today!

Stirring the pot — encouraging others to take a stand, be a warrior at all costs, don’t give in to compromise.  When we are in the ‘flames of adversity’ pot stirrers are needed to remind us to do the right thing, to not give up, to shake off complacency and stir up love and good works.

However, there are those who stir the pot in a negative way.  I won’t talk much about that here.  We all know people who stir things up alright – causing all kinds of problems for the kingdom of God.  One day each person will answer for the things that he/she said and did.  Question to ask yourself — Are you building up or tearing down? 

Don’t let it be said of you that He/she doesn’t play well with others.

Stilling the storm — Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves and said,  ”Peace be still”.

Much of my ministry is found in calming storms.  People have all kinds of trials and pain.  Sometimes people are nasty because they are speaking out of pain that I know nothing about.    Bringing peace into the midst of a storm is essential to harmony and growth.  I recognized a long time ago that I need grace and mercy always and so I strive to extend grace and mercy to others. 

Scripture says in Heb 12:14 “Make every effort to live at peace with all men…”   Calming the storm means that I look for ways to bring peace and calm into the situation.  Allowing God to ‘open’ my eyes to seeing people as He sees them really helps me to do this.  Also reminding myself that the scripture doesn’t say if they are at peace with me be at peace with them.  It tells me to do what I can to live in peace.   (Psalms 119:165 “Great peace have they that love Thy law and NOTHING shall offend them.”)

The negative side of calming the storm is to pacify someone with words they want to hear but either are not true or aren’t heartfelt.  We all know people who ‘humor’ others but then later tear them down with their words.  Another negative way is by telling someone you agree with them but then doing something later that shows you most certainly didn’t agree with them.   Although this may divert a storm momentarily, it  will return with vengeance.  (Be a person of your word – that right there will divert many a storm from ever happening. 
Be a person people can trust.)

With each new day I don’t know which one will be needed most – pot stirring or storm stilling but what I do know is that each person is precious to God. 

til next time

martyr

This morning we had a missionary and his wife  share with us what they have seen God doing in Nigeria.  This is the third time that he has been with us.   Each time is better than the last time.  Why?  Because with each visit, I see the hand of the living God actively at work. 

Life where they were at in Nigeria is not even close to life in small town, rural Iowa.  I take for granted running water, for that matter even clean drinking water.  When was the last time you went to the sink and thought about the need to boil the water first? 

Then there is electricity.  I hate it when a storm knocks out the power.  Yet, for them, a short period of time when they have power is a huge thing. 

Oh, I have it so good.  Like right now I don’t feel like cooking (yup that isn’t a shock) and so Curt has gone to pick up pizza.  Hmm,  how good is that?

Well this morning the missionary shared with us some  pictures.  I love pictures.  The last one was of a group of people.  One of them was his dear friend – a native pastor.  

Here’s the thing that really got to me this morning.    I wasn’t expecting the story he shared  of his friend.   Here’s what happened.   A group of angry men surrounded his house.  (I could tell you what group they belong to but that isn’t really the issue).  He runs out of the house and trips in a hole in the ground.  The men surround him and beat him.  That isn’t enough though.  They then cut off his legs and his arms and set his body on fire.  This happened just last November. 

Our missionary speaker, fighting back the tears says, “I am going to miss my friend.”

Why did they kill him?  Why were those men so angry? 

This man  was proclaiming Jesus.  Yes, this man was a true martyr.  This wasn’t years and years ago.  It was just last November.   

I am a minister of the gospel.  I proclaim Jesus.  I have it so good. 

This mans murder was a sobering thought for me.   I have been struggling with some pretty heavy issues in my life lately.   Yet, all of them pale in comparison to what this man faced and what his family is facing without him. 

May I be about my Father’s business and not let minor inconveniences distract me.  After all, compared to eternity it is all pretty minor.  What isn’t minor is where people will spend eternity.

til next time

walk a mile in my mocassins

It saddens me how quickly some Christians can be judgmental or harsh in their flippant comments.   Is it any wonder that some people will have nothing to do with Christianity when they have been extended the hand of someones self righteousness disguised as Christianity?  Pride is right on the heels of such comments.     How it must sadden the heart of Christ.

I was reminded today again of the importance of extending to people grace and mercy.  Unless we are in their shoes, we really don’t know all that is going on.  As we look at someone’s life it can be easy to jump to conclusions.  Usually, this means jumping to the wrong conclusion.

I heard from another pastor’s wife about how their church had a meeting with her husband and one of the complaints was that the  pastor was letting too many ‘outsiders’ in?   Huh?? Wow!  What does Jesus say about this?   It does remind me of the Todd Agnew song “My Jesus”.

As a pastor’s wife I have been on the receiving end of many a wrong judgment or harsh comment.     I firmly hold to the scripture that says to live in such a way as to silence the talk of ignorant men.  (1 Peter 2:15)  I have seen it work.

Oh, at the time it hurts (pastor’s wives have feelings just like everyone else) but I know where to run to.  I run into the arms of my Jesus and He soothes my wounded heart and He gives me a love for that person when just moments before I may have wanted to give them a piece of my mind or a taste of their own medicine.    Instead, Jesus helps me to not walk in the flesh and He keeps me from sinking into despair. (I will note here that sometimes it takes awhile to reach this point – it does mean letting go and letting God)

What happens when the comment or judgment is directed at someone new in Christ or someone who has given up on the reality of God (atheist or agnostic or back slidder)?   For someone new in Christ it can be a real deterrent to growth.  For the others, it will only enforce the negativity they have towards Christianity.  How this must sadden the heart of God.

We (Christians) are called to be imitators of Christ.  We may in fact be the only Bible some people read.  The way we treat people does affect how they view Christianity.  

In the early years I informed our youth group that this was a safe zone.   There would be no put downs allowed.  What one person means as a joke another takes to heart and is wounded.   The truth is there can be an element of true feelings that comes across as “I was just joking’.  The church is called to lift up not tear down.  

Sometimes, many times, most of the time, there is more going on than just what we see.  People are dealing with all sorts of issues.  We can either be a part of the problem — or we can be a positive influence on those around us.

I want to be like my Jesus.  For those God puts in my path that are aetheist, agnostic, or back slidden –  I want my life to cause them to rethink what they believe to be true.  I want to be like my Jesus.   

Here’s Todd Agnew’s song – listen to it if you have time. 

Who do you want to be like?  Will Jesus be accepted in your church?

til next time

simple pleasures

When I was a kid I could ride my bike for hours or go horse back riding for an entire afternoon.  As I entered college I remember heading to the beach after class and spending the rest of the afternoon lounging around with my friends.  Simple pleasures were just a part of my life.  Ah, it was good!

Then I had twins and was blessed to be (for the most part) a stay at home mom.  There were still afternoons of bike riding or going to the pool.  Exploring an outdoor playground or spending the afternoon playing games was a common occurrence.  Money was tight and simple pleasures were abundant and didn’t cost much.  Ah, it was good!

Now my boys are grown and in college, I’ve added a second job,  there is more to do then time to do it, and I am getting older.  I had a friend  ask me what I did with all my time now that the boys are grown.  What???  Time?????   What time???  Ah, this is not good!

So I’m thinking that maybe I need to have a baby.  Yes, you read that right.   It was raining today and I miss splashing in the puddles.  I miss being a stay at home wife and mom.  Seriously though I think I have grown up too much.  When did it become ok to be so busy that I don’t take time to reconnect with old friends?  I am thinking more and more that ministry leaders wear their busy schedules as a badge of ‘honor’.   Like if my schedule is complicated and extremely full then surely I must be doing things right.  100 years from now will it matter?  5 years from now will it matter?  Tomorrow will it matter?

A  big thing now is all different ways of saying  ‘simple pleasures’ – ‘simplify’  – ‘relax’ – ‘enjoy’  there is even signs reminding you to ‘laugh’ etc.  I have a piece of wood that says ‘simple pleasures‘  that’s it just ‘simple pleasures’.  My friend gave it to me awhile ago.  It is one of my favorite knick knacks.  Why?  It is because the message is so strong.  

I’ve decided that since a baby is out of the question (right Curt??) that I am going to make it a point each day to schedule (if I have to) simple pleasures into my life.  Sounds pretty lame but in the same way that some ministers need to pencil in their family, I am at a point where I need to pencil in simple pleasures.

The first thing to be added to my schedule (yup I am adding something) is tea time.  I mentioned to Galina the other day that I think I must only love the  idea of tea.  I buy tea all the time but hardly ever drink it.  So therefore I must just love the idea of tea.  You know relaxing with a cup of hot tea.   It is time to make that idea a reality.  It’s a start or I could see about that baby. 

til next time

mink coat

God has an interesting way of doing things.  Many times I will just step back for a moment and stand in awe of what has just happened.  It has been my prayer lately to be more aware of God’s finger prints in my life.  I don’t believe in coincidences.  I do believe that God is in control and things happen for a bunch of reasons.  God is not some far off Deity that isn’t concerned about His creation.  He blesses in amazing ways.  Sometimes I am aware of His blessings right away.  It is my desire to be more and more aware of the wonders of God.

So here’s the story of the mink coat.

Before my father-in-law passed away there had been numerous challenges and situations that we were dealing with.  Life in the parsonage is not ever boring here.  In fact I was pretty much at my breaking point.  Yet God promises to not give me more than I can handle with His help.  It’s just that I really have no idea just how much I can handle.  Therefore there are  times I  think I  just can’t take one more thing.  Well, that is pretty much where I was at.  I was holding on to God tightly (Deut. 30:20 “…by holding fast to Him…)  and looking for that rainbow.

Then we get the news that Curt’s dad is at death’s door.  We begin preparations to head up north.  With four jobs that is not a simple task.  Before we leave we receive the news of his death.  We then make additional preparations as we know now that we will be gone for x amount of days.

I am more than a bit concerned about how I will cope.   It has been a most difficult couple of months.  Add to that all that a funeral entails and the fact that there would be no ‘wiggle room’.  Since we were staying with family, there wouldn’t be any alone time either.  I am most definitely a person who needs down time.  This had the makings for a disaster. 

My prayer became “Lord please help me to not do anything that I will need to apologize for later.”   I prayed that a lot.  

(Due to a prior committment we took a trip to Des Moines in the middle of all the funeral preparations.  That turned out to be a huge blessing from God.  I was able to have lunch with a very special friend.  Only God could know just how important that would be.  He does make a way for us.)

After the funeral everyone but Diane stopped by the cabin.  Grandma was in her glory, going through and giving away some of grandpa’s things.  The grand kids drug out the sled and did some sledding.  It was a highlight of the week.  Curt’s brother and family are from Georgia, so it’s not like they are going to be getting back to the cabin anytime soon.  If ever again. 

As we were getting ready to leave, Grandma asked me if I was interested in her mother-in-laws mink coat?  I was sure it wouldn’t fit but I tried it on and wa la.  It fit!!   Her daughters are quite slender and Jan (daughter-in-law) is much taller with longer arms, so in this case I was Goldilocks and it was just right. 

It was later that it dawned on me that God had answered my prayer.  He had helped me to successfully not do or say anything that I would need to apologize for.  The mink coat is a warm (very warm) hug from God.  Now each time I wear it I am reminded that even in extremely stressful situations God is a present help and with Him I can handle way more than I thought possible.  It is just like God to go above and beyond the helping point right into the blessing point!!!

til next time

the elusive balance

“Sooooo, how do you know when you’ve achieved your balance?”  (A question from the comments on  my last blog.)    It certainly seems like with the hustle and bustle of the day, the expectations of family and friends, along with cramming too much into our schedule, we are left with very little room for balance.   Everywhere I look the response to “how are you?” –  is - ”busy, or tired, or crazy” – you get the picture.  You’ve probably said the same thing.  I know I have.

The oh so elusive balance. 

I do think that attitude and balance go hand in hand.  Sometimes it is not my activities that are out of whack, but it is my attitude.  I could drop everything, but if I maintain a bad attitude it won’t make much difference.  That said I am not going to address the whole attitude issue here.  Let’s for the sake of this topic say that my attitude is not the problem, but I am exhausted and out of balance.

Jesus is the example that I look to.  How did He do it?  One thing I see very clearly is that He did not let others dictate His schedule.  He did not leave us an example of constantly rushing from one ‘great’ thing to another then another.   What He did do was to regularly go off to a quiet place and connect with God the Father.   He made Himself  approachable and willing to be inconvenienced.  Yet He didn’t drop everything and run because He knew that God had a plan and things happen for a purpose.   He walked in obedience.

My life at times looks like a paper that has had the margins removed, is single spaced and is filled from top to bottom.  I once printed that out for a sermon I preached on ‘wiggle room’.  Try printing something that is filled from side to side, top to bottom, single spaced and see how easy it is to read.  Yet, we live like that sometimes. 

Wiggle room — no it is not a place where little kids can jump around and have a good time   It is time in my schedule that allows for the unforeseen and gives me time to regroup.  It means that I keep some space in between things.  I’ve called it other things –margins, breathing room, down time, to name a few.   If I find myself coming and going while barely meeting myself in between then I know that I have removed the wiggle room from my life. 

When I remove the wiggle room from my life  it is not long and I am near exhaustion and wondering just what is God thinking??  Why is it that things are piling one on top of another? It is then that I am reminded that God is probably thinking something like this:

“Gloria what are you doing?  Who is in charge of your schedule?  It is not my plan for you to be always on the go.  Come to me and I will give you rest.” 

He wants to lead me beside the still waters, but I can be so busy that I refuse to allow myself to be led.  Oh, I don’t knowingly refuse, but I refuse none the less.  Usually, it is because I am too busy to recognize the still small voice calling to me to ‘come away to a quiet place’ or ‘it’s time to make a schedule change’.    I may not recognize it because after all I am so busy because I’m doing it:  for God, because of my love for God and people, because it has to be done, because it is expected, because it is important, because I said I would — sometimes it is for all of the above.

Balance when it is working in my life looks like this.  Wake up refreshed because I have given myself adequate sleep. (this is the first thing to go out of balance)  I have allowed myself time to connect with God to receive from the Word spiritual refreshing. (even on crazy days I still connect with God because I might as well stay in bed if I don’t)   I am on time because my life is in balance and I have allowed ‘wiggle room’.   I have something to offer people because I am not focused on how ‘stressed’ or ‘tired’ I am.  I make time to do something I enjoy.  I make commitments and keep them because I don’t over commit or under commit (both are wrong) and I have a sense of purpose in my life because I am walking in obedience.

There is so much more to say about the elusive balance but I need to get off of here now or else it will use up all my ‘wiggle room’ for this morning.

til next time

change

The thing about change is that most people don’t like it.  I used to think that older people had the most difficulty with change.  I don’t think that anymore.  Age really doesn’t play a huge role in whether or not a person ‘fights’ change or ‘embraces’  change. 

I’ll be the first to admit that change does not always come easy for me.  For example, when God draws my attention to something that He is wanting me to start doing that I don’t want to do, I have been known to struggle with that.   The problem is though, that the amount of time I take to be obedient  is in direct proportion to the amount of pain/frustration that I find myself in. Pain is a great teacher.  I am getting much better at it.  God in turn blesses it in such fantastic ways.  Great benefits in quick obedience!!

However, now the problem is learning to stop doing those things that I have just always done.    You know those things that may be really good things and yet the time has come for change. 

It can be hard to look beyond oneself and see that change may be needed.   I’ve been in ministry long enough to know that there are people who will literally work you ‘to death’  (don’t really like that phrase but it’s the only one that comes to me).  I know of  pastors and their families who have left ministry because they couldn’t/wouldn’t stop the work horse cycle.   How sad.

I remember a few years back calling the help line that our district sets up for us and having the guy on the other end say that our crazy busy lifestyle was normal.  In fact, that he himself was even busier than that.  What??  When did it become all right to wear our over booked schedules as a badge?  

Years later I felt the need to call  again.  I know, crazy huh?  When I couldn’t shake  the feeling I just called.  God has a sense of humor indeed.    I had called to ask advice on how to ‘do it all’ with a better attitude.  This time I ended up ministering to the counselor on the other end.  I won’t go into details but I hung up the phone knowing that God had directed me to call, not for me but for him.  Also that God does not call us to ‘do it all’.  That is not His idea.   

I believe that God does not ever call us to burn out or to be on the brink of exhaustion.   Balance is the key.    Knowing this truth doesn’t do any good though, if I don’t walk in balance.   This is indeed at times very difficult.   

I only need to look at Jesus life and see that He was not over committed nor did He rush around to get more things done.  I wonder what does He think about ministers who are constantly on the run?  What does He think about my schedule?  What would He do different? 

Curt and I each work a job outside of the church.  This is not an ideal situation.  It is certainly not my choice.  However, it is what it is.  I have certainly done a lot of praying about it.  God has reasons for it that go beyond my understanding.   That being said, time is a factor.    Balance is needed.  Balance is not easy.  Yet balance in my life is my responsibility.  God can reveal to me what needs to change but I must then make the changes.

til next time

life can get complicated

Life right now is a bit complicated.  I much prefer when things are running smoothly.  Who doesn’t??  I am not one that needs drama in her life to know that she is alive.  I have met people like that.  No thank you.  Ah but at times life does get complicated.

Parenting can be overwhelming.  So my twins are 20 now and whoever said that it gets easier as they get older was wrong.  Wait a minute.  I am one of those who said that.  I stand corrected.

Now in the beginning having twins was work.  I don’t remember much of that first year.  There wasn’t much that was what I expected.  Oh, but it was an adventure that I embraced.  I have tons of pictures and information galore.  Yes, they each have a baby book and it is filled.  I wanted to capture each development.  

As they got older, it did get easier.  They had a ready made playmate.  Their growing up years were for the most part wonderful.  There are of course things that I wish I could do over.  Things that if I had another child I would do differently.  However, kids grow up in spite of our mistakes. 

They have always been pk’s.  (pastor’s kids)  They have had to live with that pressure.  From the beginning Curt and I did what we could to stop others from placing expectations on them.   More importantly, we did our best to let them know that they were/are more important to us. 

As they entered the teen years (that would be 16 and a license to drive) the rules changed.  Freedom came with responsibilities and they rose to the occasion.   I remember over hearing Chris tell Andrew that they were going to get home earlier than curfew because then Mom and Dad would see how responsible they were.  It worked.  Curfew was extended.  It soon became apparent to me that indeed they were growing into great young men. 

Cell phones truly helped me to adapt to these new found freedoms.  Just knowing that I could call if I felt the need was nice.  (note to other parents – don’t abuse that) Prayer also played a huge role.  Leaving them in God’s hands helped me relax. 

We’ve turned a corner now that has me scratching my head.  They are 20.  Can I really be that old to have 20 year olds?  Denial has at times been my friend. LOL  Yet living in the truth really is one of my goals that I strive for.

So life has gotten complictated.  Parenting doesn’t end when they turn 18 or 19 or 20.  It just changes.   More and more decisions have to be made that just maybe I don’t like.  Learning when to open my mouth and when to just pray — oh life gets complicated. 

In my heart I know that they are smart, responsible, dependable, great young men.  Yet also in my heart they are my baby boys.  I want to shelter them from pain.  I still want to be the one to say “Watch out, don’t touch that. It’s hot!!”  Now that worked for a little boy and a hot pain on the stove.   Most parents know though that as children get older, it isn’t the stove that is going to burn them. 

Sigh, life gets complicated.  Yet God is still God.  He loves them more than I do.  Yes, it comes back to leaving them in His care and praying for wisdom to know when to speak.  I may still scratch my head – in fact I am sure I will.  I may even have to bite my tongue.  Oh I am sure there will be times that I will not be able to silence my opinions/advice.   I just pray that I can hold out until it is asked for. 

til next time