Here is my desk this morning.
On the WOYWW stand is a postcard for
Art in the Park,
which I joined last Sunday.
Here is my part of the "Sheer Joy" booth
of the annual Art Fair.
I was quite happy selling my canvases
and prints, and talking to a lot of people,
encouraging them not to give up painting!
Today my reading was from the
4th Chapter of Deuteronomy.
"Take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which
your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory
as long as you live,
but teach them to your children
and to your children's children."
Whether we intend to or not,
we will teach our children
our values, priorities, attitudes, work ethic,
the way we treat others, the way we handle money, etc.
So it's a good thing to be
intentional and purposeful about it.
It is 40 days since my mom
left us to transfer to our Father's home
in heaven, and I remember
the unique way she brought us up.
This will seem extreme and absurd to most of you,
but it was a rule in our home to have a chaperone
when we went out on dates.
I have 3 sisters and once, none of them
wanted to come out with me.
So I brought my dad!
I found it hilarious,
and my date said,
"Why did you do this to me?!!!"
I got married at 37 years old.
We had a double wedding with my sister Meldy,
after our double dates with our spouses to be!
What I got from this was that
we were precious, and my parents
wanted to take care of us very well.
My mother actually told Meldy's husband-to-be,
"Don't go after Meldy if you like
a girl who has been around."
And he stuck around even if he thought
it was so archaic to be chaperoned!
Meldy and I got the very best husbands!
And so did my sister Peggy,
who was chaperoned even after she was widowed!
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your Word."
Luke 1:38
How could Mary,
after receiving the most mind boggling,
shocking news that her life was
going to be turned upside down,
be so calm and unruffled?
I've never experienced anything
half as earth shaking, and yet many times
I have been anxious and filled with questions.
JC Ryle writes-
"Faith never rests so calmly and peacefully
as when it lays its head on the pillow of
God's omnipotence."
I guess we may be anxious sometimes
about the way we are bringing up our children
After all, there are so many factors to consider.
We may be intentional and purposeful,
and do the very best we can,
and still something goes wrong!
Like Mary, we need to really trust in God.
That after we pray and study His Word
and obey what He says in it,
the very best we can do
is leave it to Him.
After all He promised that
He would finish the work He has started
in each and every one of us!
(Philippians 1:6)
Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a
peek at desks and projects!
I find a lot of inspiration
visiting my friends here:
Blessings!
Patsy