Pioneer Days?

Dane has some time off in a few days. Nine days off in a row!!! I'm excited but I always feel like we have a million things to do on his time off. We have to go here to see them, then go here to see them, then we have this chore and that chore to do. I have to say I wish families still lived all together. You know like the Amish still do. I would love this. Then we would see our families all the time, and be closer with them, and when we do have time off, then we could actually relax instead of feeling like we have to divide the time equally between families. I love to see our families, I just don't feel like we do it right anymore. Families are supposed to be close-nit. When did moving across the country from out loved ones start?  This is the norm now. Now we cram as much time in together as we can in two or three days, leaving everyone exhausted, and irritated. In the past, families worked together and played together, I'm sure they had their fights, but they were forced to deal with it. Instead of bottling it up like we do, worrying about hurting everyone's feelings. I wish we could all be honest with each other. I hate tip-toeing around everybody. I feel like we should be able to give constructive criticism. In fact, I think it should be expected as a sign of our love for one another. "Edifying" as the bible says. I don't know about you, but I want to know my faults. I want to be a better person. I like to make people happy, and if I'm irritating you, I want to know. Well, I've kind of gotten off subject here. Oh well, I'm  just rambling anyway. Have a good day.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day..... What a good holiday. In a world full of unappreciative children and selfish teenagers, it's good to have something to remind them of all their mothers do for them. But it has gotten me to thinking. Shouldn't every day be a day to love and appreciate all of our loved ones. This world (at least our society) is all about me. What's going on in my life... What makes me happy... What can you do for me? We should be putting ourselves aside every day... Serving others every day...Making someone else happy every day. I've been reading a book called "Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World". It's not what it sounds like. It's not about teaching your children to say yes ma'am and no ma'am. It's about teaching your children to put others ahead of themselves, at all times. Isn't that what we are called to do? What makes us feel so important? What makes us think that our happiness should come first? This attitude effects everyone. Husbands and wives...children and parents...co-workers...brothers and sisters. John 13:31-35 is the "New Commandment" that Jesus gives during the last supper. V.34 says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." V. 35 "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." We've all heard this time and time again. But really look at what it says. Jesus COMMANDED that we love one another as he loved us. I don't know about you, but there are not many people on this earth that I would lay down my life for. Now we all know all that we can do is strive to be like Jesus. We will never attain it. But he commands us to. He also says that this is the way that that people will know that we are different as Christians. Jesus is not just talking about our families. He's talking about everyone, specifically other believers. I challenge you this week to make a point to let someone in your life that you love or don't love know what they mean in your life. At least once a day. It can even be a kind word to a stranger. Like, "You look nice today". It may be uncomfortable for you if you are not an encouraging person, but encouragement is a universal way to show love. I promise you it will open up your eyes into the soul of our sweet Jesus, to love the way he loved. I'm going to start close to home and focus on my husband today. He is sorely deprived on the encouragement department right now. Follow Jesus command and love like you've never loved before.