Older

I wasn't going to do "Five Minute Friday" (writing freely without worrying about editing or perfection for five minutes)  this week ~ wasn't in the mood.

 

I saw the word for the week, and decided to go for it.  Why?

Because, I had my birthday this week, and as we mark time here on earth, I am now officially a year OLDER.

I'm on the down-hill slope of life here on earth now.

I regret the time and years I've squandered, but rest that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and that He will restore the years the locust has eaten.  Hallelujah!

I like being older (the alternative would mean I am not here), and I want to be here for my children.  Lord willing, I will continue getting older.

And while I am getting older, may I be getting WISER ~ in order to bear fruit and glorify Him.

THE HELP

My HELP comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:2

 Surely God is my HELP; the Lord is the ONE who sustains me.  Psalm 54:4

 For I AM the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will HELP you."  Isaiah 41:13

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present HELP in time of trouble.  Psalm 46:1

Let us them approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to HELP us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

Pieces of the WHOLE

I enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles.

I believe it started later in my life when in the summers I would visit my then retired Grandmother (she retired in her early 80's and lived to be 103), and she always had a puzzle going.  We would sit for hour after hour, day after day, side by side.

We would share a laugh, share a moment, and share the luxury and peace of being together.

My daughter's hand in my Grandmother's

She would separate the pieces into boxes:  sky, faces, flowers, etc., etc.  We would exchange boxes, exchange our smiles, and exchange our love.

The pieces would connect, and we could have a WHOLE.  The satisfaction complete.....my Grandmom and I.

WHOLLY loved, one by the other.

Join the fun:

 

MAPP ~ the Journey of Parenting

  Photo credit

Although I am NO EXPERT, and I have made tons of mistakes for which I so wish I could have "do-overs," I have been asked from time to time for parenting advice.

The parental road is one which we would travel many times over even though it can be treacherous, long, and full of pit-stops ~ some joyous, some frustrating, some heart-breaking, some heart-rendering, some sweet, some too long, some too swift, and some way too scary.


Allow the Holy Spirit to be your Guide and the Bible be your map:


M  ~  Model.....no one likes a hypocrite, and even kids can sense them a mile away.  Make sure you are living a life that holds up to what you are espousing to them, and to the standards you have set for them.

A  ~  Affirm....the world and Satan are going to try to crush them at every turn.  Remind them consistently of the "wonder" they are, how precious they are in the sight of God, and how much you love them.  Caution:  Be careful to not instill in them arrogance, and a sense of entitlement.  There is a fine line between "affirming" and "you are so great that the world  revolves around you."

 P  ~  Prepare....do everything possible to get them ready to leave the nest.  Of course good moral character tops the list, and them teach them everything from laundry, to how to handle money, to how to wake up by themselves to an alarm, to how to stand-up to peer pressure, to how to cook, to how to be a good friend, to time management and much more ~ wrack your brain to think of things to teach them.

Here is the legend:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.  Deut. 6: 6 - 9

And then, navigate that map with PRAYER.  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.

I Thess. 5:17  ~  Continually be prayerful.

If we are to be in continual prayer....the children God entrusted us with should be a HUGE PORTION of our prayer life.

Let me reiterate  ~ I veer off these directions ALL the TIME, but I am looking to the perfect Parent and Cartographer to help me get back on track when I do.

Blessings to you, dear ones, as you navigate this wondrous thing called Parenting.

I am linking up to a Blog Hop hosted by a darlin', godly woman who has a fabulous website...