The End of 2011

When reaching the end of the year, people usually reflect on the past and look forward and create resolutions for their future.  As I look back, I remember several deaths, sicknesses, acts of God, political upheaval (RECALL WALKER), not to mention the list in my personal life.  Our world is falling apart.  No, I'm not an alarmist.  I am merely watching our world collapse from the inside out.  The structure on which our country was founded is no longer active (in a perfect world, it would be ideal... but it is no longer practical with millions of people) and our leadership is corrupt and destroying our alliance with the one country that is important... Israel.

Before I get into doomsaying, there is one thing of which I am absolutely certain: our world will not get better.  It is the end, so prepare yourself.  I guess that would be considered doomsaying; but it is true.  Our country has made some decisions that are now irreversible.  Our economy is failing and is in such a death-spiral that it is not recoverable.  The choices all of us ("we the people") are making in leadership and living are corrupting everything, from sickness to general life.  We are not going to be the richest, most prosperous "free" country in the world for much longer.


My Precious Gifts

But, to look ahead in the next year (and future years to come)... for me, I see my family.  I see two precious little boys who are growing up so fast.  They need structure and strong teaching to mold their minds and hearts to be courageous in the times to come.  I want my boys to be men who lead and stand for Truth and righteous living.  My role, as their mother, is so important because they see me everyday, all day.  They listen and watch.  I am their model for life and attitudes.  Their father is just as important, but he isn't present all day long. 

I am going to teach my sons how to respect and love their wives and lead their families to serve God.  I am going to show my sons strong work ethic and teach them how to be diligent in whatever task they have set before them.  I am going to encourage my sons to see the weaker person and find the compassion to help in whatever way they can, to not neglect the widow and the orphan.  I am going to teach my sons to stand strong for what is right, even if it is not the popular choice and they lose friends in the process.

Mothers have such an important role.  Where else will they learn everything they need to know for their own lives: school, daycare, babysitters?  I don't think so.  No one cares for your children like you do.  Take the time and effort to train your children in the way that desperately needs to be done, especially in these scary times of uncertainty and nearing the end of the age.

Until next time, hold your children tight and teach them what only you are able to teach.  Teaching them to be responsible, loving, respectful adults... and that Mom loves them the most!

Candle #8

                                               

Our last candle.  My son said that he loves watching all the candles and he wishes we could keep lighting our Hanukkah candles all year long.

As is so appropriate, when drawing our year to a close or looking forward to any new thing, we have hope.  The last candle represents "A New Beginning."  There is new life in Christ.  Your past no longer matters if you have trusted Jesus as your Savior.  You are free to look ahead.

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ,

he is a new creature;

the old things passed away;

behold, new things have come."

2 Corinthians 5:17

Candle #7

Hanukkah is drawing to a close.  This evening, we lit seven candles (not including the Shamesh), the seventh representing "Completion and Rest," which naturally follows "Creation".

If you recall, God created the world in six days and on the seventh day, He rested.

Tomorrow is our pomp and circumstance, the culmination of this eight-day celebration.  We are having our Hanukkah Party with all the good food, games and gifts.

"And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done;

and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,

because in it He rested from all His work

which God had created and made."

Genesis 2:2

Candle #6

It's Christmas.  We're celebrating Jesus' birth.. and at the same time, we're celebrating the sixth day of Hanukkah, beginning in just a few hours at sundown.  After an hour of opening Christmas gifts, we still get to relax and look at the Hanukkah candles and open one more present.

Tonight's candle represents "creation".  How appropriate.  God created the world in six days... and we are on day six of Hanukkah.  Okay, I'm overdoing the significance.  You can make the rest of the tie-ins yourself.

"Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth,

who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens! 

When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,

the moon and the stars which

Thou hast ordained."

Psalm 8

Candle #5

On our fifth day of Hanukkah, which begins tonight at sundown, we are also celebrating Christmas Eve this year.  The candle, though, represents the "Grace of God."  After hearing about the judgment candle yesterday, God's grace is a welcome gift.

The Jews are seeking the Messiah.  They expect Him to conquer their oppressors and set up a kingdom.  I know that the Messiah has already come once, in Jesus.  During His first visit, he was our sacrificial lamb who saved us from our sins, if we believe on His Name.  He died on the cross and rose from the dead to make our redemption and salvation possible.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

Candle #4

And the fourth candle represents Judgment.

"But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds."

Romans 2:5-6

Candle #3

Our third day of Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown when we will, again, light the candles.  This time, there will be three candles, plus our Shamesh, who has been serving us well.

Yesterday's candle reminded us that we need to be unified with each other.  Tonight's candle represents the unity of our Trinity.

"There is but one true and living God.  God is an infinite, all-knowing Spirit, perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit" (MacArthur, J., MacArthur Quick Reference Guide to the Bible, W Publishing Group, 2001).

 "And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water;

and behold, the heavens were opened,

and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove,

and coming upon Him, and behold,

a voice out of the heavens, saying,

'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.'"

 Matthew 3:16-17

and

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, 

entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

showing forbearance to one another in love,

being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

"There is one body and one spirit,

just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

Motherhood: The Greatest Job on Earth?

... or the easiest, according to my beloved husband (when he's not being his usually sensitive self)?

Can I just be honest for a second?  I know this is the "season of joy and peace" and all that other nice, cushy sentiment, but right smack dab in the middle of our celebratory week, I'm having a terrible day.  I know, how cheery of me.

It all began this morning.  The boys woke up at 6:30 to have breakfast with their Dad.  Now, before you start berating me about how that's such a wonderful time and your children all woke up at 3:00 a.m. all dewy-eyed and beautiful, that's not how my experience with motherhood began with the boys so I am still adjusting to this phenomenon. Besides, when they wake up that early, the rest of their schedule is off for the entire day and possibly even the next few days.  So, back off!

After my Beloved left for work, the boys started the cocophany of bickering and sniping back and forth, culminating with Jonah's peircing screams.  Of course, they were at the Christmas tree "touching" ornaments and discussing who would get to eat the candy canes.  Mama Bear came out from the den with her hair raised in terrifying proportions, growling that they better knock it off before she started knocking heads together.  So, they calmed down... in my dreams.

I decided to sit down in my recliner and supervise until I woke up.  Then the arguing and snatching started with their lego rocket/submarine/spaceships (yes, they are convertible transformer-type air/watercraft, which makes them especially coveted).  "Jeremiah, leave your brother's legos alone.  He can make it however he wants."  "But Mama, he's not doing it right.  Here.  I'll just show you."  **piercing screams**  "JEREMIAH!  LEAVE HIM ALONE!! It's NOT YOURS."  *Huff*

Okay, that minor catastrophe averted... for now.  Okay, boys.  I need to read my Bible.  Now, that's gotta impress them.  Mama is going to spend time with God and everything shall be as it is meant to be.

Ahhhhhh....

Hmmmm....

"Mama, Jooosh peeese"

Maybe if I don't answer him, he'll go away.  Oh crap, here's the other one.

"Yeah, Mama.  Can I have some juice, too, please?"

"Okay, fine.  Let's get some juice.  Once I sit back down, though, you're on your own.  Play nicely.  I get to read my Bible and spend time with God.  In peace.  Alone.  Got it?"

Okay, that's done.  Now, where was I?

"Mama, look!  Watch me!"

Ignore.

"Mama, did you see what I built?"

"Jeremiah... this is MY time with God.  Please just play."  "Jonah, stop touching the tree." "Get out of my room."  "Sit down! You just threw a block at your brother."  "Stop pinching him, he's on time-out."  "Just be quiet!!!  I'M TRYING TO READ MY FREAKING BIBLE!!!" (Yes, that last one was a word-for-word quote from mother dearest).

Now, if that just doesn't warm God's heart to hear me screaming at my children because I'm trying to read my Bible, I don't know what will.  What better example to show to my children than a mother who is cranky and irritable and screams because she's going to "spend time with God."

Might as well just throw in the Mommy-towel right now.

It didn't get much better from there, either.  My son lied to me... again.  What am I supposed to do?  Spank him?  Again?  I'm tired.  I'm a failure.  I don't know how to reach him.  They just are not getting along and are not listening to me (as though, that's something new).  I did what any other sane mother would do in that situation.  I cried.  I talked to my child and cried.

So, he cried.

I think he just felt bad that Mama was crying.  Does a 4-year-old really understand the seriousness of lying and how trust is now broken?  Maybe.  But, he has a sinful, rebellious heart that has not, yet, been touched by the Holy Spirit.  Oh, how I pray it does.  Soon.

Rather than fight the natural forces of sinful children, I did the only thing I could think of.

We watched tv.  All morning.  So there.



----  Almost lunchtime  ----

We're still watching tv.  The boys have been quiet.  Once incident when I went out to get the mail where Jonah was tempted by a talking snake and stole the candy cane off the tree and offered some to his brother.

When talking with a two-year-old about sin, be very careful how you phrase things.  I told Jonah that he stole my candy, that before he takes some, he has to ask.  So, he very sweetly (and stickily) asked me "Mama, tandy peeese??"

Jeremy called me about buying some eggs from a local farmer and told me that I'm not really a failure.  Can't tell you how much that lifted my spirits.

Now, I have to go.  Jonah has bonked his head for the 5th time this morning.  More crying.

My day of tears has only begun.

Candle #2

Last night was special. The boys are older and can appreciate lighting candles and, of course, opening presents. We’re still working, though, on appreciating new foods and not telling Mom that her food is "yucky and disgusting".

Tonight, is the second night of Hanukkah. The candle stands for "Unity".

Those of us who believe in God (and even those who say they don't) tend to limit God. We know, in our head, that all of His attributes are in perfect, harmonious balance but we invariably emphasize one of His traits or qualities over another. What do we call that? In Exodus 20:3, it says "You shall have no other gods before Me." When we redefine God into what we wish or choose to forget certain attributes, we are essentially creating a god in our own image. "We crudely patch together anecdotes and selected scriptures that reinforce his idea of the divine" (Grabbe, D.C., CGG Weekly, August 7, 2010).

The key to peace here on earth is to love and be unified with others. Philippians 2:2 says "make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." We don't all have to think the same way. God knows we will have differing opinions and contrary personalities. He created us that way. But each of us is beautiful. We were created in His image and bear the responsibility to love and care for everyone (who is unlike ourselves) and recognize each person's God-given role in our universe.

"and I have made Thy name known to them,

and will make it known;

that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them,

and I in them."

John 17:26

Candle #1

Tonight (at sundown) begins the wonderful celebration of Hanukkah.  We have eight days of lighting candles and remembering the miracle God performed... but before I get ahead of myself, I'll start at the beginning.

Judea was part of Egypt until 200 BCE when King Antiochus III the Great of Syria defeated King Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt. Judea became part of Syria and King Antiochus III the Great, wanting to conciliate his new Jewish subjects, guaranteed their right to "live according to their ancestral customs" and to continue to practice their religion in the Temple of Jerusalem. However in 175 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus III invaded Judea, ostensibly at the request of the sons of Tobias.

The Tobiads, who led the Hellenizing Jewish faction in Jerusalem, were expelled to Syria around 170 BCE when the high priest Onias and his pro-Egyptian faction wrested control from them. The exiled Tobiads lobbied Antiochus IV Epiphanes to recapture Jerusalem. 

When the second temple in Jerusalem was looted and services stopped, Judaism was outlawed.  In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He banned circumcision and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the temple. Antiochus's actions provoked a large-scale revolt.

Mattityahu, a Jewish priest, and his five sons led a rebellion against Antiochus. By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated.

The festival of Hanukkah was instituted to celebrate this event.  Judah, one of Mattityahu's sons, ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made. According to the Talmud, olive oil was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night. The story goes that there was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle.

Many people see a menorah (seven candles), used in the Temple, and think of Hanukah.  But the one used for our yearly celebration is called a Hanukkiah and it holds nine candles.  Eight are in one level (one for each day of celebration) and one is either off-set or raised up, and it is the Shamesh ("Servant Candle") and is used to light the other candles.

Tonight we will be lighting the Shamesh and day 1 will commence our eight days of remembrance.

For this evening, we will be lighting our Hanukkah menorah as you see below and I will explain to my children that this first candle (not the Shamesh, which represents Jesus) stands for the "One True God".

 "Hear, O Israel!

The Lord is our God, the Lord is One!

And you shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your might."

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Imagination: Friend or Foe?

"Child-development experts are recognizing the importance of imagination and the role it plays in understanding reality. Imagination is necessary for learning about people and events we don't directly experience, such as history or events on the other side of the world. For young kids, it allows them to ponder the future, such as what they want to do when they grow up" (Wall Street Journal, 12/2009, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204844504577100713531520358.html?mod=business_newsreel).

The article also states that children who are more creative and imaginative are able to solve problems with their imagination and have a greater social understanding and taking the perspective of others.

Yesterday, when talking to my oldest (who is 4 years old) about planets in our solar system and looking them up in the encyclopedia, he began relating to me the history of Star Blazers and how the planet Gamilon, a world beyond Earth's Solar System, declared war on all of Earth. The nations of Earth fought against the Gamilons, but one by one, Earth's fleets were defeated. When the nations of Earth refused to surrender, Gamilon began bombarding Earth with Planet Bombs.

I had to stop him because I realized he thought all that was true.  When I informed him that Star Blazers was a pretend story, he was stunned.  "Really?  Oh..... really??"  Thanks to his Daddy, he began watching Star Blazers at Nana and Poppy's house during our Thanksgiving trip.

My children have no lack of imagination, especially my oldest.  He is teaching my youngest how to have one as well.  They are constantly playing superheroes and, just this morning, were singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" while swaying together in a diaper box (which has also doubled for a fort).

Regardless of what "the scientists" say and their reasons for encouraging this development, I am pleased when my children show creativity.  It does cause raised eyebrows from some and a couple of socially interactive issues when my oldest goes to school, but in the end, I am certain he will be the one to come out on top with his being well-adjusted and pursuing whatever avenues in life he wishes.

Until next time, appreciate and encourage your children to be who they are.

The Season has Arrived

My intentions are pure and yet I am unable to keep up.  Life is so busy when entering the winter gauntlet of parties and dinners and hosting and presents.  We have already been to two parties and I have been shopping for our many nights of Hanukkah, plus Christmas (no, we don't do Kwanza) and keeping the boys from wrecking our tree.  I already caught them hiding out opening presents without permission.  Boy, did they get it. 

"If I catch you doing that again, I will return everything you opened!"

And they know I will.

My hope during this season is to not go crazy.  I have my goals and I would love to survive this time with as few scrapes as possible.  The difficulty is even in accomplishing grocery shopping, I have to brave the crowds.  I insist on 20 uninterrupted feet surrounding my person at all times.  But holiday shoppers are out and about even while I am food shopping.  Growling and hissing accompany the trip.  Everyone, usually very courteous, has grown horns and green monster-eyes and are cutting and weaving through the aisles.  Where are those police officers when you need them??

Until next time, give a smile to those harried holiday-shoppers.  They will need it.. and so will you.