As I was walking through our family’s game room the other day, something in the corner caught my attention.
The boys had not only taken this picture (of their poor, unsuspecting little sister), but had set it as the wallpaper on their computer. I don’t know whether to be more concerned about that, or the fact that she gave them the opportunity…
Are you smiling today? I’d love to hear why!
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We all need people in our lives who make us smile. Wouldn’t you agree?
My daughter, Addison, has a knack for making me smile multiple times a day. Many times it’s the funny things she says and does, but often it’s simply because she usually has a smile on her own face. Even when she’s washing dishes, or cleaning her room, or some other task most people would consider unpleasant, she smiles while she works (and usually sings, too.)
A couple of Saturdays ago, at the conclusion of her last baseball game of the season, her wonderful coach and his wife decorated a picnic table and stacked it up with pizza and drinks for the team to enjoy while he presented the players with their trophies and bragged on each of them. I loved that when he talked about Addy, he mentioned the fact that she always had a smile on her face. It’s true–even when she was running laps, she was smiling. And for this mom, that’s more reason to be proud and happy than if she’d hit a home run every game.
When her coach was done with his little speech, Addison happily took her trophy and went back to her pizza and her friends. As we walked through our front door that afternoon, the first thing I said was, “Addy, let’s get a picture of you with your cool, new trophy!”
She picked it up and immediately dropped it–right on the floor, right on its point–breaking it into two pieces. At nine years old, I’d have been crushed. I’d probably have cried, or at least felt sorry for myself that I’d broken it before I’d even gotten a picture. But, not Addy. She picked it up, looked the pieces over, shrugged her shoulders, and said, “Oh, well.” Then she proudly held it up for me to photograph.
And, as usual, she smiled.
If you look closely, you can see the crack where the two pieces are being held together. If you look closely, you can see she’s not having to fake her smile. She’s just happy…broken trophy and all.
I want to be like Addy. I want to smile so much–so sincerely–that others around me just can’t help but smile, too. How thankful I am for her example. How grateful I am to be the recipient of so many of those sweet, bright smiles.
Have you been smiling today? Are you smiling regardless of what kind of day it is?
That’s what I’ll be working on today. Join me?
“You have put gladness in my heart…” ~Psalm 4:7
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I have to ask: Am I the only person in the world who gets REALLY excited about buying a new planner? Since I think and plan in terms of school years, that’s how I buy my planners. The one I purchased last week is making me so happy!
It’s not because it’s my favorite color (although it is). It isn’t just because it fits in my purse (YEA!) or because I love the layout (which is perfect for me). There’s something else about it that makes me happy.
Maybe part of it is that I’ve been looking at pages that look like this for so long…
…that it just makes me happy to gaze on all that white space.
Maybe another part of it is the idea of a wide-open future full of possibilities. What will we accomplish with God’s help this year? How fun it is to imagine what will take place.
And then, there’s another aspect that makes me happy: Needing a new planner brings about the realization that we have made it through another year. And with that comes a reminder to look back on all our blessings and be thankful for each of the opportunities we’ve been given.
Are you looking forward to the future? I am! I am so thankful for second chances…and third chances…and six thousandth chances.
I know my new planner will fill up quickly…but I’m thankful for that, too.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3)
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There is no question that we learn from our kids; the funny thing is that it often happens while we THINK that we’re teaching THEM.
For example…
Last night I picked up a book I’ve been reading to my girls about the travels and travails of a china rabbit. (I giggled when one requested that I “please read chapter 15,” since she’s only two and has no clue what chapter we’re on…but I said, “OK” and began to read.)
We came to a point in the story where the rabbit begins devising methods to exact revenge on someone who’s mistreated him. I put the book down to ask my nine-year-old daughter what she thought about that.
We talked for a while about what the Bible says about getting revenge. (Am I a great mom, or what? Answer: “what.” Keep reading.) We continued through several more chapters of the story, and then I kissed the girls good night and left the room.
Fast forward to the very next morning. I’d been volunteering at our homeschool association’s used book sale and had plenty of time to get from there to Addison’s baseball game…or, at least I would have had plenty of time if it hadn’t been my turn to bring snacks and drinks for the team. Even needing to detour to Kroger for the snacks, we still had enough time, but none extra to spend dilly-dallying around. That was one of the reasons I was so annoyed with the driver in front of me, who was sitting still through a green light because she was so busy texting that she forgot all about that driving thing she’d committed to doing. (The other reason? People who text while driving just really annoy me.)
Well, since I couldn’t afford to sit there behind her all day, I switched lanes…voicing my complaints as I did so. I’m ashamed to admit, I even went so far as to say, out loud, “I wonder how SHE likes it,” as I maneuvered into the lane in front of her and slowed down a little.
Immediately, I heard a sweet, soft, little voice coming from the seat behind me. “Mommy, don’t get your revenge. Let God take care of that.”
I winced.
It stung.
And I needed to hear it.
I was glad I had taken a moment to teach her that lesson, because it turns out I needed it more than she did, and right away! I was thankful for her gentle reminder, and glad for the chance to make it right.
“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
What have you learned from your children? How have they made you a better person? Let’s be thankful for all those people–big and little–who “keep us on track.”
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A hotel room can be a pretty boring place for a toddler. Unless, of course, she is willing to use her endless imagination to come up with some fun of her own. How, you might ask?
Well…
Since the mini-fridge is just her size, she could spend a great deal of time swiping the insurance card she fished from Daddy’s wallet between the refrigerator and freezer compartments.
Or, she could hang out at the mirror for a while…jumping up and down while watching her reflection do the same, making faces at herself (She gets that from me!), and smiling innocently each time we call out, “Stop licking that mirror!”
Of course, she would probably start to miss the swiping fun after a while, but this time she could mix things up by using Daddy’s driver’s license in the closed bathroom door.
And once she makes it into the bathroom, she could certainly wile away some time playing hide-and-seek with no one in particular…until her mom just happens to walk by and notice that the shower curtain has grown piggy toes.
Of course, sooner or later her family will take a more active role in keeping her a happy hotel guest.
But I’m glad she can entertain herself and find ways to make herself smile. It’s one of the things that makes me smile.
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I love Mother’s Day! And it’s not just because I woke up to all these, although they did make me laugh out loud…
And it isn’t just that when I moved the giant cards, I found these beauties…
and these, too….
4 kids=4packages of white chocolate=I am in big trouble
It’s not even because of all the sweet drawings and messages inside those cards, although they do melt my heart each time I read them…
It’s not the hugs and words of encouragement received after church, or the e-mail messages and facebook posts from friends and family around the world, although they do make my day happier and brighter.
No, there are two other BIG reasons I love this day.
One is that I am reminded to let my own amazing mom know how much I love and value her. She is my role model…still. My favorite thing about her is that she never has anything negative to say about anyone. Ever. She always finds something good in others….something to compliment…something to love. She amazes me. I want to be like her, because she is so much like Christ.
I think of her every time I read Titus 1:15. “To the pure, all things are pure…” I think that because she is so GOOD, she automatically sees good in other people. As for me? Well, I’m still working on that, but I’m sure thankful for my sweet mentor.
The other reason I love this day? It reminds me to be really, really thankful for these people:
I’m always aware that motherhood is a privilege, but it’s nice to have a special day to focus on the ones who made me a mom in the first place. (I’d say God, my husband, and my kiddos all made contributions there!)
Thanks to all of you who taught me lessons in motherhood. Thanks to all of you who honor your own moms, who make sacrifices to be great parents, and who are godly role models for our children. You are greatly appreciated!
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