Rebecca’s Ramblings

life is so busy these days! but every now and then I need to get back in the game, I guess…

This just came through on my Rod news list…

yeah, let’s beat kids until they are bruised and bloody. THAT will motivate them to learn….

As Jaden says…’Jesus says not to hit. It’s not kind.’

I thought I’d put up a VERY bright and cheerful Valentine’s theme.

Enjoy!

but thanks to the gentle nudge from Punkie, I’ll blog on this one again.

And I’ll share something I just got on the PTAVE list today:

A bill has been sponsored by US Representative Ed Markey to ban the advertising and sale of devices to whip and beat children in the US. This bill needs co-sponsors to get it moving and voted on.

So, please write to your US Representative!! Enter your state & ZIP code at this Web page. Then click “Contact My Representative.” You will be taken to your Representative’s homepage where you can contact them. Here is a sample letter you can use:

Dear Representative ________,

I am your constituent, and I am deeply concerned that it is legal to sell devices in the US specifically for whipping and beating babies and children. Rep. Ed Markey is sponsoring a bill to ban the marketing of these devices. Please co-sponsor this important bill to end the advertising and sale of these devices.

A law is needed to end this ugly and dangerous business for good. Please lend your support to this worthy endeavor. Rep. Markey’s aide, Jeff Duncan, is working actively on the bill, and can be reached at (202) 225-2836, or Jeff.Duncan@mail.house.gov

I look forward to hearing from you.

(your name)

I’ve called my Rep! Now go call or write yours!

My nearly 3yo son disappeared this morning and got very quiet. As all mothers know, that’s enough to strike terror into your heart!

So I went running and looked for him.

He was curled up in my tatting chair, with a ball of size 10 thread and a size 5 needle.

He smiled up at me sweetly, and said “See, Mama? I was just using dis piece and dis piece and I wind it wike dis and den I put my fingers here and I make a piece just for YOU cause I WUV you!”

what did I ever ever do without him?

more like the middle of fall. I’ve just been in denial about it!

But it’s dipping below freezing at night. Right now, it’s noon and the skies are dark…it actually looks like snow clouds out there. BRRRR!!!!!!!!

And in a month I’ll be the proud mother of a 3 year old! I’m really having a hard time with how fast this year has gone by.

Why is it that sunny fall days invigorate me, and cloudy days depress me? I love cloudy days any other time of year…but today I just feel sad.

Time is passing by so very fast…

My dh has a cold sore on his lip. He was working in the woods today (doing his CO work.)

So Jaden ever so gently rubbed dh’s cheek and said very matter-of-factly: “Daddy has wip owies, Mama. He was workin in da woods and he saw a moose and a deer and a bear. And den a shark jumped up and bit him on da wip.”

Next week, we’re going to learn the difference between oceans and forests. Right now, it’s just too cute.

I’ve been thinking of this lately, and how it should be manifest in my life - specifically in my parenting.

Here’s the Scripture:
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control.

Raising a child - a Godly child - can be so very frustrating and challenging and humbling. I see in my son my own failings, my own lack of perfection, my own falling short of the glory of God.
The temptation can be enormous to try to force those ’sins’ out of him. Not only do I long for his eternal salvation, but it can be hard to live with at times!

I do believe my child is my brother in Christ, and I do believe the Spirit is upon him. He is not yet of an age, though, where he comprehends or is responsible for the things of God.

I am.

And so, I remind myself of this passage of Scripture.

And, as always, I compare this Scripture to my experiences as a Christian, as a child, as a reader of all the Christian parenting manuals and how-to-dos and devotionals.

And I think.

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love.
How do I allow the Spirit to manifest love through me, to my son?
Of course, when I hold him and cuddle him and kiss him and tell him that he is the sweetest, most precious gift from God.
But I need to manifest this fruit when he’s at his most unloveable, as well. When he is tired, cranky, over-stimulated, over-whelmed, and desperate - do I show the self-sacrificing love that the Spirit should produce in my life?

The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy.
Does the Spirit work joy in my life toward my son?
When he’s showing off a new skill, or sweetly smiling up at me, or whispering a soft ‘I wuv you mama’, my heart swells with joy.
But I need to allow the Spirit to produce joy in my life when he is crying, and scared, and clingy. When he temporarily shows himself to be less than the perfect boy I usually think he is, do I still show Joy in being his mama?

The Fruit of the Spirit is Peace.
Am I at Peace around him in our day to day life?
When he’s softly sleeping, murmuring quietly about his day, it’s easy to look down at him and feel peace.
But I need to remember that peace, cling to that peace, and practice that peace when he is bouncing off the walls, singing a made up song at the top of his little lungs, and running wildly from one end of the house to the other.

The Fruit of the Spirit is Patience.
Patience - that’s a big one!
I wait patiently as he picks every flower in our yard to bring them to me one at a time - during dandelion season, even!
But after the 45th rendition of ‘MY DO IT, MAMA!” I know it’s time to allow that particular Fruit of the Spirit an extra row or two in my heart.

The Fruit of the Spirit is Kindness.
Kindness is not a word I use much. It’s a character trait that is much under-valued in our society. But each time I smile when I feel like frowning, each time I hold my son and say “you sound so upset! tell mama about it”, I’m allowing Kindness to grow.

To be continued…my son needs me now.

Every joint in my body is aching. My lymph nodes are swollen, my head is pounding, and I’m less-than-patient with my sweetie boy.

Delayed reaction to all the stress, I think.

It helps to have a little guy who will throw his arms around me and say “I just love you SO MUCH, Mommy!”

Today is dh’s first day back at work, and so Jaden is de-stressing from that too. He keeps asking me “Daddy coming home today? He not going to the doctor?” My reassurances help him for an hour or so, then he starts crying and asking the same questions again.

LOTS of talking about feelings today from both of us, complete with a class A meltdown from me when I spilled my coffee. *blush* Jaden said “What’s WRONG, Mama?!” and I explained that I was angry because I knocked over my coffee, and I should have tried saying “I am so frustrated that I spilled my coffee!” instead of the screech of anger I let out.

A few minutes later, I heard “ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I AM SO ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THAT’S WHY I’M SCREAMING” come from Jaden as he got stuck on Nick Jr.

Sigh. This being a good example thing sucks sometimes.

I figure we all need an extra dose of Grace this week.

when I was so HAPPY for an ulcer…even a bleeding one

I am so very relieved that my dh does not have heart problems. It would have been a drastic life change for our entire family…his career is not one that he can do if he isn’t in top physical condition (other than an ulcer, I guess!)

The prayers were appreciated more than I can say - there are times when we simply can’t pray - too numb, too shell-shocked, too scared. It was a blessing to know that we were being upheld by others.

Today is the first day Jaden goes back to Sharon’s after staying there for two days. He’s experiencing a lot of anxiety over it :(. I have 4 shoots to do today, though - some MUCH needed funds after paying for gas, hotels, parking, and food for nine days. Thank God we’ve no medical bills from this too!

Off to take my little guy to play with Ryllan and Belle…