Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Proof I am not the meanest mom in the world!

Today I had to go shopping for "floaties."  You know, those things that kids put on their arms to keep them from drowning in the pool.  "Z" my 11 year old needed them for the Christmas program.  Interestingly enough, the same list that called for him to bring floaties, sunglasses and a Hawaiin shirt to school for his costume said that he is a shepherd.  Not quite sure which version of the the Christmas story they are using at our school...

Anyway, I was a little perplexed as to where exactly you find floaties in December in Northern IL!!!!  We had looked at Wal-Mart without success.  I had prayed about this and had gone to Salvation Army--where I did find a Hawaiin shirt and a cute skirt for me! There were no floaties there and the clerk looked at me like I was crazy when I asked...  The Lord suddenly brought to mind a pool shop I had seen, so I decided to go there.  I asked if they had floaties and she pointed to the wall.  I went over-excited about my success and this is what I saw!
These floaties are black and have "mom" tattoos on them.  This was all they had!  I admit that on the inside I was giggling at the thought of "Z" wearing these in the Christmas program everyone would laugh.  It would be hilarious!  Then I thought of all the teasing he would endure for years to come.  I could see them on the senior trip--"Hey, "Z" remember when you wore the mom floaties in the Christmas program!  "Z" would laugh with everyone else, but probably still be a little mortified on the inside.  I asked the clerk if they had any others.  She scrounged around and found a pink pair, I asked if there was any possibility she had anything else.  She came up with a blue pair.  I bought the blue pair...  Thanking her profusely!  I showed "Z" the pic and one of his friends overheard and saw the picture and insisted I should have bought them.  I said, "why so you could make fun of him the rest of his school life..."  The kid agreed this is exactly what would have happened...  How little kids have changed since I was a kid!

Friday, August 2, 2013

Call Back
(From *Rosalind Goforth’s book, Climbing)
If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back ­,
‘Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perchance, Faith’s light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.
Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back, and say He kept you when the forest’s roots were torn;
That when the heavens thundered and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.
O friend, call back and tell me, for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph and your feet bound in the race;
But there are mists between us, and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.
But if you’ll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you’ll say He saw you through the night’s sin ­darkened sky,
If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back,
‘Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.
*Rosalind Goforth and her husband were missionaries to China about 100 years ago.

I love this poem.  It reminds us to be an encouragement to others.  It also gives us some insight into why we at times go through difficult times.  Our difficulties give us a testimony and a way to encourage others going through a difficult time!  

It reminds me of this passage in Hebrews:  

Hebrews 10:24-25- And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.