Pains of parenting...

I have not been writing for some time now and feel once again as though I have to gather courage to write my thoughts and days down..

My kids are growing up fast and I feel so privileged to be able to simply watch them grow. The way God designed us, I really can appreciate how the human mind developes as I watch my two boys.. Things (good and not so good!) that they pick up, the emotions which are sometimes so transparent and even primitive.. things we learn to conceal as we grow older...

I want to try to teach them different stuff these days... I have not dealt much with human emotions and variables in our lives which make each of us react the way we do in different situations. Ok, an example is that people have different personalities and we should not simply react to a situation but also consider other people's feelings....

I would like my boys to be considerate of others. I also wish them to be confortable with and accepting of themselves and who they are, warts and all! The list goes on and on...

Parenting is a rather tricky business. We do what we think is best and at the end of the day, our offspring may turn around and tell us that they never asked us to do this or that FOR them!

We hear of parents toiling to ensure that they have enough money to put the children through their studies and instead of appreciating the efforts, children say to their parents that they never asked them to do so in the first place and would have preferred that the parent spent more time with them instead! This is especially in light of the child, a teen by then having gotten into some sort of trouble....

Both are noble reasons (in that the parent was doing something good by providing and the child was making an appropriate request of parents spending more time with them) but as a parent, how can one undo this? How can parents "make things right"? That is a parent's affliction, a insatiable desire to "make things right" for and with their children!

So, we trudge along, trying our level best to gauge and balance, not always succeeding in our quest of being that perfect parent.. many times losing sight of the fact that the LORD wants us to simply LOVE OUR CHILDREN and allow Him into the equation.

me? muddled?

My modem, network card and router got fried last sunday and i have only just got reconnected. It was a truly impressive storm and am thankful that TM (formerly known as Telekom) has replaced my modem foc.

This month (April) is passing by pretty quickly and altho' I'd like to say that it has all been good, I think I should simply say that it has been fair...

First thing is, this email reminder on Job vs Ministry has got me reviewing my so called service to God...

JOB Vs MINISTRY

Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY.
What's the difference?

If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.
If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.

If you'll do it only as long as it does not interfere with your other activities, it's a JOB.
If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a JOB.
If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your efforts, it is a MINISTRY.

It's hard to get excited about a JOB.
It's almost impossible not to be excited about a MINISTRY.

If our concern is success, it's a JOB.
If our concern is faithfulness, it's a MINISTRY.

An average church is filled with people doing JOBs.
A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.

Where do we fit in? What about us?

If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB.
If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY.

God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB, but excited and faithful to Him in a MINISTRY.

- Author unknown -

We all like to call what we do in church, SERVICE and MINISTRY. Think I have to seriously review the first criteria already.....

Being the coward that I am I shall now retreat to safer grounds like itinerary for the rest of the week.

Today is a public holiday and later, the family will be off to Times Square's Theme Park for the day. This is the birthday boy's request and we hope that he will have a good time!

Friday, it'll be Kindah Greening (we hope!) to speak to us. Prayerfully, he would indeed be a blessed speaker to our people!

Saturday, birthday boy has got a school trip to the National Museum while big bro will, again, be at school!!! sobs for Josh!

Now i am talking about CONNECTING with people. i think that it is vital and necessary for each of us to do so. Yet it is hard. I am not talking about the connecting as in chatting or even sharing but where we can see or feel what the other is feeling or at least reaching out by way of words, gestures... a conversation or time of being together where the heart can be reached. It's hard to explain. I think steady boyfriend/girlfriend or good friends can do it. Spouses and even family members can do it and have done it before but some no longer do it or find it hard to do.

Like when we have a conversation about general stuff, we don't really connect. We update each other, share an opinion or information. When we share about something that tugs at our hearts like a loved one, a situation, even work then yes, we can connect with another. It takes some giving to connect. Giving of yourself. A place of vulnerability cos sometimes, the person you talk to may not be able/ready to respond and connect with you.

I am talking about connecting cos i think relationships depend on it.

i haven't thought this one thru yet. may write more and better articulate it soon...