Do you need a little washing?

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom at Target. She must have been 6 years old, beautiful face an image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied

This young child waited about another minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run through the rain."

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, "If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said.. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories... So, don't forget to make time and take opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

Take the time to live!!!

Children Learn What They Live #4

~ by Dorothy Law Nolte ~

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH PITY,
THEY LEARN TO FEEL SORRY FOR THEMSELVES.

When things aren't going well for your child, don't waste time pitying him. Instead, do everything you can to help him make the situation better.

Our confidence in our children's inner strength will help give them the faith they need to trust in and rely upon themselves. This will guide them along the road from self-pity to self-determination.

Feeling sorry for ourselves does not set a good example for our children. We have to find or create the resources we need to change our attitude.

When a project fails, encourage your child by asking, "How did you want it to turn out? Maybe there's a way I can help you do a better job next time."

We must open our hearts and teach our children to recognize a tragic situation when it occurs - then do what we can to help, and find ways they can help, too.

Disabled or even terminally ill children often teach their parents more about how to live than their parents could ever teach them.

No child needs pity. Encouragement and understanding can inspire your child and give him something to hold on to.

Your kind thoughts and words directed to a truly disabled child are just as important as the helping hand you may offer her.

When your child notices you are not feeling up to par, and says, "I'm sorry, Mommy," and pats you on the shoulder, she is showing empathy.

All of us know what it's like to miss out on an opportunity or to feel regret or disappointment. When things go wrong, help your child review what happened and figure our how she could have made different choice, so she can do better next time.

Keep off the pathway of pity with your children. Instead, take the pathway of determination.

"Poor me" is an isolating feeling. Make a special effort to connect with your child, offering warmth, appreciation, and understanding instead of pity.

Let's face it - nobody is perfect. Sometimes expecting too much too soon from our children can cause them to feel that they don't measure up.

If we hear a child saying "I can't" to often, we may want to explore in what way he needs to feel more empowered.

We want our children to understand that things don't always go the way they want them to. We hope that, rather than feeling sorry for themselves, they'll learn to see this fact of life as a challenge.

The positive outlook of those who live, work, and play with disabilities in their everyday lives can teach all of us a lot about courage, faith and hope.

No matter what the situation, pity is not a helpful attitude. Our children need our support and confidence.

It's vital for us to confront ourselves when we start feeling sorry for ourselves. At these times we need to find the strength and support we need to take positive action instead of wallowing in self-pity.

No matter how difficult things may appear in the moment, as parents we need to always maintain our most optimistic vision of our children. Remember - we are the grown-ups!

Encouragement

"I got two A's" the small boy said.
His voice was filled with glee.
His father very bluntly asked, "Why didn't you get three?"

"Mom I've got the dishes done."
The girl called from the door.
Her mother very calmly said, "Why didn't you sweep the floor?"

"I mowed the grass," the tall boy said, "and put the mower away."
His father asked him with a shrug, "Did you clean off the clay?"

The children in the house next door seem very happy and content.
The same thing happened over there, but this is how it went:

"I got two A's" the small boy said.
His voice was filled with glee.
His father proudly said, "That's great. I'm glad you belong to me."

"Mom I've got the dishes done."
The girl called from the door.
Her mother smiled and softly said, "Each day I love you more."

"I mowed the grass," the tall boy said, "and put the mower away."
His father answered with much joy, "You've made my happy day."

Children deserve a little praise
For tasks they're asked to do.
If you're to lead a happy life,
So much depeends on you.

Author unknown

The Parents' Affirmation of Imperfection

It's perfectly okay for me to be imperfect.

This includes not being a perfect parent.

This means that it's okay that I have already made a lot of mistakes as a parent
and that it's okay that I will make other mistakes in the future.

What's not okay is for me to pretend
that I am perfect and to thereby hide my mistakes from myself.

Instead I will catch my mistakes with a smile rather than a kick
and learn what they have to teach me.

That way, I won't make the same mistakes too often,
and I'll never be a perfect parent and that's okay,
because my goal is excellence, not perfection.

Author unknown

Prescribed by the Great Physician

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer... AND
Lazarus was dead!

Now! No more excuses!
God can use you to your full potential..
Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.

1. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
2. Dear God, I have a problem, it's Me.
3. Growing old is inevitable... growing UP is optional.
4. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.
5. Silence is often misinterpreted but never misquoted.
6. Do the math... count your blessings.
7. Faith is the ability to not panic.
8. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
9. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.
10. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home everyday.
11. Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
12. The most important things in your house are the people.
13. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

If Tomorrow Starts without Me

"If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
all filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry
the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
that an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all that we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss some tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you."
Today your life on earth is past,
but here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
and since each day is the same way,
There's no longing for the past.

So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart "

The Rain and Wipers

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my daughter, Aspen, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat.

"Dad, I'm thinking of something." This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered.

I was eager to hear. "What are you thinking?" I asked.

"The rain!" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond."That's really good, Aspen." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation?

So I asked... "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?" Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on.

Moments in Life

There are moments in life
when you miss someone so much
that you just want to pick them
from your dreams and hug them for real!

When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often times we look so long at the closed door
that we don't see the one,
which has been opened for us.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive.
Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.
Go for someone who makes you smile,
because it takes only a smile to
make a dark day seem bright.
Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream;
go where you want to go;
be what you want to be,
because you have only one life
and one chance to do all the things
you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human and
enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make the most of
everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always
be based on a forgotten past;
you can't go forward in life until
you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying
and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end,
you're the one who is smiling and
everyone around you is crying.

Don't count the years... count the memories!