Handmaidens -Parenting

October, 2000

Parenting Issues

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Just A Thought
By Staff Writer Sharon Barrett

Song of Songs 1:4b " We rejoice and delight in you we will praise your love more then wine." Thompson Chain Bible NIV

I love the Songs of Songs - so beautiful - such great advice. We should always rejoice and take delight in the Lord. We should always praise His love for us. It is a wonderful way to witness to ourselves, our children, the world. The Song of Songs can give us words and inspiration for praise. This sometimes overlooked book of just 8 chapters is a real jewel to delight in. Why not take 10 minutes and read this short book of the Bible.

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Her Children Know How to Love Jesus

My lovely and talented friend Judy Fune (Bunnyjade) is teaching her children to love the Lord. I am sure she teaches them in many ways, but I suspect the most effective one is demonstrated by her recent note to me...

I remembered telling you about this Field of Roses I was working on to add to my Joy Of Sharing site for an update. Well, as much as I am willing to give more time to it, time is not. Having four kids and still living young at mind and at heart, wishing to devote on my own development to what progress I may be good of in service to God, my children seem to be the main focus and the house they live in.

Making sure we live a clean life, in a healthy environment, not missing out on their assignments and constant supervision on these children are truly necessary to raise them in God's good name.

One thing that makes me smile is that they somehow know to whom I devote my free time. They know when I am singing, they'll say, "Mommy is Singing for Jesus again." When I dance, "Mommy is dancing with Jesus." When I draw, "Mommy is drawing Jesus,"... if not Jesus for Jesus.

If I am alone and one caught me talking to my self, my youngest will say, "Mommy Jesus is talking to you again?" I say, God is so amazing that when my child was asked to write something about their Mom, one wrote "Mommy's favorite toy is Jesus." It was funny but it is so good to know that they know me and all the effort I give to them, that loving them and being unselfish is all for Jesus and The Father in Heaven.

BOXCAR CHILDREN IN THE MODERN AGE
By Tom Marsland

Gertrude Chandler Warner's excellent series entitled "The Boxcar Children", inspired generations of children with a Horatio Alger like "can-do" spirit. The orphaned depression era children were homeless and cared for by an older sister and stuck together through hard times. All the stories had morality lessons championing the work ethic as well as honesty and the diligence of long-suffering, AKA patience. Each meal consumed and every article of clothing acquired became a victory of the human spirit over present circumstance.

The present day Boxcar equivalent would be crack babies in Chicago's Caprini Green, or immigrant Hmong, their youth hopelessly lost in a strange new culture. They are pawns in a political power game. No more a story of the human spirit elevated in glorious triumph. Now food stamps and rental assistance and foster parents and Head Start and social workers and the courts mark their existence. Socially conscious liberal socialistic safety nets are strung out before them, limiting both failure and success, virtually assuring a repeat cycle. Politicians desiring re-election (ever met one that didn't) need these voting blocks intact to insure their continuance of rule.

Few Horatio Alger stories are likely to arise from our newfound social "enlightenment". I am a compassionate man and these are hard things for me to say...Without risk there is no reward. Without conquering danger, no safety is permanent. Inability to fail without the opportunity to succeed is not compassionate. Without tearing down the old, the foundation of the new cannot be trusted. No pain, no gain.

Now the bad news, OK, the worse news, the American dream is being disassembled one Boxcar Child at a time. Hope has been surrendered for a life of dependence and victimhood. Longsuffering is out of the lexicon of the government class altogether and self-reliance resides in a few pockets of armed resisters (armed with an intact family's moral legacy).

Our hope and prayer is in the birthing process, it's easier to give birth than it is to resurrect the dead. The American Nation must be re-born in its original vision...want to help?

Have a blessed day, Tom Marsland
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Tom Marsland, host of "Twin Cities Talk Back", writes "TalkBack". Listen to Tom's interactive Christian talk show weekdays on the Salem Radio Network's AM 980 KKMS, located in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, USA from 3 to 6 PM CST. Or listen world wide on the web at http://www.kkms.com . Tom's e-mail address is tom@kkms.com

Little Neighbor
Submitted by Phyllis Coats

She was such a pretty child, as pretty as could be.
The blondest hair and bluest eyes, this little girl of three.
She lived next door, and I would often see her play outside,
Putting all her dollies in a wagon, for a ride.

I often thought, how beautiful she would be when she's grown.
She was just the cutest thing, as she played there all alone.
I only knew her parents, from a passing wave or 'Hi.'
They did not want to socialize, each time that I would try.

I sometimes heard them arguing, when I was in my yard.
I know the problems people have, can sometimes make life hard.
I thought they were just loners, because they kept to themselves.
They might think I am nosy, if I try to offer help.

They never bother anyone, the other neighbors say,
And the little girl can only go out back to play.
You only see them come and go, they never stay outside.
You wonder when they act like that, have they something to hide?

One day I heard them arguing, much louder than before.
As I looked out, the little girl was standing by her door.
Her little face was bruised, and tears were running down her cheek.
I wanted to go over there, but I was scared and meek.

Finally, when the screaming stopped and everything was calm,
I saw the little girl was being held close to her Mom.
Her Mother rocked her back and forth, and she was crying too.
Just standing in the back yard, there was nothing I could do.

There was nothing I could do, would be of any use.
This Mother and this little girl, were suffering abuse.
She had better call someone, and get this thing resolved,
But, it is not my business, and I cannot get involved.

As I spoke with neighbors, about what went on next door,
They all agreed, that is was sad, it's something we abhor.
It's something we must overlook, we cannot interfere.
But, now we sing a different tune, as we are gathered here.

The neighborhood feels guilty, for we looked the other way,
Are we all responsible for being here today?
We feel the anger and the shame, because we all stood by,
Knowing now, we could have helped, but didn't even try.

And, now this little three year old, so beautiful to me,
Surrounded by her dollies, just the way she loved to be,
Is in a little casket, with her body limp and frail.
Her Mom is in intensive care, her Dad is now in jail.

The funeral home is quiet, because we all realize,
The reason you must get involved, is right before our eyes.
Abuse, in any form, is something we must all resent.
And, fight with every tool we have, to save our innocent.

Listen Up!
Submitted by Cheryl

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
(NIV) Isaiah 30:15

"When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.
(NAS) Deuteronomy 4:30

As a Mom, I am often surrounded by noise. . . LOUD noise! Whether my sons are quarreling in fierce anger or shrieking in utter delight they are usually doing so at a high volume!

At first, I would try to redirect the attention of my sons by talking to them at a high pitch (yelling). Yet, they were oblivious to my efforts. It was virtually impossible to shift their focus to what I was attempting to communicate.

One day I tried something new. I simply stood still and began to whisper. It did not take long before radios, video games and rough housing all seem to dropped to the floor, matured (yet little) faces turned to me and were intent on trying to figure out what I was saying. Suddenly, my precious beautiful sons wanted to hear my voice. In order to do so, they needed to be quiet.

I recently read a story about a person who drove by a church billboard that said, "If you want to hear God's voice, turn the volume down". How tragic that we often miss what God may be trying to say to us because we are so preoccupied with what we are doing that we are unable to hear Him.

Let's turn the volume down. Let's spend some quiet time before the Lord each day so that we may hear His every whisper to us. Not only will we experience the joy of basking in His presence, but over time, our "hearing" will improve! Remember: God Is Up To Something In Our Lives and we must have an Ear To hear what He is speaking to Us!

However this does not apply when you are in church! The bible says, to make a joyful noise unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy indureth forever!

Love, Joy and Peace
Cheryl

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