Current Issues - Past Thoughts

I've noticed on the television lately the new advert encouraging people to become organ donors by gentle manipulation of the 'you'd take an organ, so consider giving one' stance.

Being reminded of a blog post I wrote over a year back I realised I need to register - I lost my donor card ages ago. It's funny how things come back to you and remind you to take action. 

The miracles of Haiti

When reading these stats today tears filled my eyes.  Tears of joy for their rescue and tears of sorrow for the fear and terror they must have been going through.  Tears for their loneliness and desperation, but also tears of hope for their future.


MIRACLES DON'T JUST HAPPEN IN THE BIBLE. 


Darlene Etienne, 16 - rescued after 15 days

Rico Dibrivell, early 30s - rescued after 12 days

Wismond Exantus, 24, found after 11 days

Emmannuel Buso, 21 - rescued after 10 days

Marie Carida, 84 - saved after 10 days

Mendji Bahina Sanon, 11 - trapped for eight days

Lozama Hotteline, 25 - pulled out after seven days

Elisabeth Joassaint, 15 days - buried for seven days, half her life

Ena Zizi, 69 - rescued after seven days

 

Messing with my pictures

Why has blogger messed around with the picture settings?  I can't resize or reposition my pictures like I used to.

Big fat raspberry to Blogger for mucking around with it.

Strengthens my inner case for migrating the blog to my own website.  If only I knew how.....

Random Thoughts

Just wondering.

1. Why do mothers always suck their child's dummy when it's dropped on the floor, stick it back in the child's mouth and then go home and sterilise the bottles?

2. If you live in Poland you're a Pole, so if you live in Holland, why aren't you a Hole?

When One Evening Poses a Lifestyle Dilemma

I have long battled with the ethics of Halloween and whether I should allow my children to partake in parties, dressing up and going house to house Trick or Treating. Primarily my Christian beliefs err me on the side of denying them this experience as it is clear that any dabbling with the occult in any form is forbidden by God. I get that. But my children aren't going out to curse the neighbour who doesn't give them a Curly Wurly.

I spoke briefly to my older two children last night and asked what they understood from Halloween. Their instant response was that it was a way to get lots of sweets and it was fun to dress up and knock on doors in the dark. They see it as a simple fun night out. I see no reason to go into the history of witches, wizards and demons and frighten the life out of them and subject them to knowledge of that 'festival', that is unnecessary for them to be aware of at the moment. It can be argued that children are to be taught the Bible in its entirety and I completely agree, but age appropriate. Just as I don't deem it suitable for my children to learn about the intracacies of witchcraft, neither do I deem it appropriate for them to learn about Soddom and Gomorrah. At the moment.

I've mentioned to other Christians that I've allowed my children to Trick or Treat and some have fallen silent on me and others have pulled their breath in through their teeth. Some have offered ideas on how they deal with Halloween and others have simply said they don't see the harm in one evening of fun. So reaction and guidance has been mixed. Some Christian parents think it's wrong, others tend to let the evening go by with minimum fuss.

So, my thoughts are further extended when I pursue my line of thinking into what I consider to be the bigger picture. As a Christian if I refuse my children permission to Trick or Treat, should I then extend the ban to all Harry Potter movies? Or maybe Star Wars is dodgy because of the portrayal of good verses evil? James Bond movies - a man licensed to kill, who shoots without remorse and beds a few women - not very Christian is it? Should my children be told that although CS Lewis was a Christian man and wrote symbollic novels, the fact he characterises a witch in them deems the TV adaptations unsuitable to watch. Should my children read The Screwtape Letters with portrayals of conversation from the Devil? Or is it OK, because CS Lewis was a Christian, so therefore exempt from the blanket ban?

Do I admit to my younger children the truth about Father Christmas? Do I reveal to them that it is wrong to lie about a fictional character they never see? After all, they've never physically seen Jesus or God, so will they believe His existence to be as transparent as that of Santa? Of course, there are no similiarities, but take away reason, logic and education and see it through the eyes of a child, where do you draw the line about what you tell your children? Should I reveal the truth about the tooth fairy, or is she OK to exist as a lie because she's harmless?

As a parent and an adult I have a responsbility to direct my children towards a Christian life. To mould them and encourage them to live a life that Jesus taught them to live. I have been given charge of their lives to direct them as close to Christ as I can for them to come to Him when the calling is theirs. I have a major impact in the formation of their thinking and opinons, but there are some areas I am not content to force opinons on them, when I feel reaction is blown out of all proportion. The simple act of dressing up for one night to increase the sweetie stash is not going to result in my children putting a ouija board on their Christmas list or requesting a seance at their next sleepover.

What I'm trying to say here is that as a parent I have to weigh up the pros and cons of every activity my children partake in, be it Halloween, watching a movie, reading books, opening presents labelled from Santa, putting teeth under their pillow etc. As their mother I have to consider whether I am constant in my role to them and whether I am picking and choosing the parts that suit me best, because the connotation behind the deception in some cases is deemed as harmless. So, I have to ask myself that if I ban Trick or Treating, then how far do I extend the coverage of limiting the essence of their childhood?

Goodness Through Grief

There is something about this picture that captivates, haunts and mystifies me.

But it also uplifts me.

Here is a woman completely immersed in her grief, being private, yet globally public in her loss.

And through it she's reading the Bible. And whilst I rejoice in the comfort she's finding in those pages, I find it so sorrowful that people only turn to God in times of distress. How much better for people to turn to Him before life becomes sour, to find Him in times of joy and happiness.

I pray her devotion to the reading continues. I pray she finds peace at the loss of her daughter and I pray she finds the God in those pages real and alive, just as I do.

Getting the Whole Picture

I really should learn that when turning the television over I shouldn't get all emotional and tearful when a couple are being interviewed.

I shouldn't feel sorry for the man of the couple when they talk about how much he'll be missed and how much everybody loves him and how his departure will leave a void in their lives.

I really should check the TV screening and check it's not a documentary about terminal illnesses but a stupid daytime programme about a couple deciding whether to stay in the UK or emigrate to Australia.

Time to get the hair dye out again.....

Putting it softly

Erica, you're so much more eloquent than me! ;0)

Couldn't have put it better myself - I'm sure if we were towns we'd be twinned!

Love ya!

xx

Saving The Best For When?

Being home during half term not only affords the time with the children, but also gives ample opportunity to watch a bit of trashy daytime television. I'm glad I don't watch it all the time as I think my brain would implode! Although I have to admit, some days vegging in front of the television for half hour is just what I need and I do, on the odd occasion, actually enjoy it.

One short programme today, however, debated and highlighted the need for 'best'. Why exactly do we save things for 'best'?

This is a debate I used to have with Andy on a frequent basis. Usually fuelled by his desire to hoard seven shades of rubbish around the house and my equally contrasting desire to rid the house of all things unnecessary and use the good stuff. I'm of the mindset if it's rubbish, get rid of it, if you haven't used it for six months, get rid of it, if it's ugly, get rid of it, if you're keeping it out of loyalty to somebody who bought it for you but you can't stand the sight of it, get rid of it... you get the gist. I live on the theory that you have one life and although there are factors beyond your control that you just have to settle for, there are the simpler things in life that really don't require the waste of thinking time. For instance, I can never understand why people buy good quality wine glasses, put them away in a cabinet and then drink the majority of the time from some piece of cheap tack they picked up in Argos or Woolworths. If wine is worth drinking - drink it well. Maybe there is more chance the glass will break, but at least it's been broken in joyful use and not left gathering dust for an occasion that might not happen.

So, why do people save things for 'best'? Why are we made to feel guilty if we have something nice? If we want nice things, then why not have them? I'm not implying we need buy everything at top range or adorn ourselves and our homes in designer labels, but just having nice things brings a little more enjoyment to life. And I'm not saying that by using cheap stuff it means you yourself are cheap! I merely mean that it's not a bad thing to sometimes enjoy nice things and to have a few 'guilty' pleasures - providing they're within your financial means and not done in an attitude of ostentation. Maybe it's an attitude more of us need to live by - life's hard enough at the moment - why not take some of the simpler things we have and make them just that little bit better - after all, don't we ALL deserve it?

Just being...

Most days I cope well and put a brave face on. Today isn't one of those days.

I need closure, but doors are being prised open. I need to be and I'm not being. I need peace and I'm getting conflict. I need understanding and I'm getting muted confusion.

I'm not enjoying being me at the moment, because I'm not allowed to be.

Spring Through the Snow

Somebody pointed out to me recently that they had had enough of a miserable winter and was waiting eagerly for Spring to arrive.

Driving my usual route last week, peeking through the snow I caught the first shoots of the daffodils coming through. Normally I'd be driving down heading to work, not taking much notice, but being forced to crawl along at 10mph waiting for my turn at the roundabout caused me to notice them.

There was something strange, but equally comforting about seeing daffs in the snow, but they did look pretty - rows and rows of green shoots peeking through the white blanket just waiting for the sun to arrive.