Think Before You Speak

I'm sure your mom has told you that before, right? (C'mon now, you know she has.)

Don't you just hate those moments?  A discussion amongst a group of people, the opportunity arises, you open your mouth...and something utterly absurd pops out!  Of course it really happens so fast you can't stop it, so you really openyourmouthandsaysomethingridiculous.  Then come the looks.  Either people just stop and stare, continue conversing, raise their eyebrows, laugh, or maybe frown.  Perhaps they give you that you-are-so-dumb-stare. 

But then, you glance over at your mother.  Oh how you wish the floor would open up and swallow you! Literally.  You'd rather be any place but where you are.

Shucks, you think to yourself.  Just when I was on a role, proving I was mature.  That went down the drain faster than water.

I tried looking up a verse that would fit my post.  Maybe I didn't look hard enough, or perhaps people didn't struggle with "open mouth, insert foot" back then. (I seem to think mankind has been struggling with that throughout history.  Just my opinion.)  So I came up with this one.  It's probably the closest we can get.  

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." -1 Corinthians 10:12

Instead of the Bible literally talking about "open mouth, insert foot," it is a "stand up, fall down" mentality. (same difference, don't you think?)

I hate sticking my foot in my mouth.  I tell you, I do it often enough too! (Arrgg! I get so angry with myself!)  Hmmm.  Now I wonder why it frustrates us when we look stupid in front of others.  Pride.  Yes, I believe we have found the reason!  Pride.  Don't you just cringe when you hear that word? (in this case, see the word.)  You suddenly want to put up your defenses.  "Pride?  No way!"

Oh yes, I am serious.  What other reason can there be?  Aha!  I just thought of this verse.

"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."  -Proverbs 16:18

I think that pretty well describes me.  I rise up on the wings of self-pride, only to be dashed on the rocks of humbleness and meekness.  I become lowly, just as I really am.  All my self-satisfaction is blown away.

Pride may be something everyone struggles with, but hallelujah, we have a forgiving and merciful God.  We don't have to be lost in hopelessness and despair, thinking we are undone forever!  God has given us hope, eternal hope. (Galatians 5:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:16)  We may be imperfect human beings, but we can glory in the One who is perfect in every way.

When you're grinding your teeth, stomping the floor, and pulling your hair.

Days like this are common for me.  Whether I am writing, playing my violin, getting impatient with my siblings, something always happens that makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs. (Ok, I know the title sounds more like a tantrum, but really, I don't mean that.)

I said this once before: I have always wanted to be a writer, even when I was little.

There is one problem.

I get too frustrated with myself.

Ugh. I throw down my pencil, my brain all jumbled.  What seemed like great ideas suddenly lost their grandeur.   I turn up my nose in disgust.  I'll never make a writer!  My story suddenly seems lame, poorly written, even ludicrous.  I read and reread the story and can't seem to be satisfied.  I do know I'm not being overly particular because my writing does seem...what's the word? Juvenile.  I haven't had much experience, well, hardly any at all, so I shouldn't expect to write an elegant-sounding novel right off the bat.   But, if you could just read my writing...

Tears would probably be running down your cheeks in rivulets and laughter choking your words.  Ha.Ha. Very funny.

I guess I shouldn't become so discouraged.  God made me according to every detail He had set down from the very beginning.  If I ever write a book or publish a story, that is totally up to Him.  He has given us all different gifts according to the grace He has granted us. (Romans 12:6-8)   Therefore, we are to use those gifts to the best of our ability "with cheerfulness."  

Remember, we are human and cannot do anything perfect.  What is impossible with us is completely possible with God. (Luke 1:37; 18:27)

Isn't is awesome that we have such an almighty and majestic God who is in control of all things?

Whether I ever publish a book or not, all the glory and praise belongs to God alone.  On  my own I could do nothing.  It is only by His Holy Spirit working in me that I "can do all things." (Philippians 4:13)

I give everything that I am, and everything I have ever done or will do, to Christ alone.

Haven't I said before that writing helps me work out my own problems?  After I put down my thoughts down, things don't seem to be so bleak.

Now, where did that pencil go...

Recipe Day!

Chocolate-chip Oatmeal cookies

Preheat oven to 375*

• 2 sticks of butter, softened
• 1/2 c of granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 c of packed brown sugar
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp of milk
•  2 eggs
• 1 3/4 c flour
• 2 c of oats
• 1 1/2 c chocolate chips

 Combine brown sugar, butter, and granulated sugar in bowl until creamy.  Beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.  Stir in flour, oats, and chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoon onto cookie sheets.  Cook for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.   Makes about 4 dozen (more or less).

I have decided to do a recipe once a week, preferably something I or one of the family have tried before. ....Well, maybe I'll even add in some recipes that we haven't tried, but sound tasty and exciting to make.  Maybe we'll even find some interesting and unusual recipes!

A Bit of Silliness, Really.

I sniffed the air appreciatively.  Mmmm!  What a mouthwatering smell!  Oh how I wished for some!  I looked around, not believing my eyes, and saw everyone else's calm demeanor.  Why were not their mouths watering?  Why were not their noses sniffing eagerly as well?  Was I the only one?  Ah, there it was again, that delicious, aromatic smell!   

Ok, ok, maybe I do need to decelerate a bit.  Still, that's that way I saw it!

However, the pleasant aroma, which I so avidly described, did not does not live up to its taste. (or should I say down?)

I know that the substance has sustained many a weary traveler, given warmth to the coldest of bodies, given many an "addiction", woke up even the sleepiest at first taste, yet even those such qualities have not alerted my taste buds to the liking.

Curious as to what that mysterious substance is?  Maybe you have already guessed it (I've given plenty of clues); therefore I need not tell you.  But for those who are not so quick minded, I will relent: Coffee, the ever-so-mysterious-substance.  Surprised?  Maybe even shaking your head at my foolishness?  Or maybe you are trying to stifle laughter?  Or better yet, telling yourself that I am the most absurd and silly girl on planet earth and you are never coming back to my blog again.....I can only imagine.  Personally, I am doing the first two.  I know I will be coming back.

I have often remarked how I wished coffee tasted as good as it smelled.  Walking down the coffee isle in the store alerts all my senses to the wonderful smell of coffee!  If coffee tasted as good as it smells, I would completely understand why many love it.  On the contrary, I completely and most assuredly do not understand.  What's with the brownish/blackish liquid that has absolutely no taste except of that worse than boiled dirt? (How do you like my analogy?)   Really now, coffee does not have a pleasant taste whatsoever.   I really wish I could understand.

I have had both my mom and dad say that they felt the same way when they were young.  Now they drink coffee every morning most times.  But, Mama only drinks her coffee with creamer in it.  The "sissy stuff" as Daddy says.  He, of course, drinks it plain black. (Gross!)

Am I just being childish?  I even have friends who drink coffee!  Is it just me? I wonder many times. 

What do you suppose, that a couple of years from now I'll look back upon this, really as a childish feeling?  I may end up loving coffee sometime.

Rather, I prefer hot chocolate.

The Responsibility

(Scene One) I gazed critically at the dirty sink.  How could it have came to this? I groaned inwardly.

The day was Saturday,  our major weekly cleaning day.  Of course, the house gets cleaned during the week, but Saturday is major.  Saturday gets us ready and prepared for the Lord's day; plus, after a full week, the house tends to be dirty, if even in some spots more than others.

The kids' bathroom was dirty.

(Scene Two) This time I groaned aloud.  Again I gazed upon a dirty sink, filled to overflowing with dishes.

This scene could not be helped.  The day was Monday.  Every Monday the sink is full of dishes.  This particular week happened to be mine.  Dishes piled atop each other, all encrusted with food.  The dishwasher was full as well.  All the dishes smelled like yesterdays meals. (what's with the irony?)

I felt pretty discouraged.   

Ok, let's say I felt pretty angry.

I do NOT want to deal with all this! I cried to myself.  

I wanted to hurry through it all and be done.  Oh to be done!  But no, I had that responsibility.  Did I want to prove myself to be mature, or a little baby who couldn't handle a sink full of dishes?

Dishes are a small responsibility compared to other things.  But it is still a responsibility.  How many times do we hurriedly skip over things just to be done so we can do our own thing?  Is that a premonition of what we will do when we have our own home to tend?  Our own children to take care of?  I most assuredly would not want my husband coming in from a long day at work to a dirty house, unkempt children, laundry everywhere, dishes piled high, beds unmade, etc. etc.  I will want to have an orderly and clean house that I wouldn't be ashamed of.

But, too many times I do not have things in order.  Either I hurriedly do the job, or don't do it altogether.  Shamefully I admit.  I'd rather be off, doing what I please.  That is not maturity.  That is not responsibility.

What does it say about the Proverbs 31 woman?  "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." (verse 27)  

As keepers of the home we are not be idle and lazy, only doing what pleases us. (yes, let me tell you there is some housework that is not pleasing.)  We are to be good stewards.  That means we are to put others first, clean that toilet even-though-it-seems-to-be-the-most-disgusting-thing-EVER, do that laundry, wash those dishes, make those beds, clean those rooms, vacuum and sweep those those dirty floors.  "A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done."  (Don't know where that comes from, but it is funny nonetheless.)

I am so irresponsible many times.  But I want to thought of as accountable, not shiftless and lazy.  I don't want my years to be wasted with laziness.  So from now on, I will try to act responsible.  The Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible is the best example we can imitate. (oh, did I mention my mom as well?)

By the way, in the end, I did my part faithfully and washed all those dishes.  In the end, it was a real pleasure to see a clean and tidy kitchen.