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May 29, 2004
The Luck of the Draw?
I heard a great essay on NPR the other day that was so out of sync with society, but hit the nail on the head when it comes to child-rearing. This lady's at a dinner party and has to excuse herself to go to the bathroom, only to find that the toilet lid is locked. She's very embarrassed to have to ask the hostess to take care of this little dilemma. This isn't the only thing in the house that's child-proofed. There are bumpers on the coffee table, locks on all the kitchen drawers, you know the drill. The point of the essay is this: this booming "child-proofing" industry is preying on parents' fears. The essayist wants to know why parents don't just tell the children "no"? It would save a lot of money! She's mostly right, except that she doesn't mention that saying "no" and setting boundaries is right for parents to do. I'm not saying that all child-proofing is wrong. Sure, you don't want the kids to get in the gun cabinet or the household chemicals. But there is something wrong when we substitute child-proofing gadgets for obedience.
Here's where the "luck" issue comes in. We've heard people say so many times that "you're so lucky to have such good children." No, it's not luck at all. God has given parents specific instructions on how to rear godly children, and He promises that these instructions work! It takes a lot of work and patient, consistent discipline, but its rewards are more than worth the effort. A wise son (or daughter) makes glad parents.
Posted by lhyink at 11:38 PM
Be a part of the TEAM
My husband recently joined TEAM in Training, an organization that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Here's how it works: each member raises money that goes directly to the L&L Society where it will be used for research. In exchange for raising this money, the member gets personal training and expenses paid for running a marathon (in my husband's case), a triathlon, or a bike race, in honor or in memory of specific cancer patients. We're convinced that as believers we must be involved in "good works", actively helping the poor and needy around us. TEAM is doing a valuable service to cancer patients, and we're very happy to be a part of their effort. Anyone interested in donating to the L&L Society may contact us via e-mail, and we'll be glad to make arrangements with you.
Posted by lhyink at 11:37 PM
May 13, 2004
The Call
Conversation between Aslan and Jill in The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis:
"Why were you so near the edge [of the cliff], Human Child?"
"I was showing off, Sir."
"That is a very good answer, Human Child. Do so no more...but your task will be the harder because of what you have done."
"Please, what task, Sir?" said Jill.
"The task for which I called you and him [Eustace Scrubb] here out of your own world."
This puzzled Jill very much. "It's mistaking me for someone else," she thought. She didn't dare to tell the Lion this, though she felt things would get into a dreadful muddle unless she did.
"Speak your thought, Human Child," said the Lion.
"I was wondering--I mean--could there be some mistake? Because nobody called me and Scrubb, you know. It was we who asked to come here. Scrubb said we were to call to--to Somebody--it was a name I wouldn't know--and perhaps the Somebody would let us in. And we did, and then we found the door open."
"You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you," said the Lion.
Posted by lhyink at 11:35 PM