A Pirates Life...not for me either!

So, here we were at Disney World two weeks ago.  Wayne and I, our daughter Laura and her three children. 

 

I am going to talk about the oldest grandchild...Percy Lee III

He turned 9 just a few days ago.

 

 

 

We took the ride on a boat through the caves of the pirates.  Of course the ride was spectacular like all Disney attractions. 

We floated among the caves, dwellings and stomping grounds of various pirates.  It was cool and damp, the scenery lighted by campfires and smoldering buildings and dingy lamps.  Pirates lounged in filthy tattered clothing occasionally raising a booze bottle in a drunken cheer.  Some sprawled happily in pigpens, some against trees, all incessantly singing

 "Ho, Ho Ho, Ho, a pirates life for me!..." 

 

The music made me feel a strange sensation of romance and exhilaration and I found myself anticipating joyous grand dancing halls,  luxurious gowns and black shiny buckled shoes gliding across polished marble floors.

But in reality, the words of the song, which I just now read...and will not post here, speak of looting and pillaging, ravaging and squander.

That is what we saw depicted there in the caves.

In spite of the seemingly joyous promise of the catchy familiar tune, the intelligible message was deceptive.

Even when we turned a corner and saw  the Captain with tables piled high with gold and every manner of trinkets and baubles, the deplorable scene remained.

 We emerged from the attraction, squinting into the sunshine of the real day, Wayne and Percy Lee and I, and chatted about the amazing artistry and creativity of it all.

Then Wayne expressed what we all had been thinking when he said

 "It doesn't look like such a fine life to me though."

 

And that is when we discovered something wonderful about this little big boy of ours;  He surprised us by saying

 'Yes Poppy, I do not understand why they think the gold is enough!"

 

He is growing up, he is wise and perceptive for a 9 year old I think.

 

How often we grand parents worry about the future and how these little ones will cope with the world they are growing up in.

How can we teach them all they need to know and warn them against all the evils and the "second-bests?"

 

 

 I think we should stop worrying.

  God has put in their minds and hearts the ability to figure some things out.  As they grow and mature and move into discipleship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God will be faithful to teach and guide. 

 

I was worried a little about the influence of the pirates, but I need not. 

 Percy saw the truth. 

 Perhaps it is the influence of family values repeated continually;   the life of satisfaction with daily frugality and the joy of extravagance on vacation and special days. 

His Poppy is a good example of that.

  He lives in freedom and pleasure of spending with the family, in the brightness of  a special day that which he earned honestly on the other days.

Yes Percy Lee, you are right;

 the gold is not enough.

 

 

by Charlene...proud Nana

 

 

 

 

The Books On My Shelf

After reading tonight, I sit here wondering why that wall of bookcases does not emit some electrical force.  For on those shelves, silently pulsating between inconspicuous covers,  great wisdom, insight, comfort, bewilderment, joy,  sorrow and every emotion known to man awaits.

When I pass my hand in front of the TV screen, there is a tingling feeling and an audible snapping sound. 

That is how I shall from now on think of my bookshelf...as a living force pulling me in.

Tonight I want to talk about this book: 

 

'10 Lifesaving Principles for Women in Difficult Marriages'

 by Karla Downing

thttp://www.changemyrelationship.com/contactKarlaDowning.html

Tonight before leaving the house, knowing I would have some reading time, I rushed to my den at the last minuet to grab a book on Personality Types.

 I was not able to find one quickly, but instead a small unassuming book caught my eye and remembering a conversation I had had with a friend weeks before, I grabbed a little book called  '10 Lifesaving Principles for Women in Difficult Marriages' by Karla Downing.

  I have been reading now for almost 2 hours, and I decided it was time to stop because I needed to breathe.

   Ms. Downing has found a way to walk into the home of hurting families, homes of broken women,  weeping children and bewildered husbands.  She has pulled back the elaborate drapes and raised the dusty broken venetian shades that have hidden this reality of thousands and thousands of families.   Neither wealth, nor fame, nor Faith have protected families from 'Difficult Marriage' and the devastating repercussions reaped by every member in that family.

   My husband and I and unfortunately, lived in such a relationship for many years and as I read Karla Downing's words it is a bittersweet experience. 

Sweet because:

•   here is hope for you weary, broken, dying sister of mine.
•   I am hearing someone finally, so simply explain what I believe is God's mind on marriage.
•   there is acceptance, and understanding of the unique difficulty Christian and other Religious   women face in difficult marriages and she has so wisely laid out a path that can be applied to each situation
•  there is understanding of where I have walked, where my husband has walked,where my dear children have walked. Understanding of where YOU are walking.
•   I am comforted to realize that someone knows that my goal and daily prayer through those years was to be a good, Godly wife.
•   How freeing to realize that someone knows why I did not appear to be.

Now the bitter:
Part of the bittersweet is loosing it's bite even as I write, but ... I am remembering the devastation  and hopelessness that overtook my whole being when, during those years, I went to a pastor for help for us and received chiding instead.  Yes,  chiding for...(yes, you guessed it)...not being submissive.

   But, I share that with thankfulness for the tremendous Grace of God, who reached around those experiences and healed Wayne and I...is healing us.

   I have longed to reach into the lives of other women with vials of that Grace which was poured out on us.

 That is why I have, and continue to study and practice Christian Life Coaching..
 That is why I try to write of uplifting yet ordinary ways to experience more joy in life.

 That is why I am pointing you to this book and the ministry of this woman...as a vial that, when opened, will pour Grace into your lives that thousands of my words may never accomplish.

   I have not met this lady Karla Downing, I do not know anything about her except what I have read online and understand from this little book, but because I believe my life purpose will be so much more quickly realized by pointing you to this book of hers, I happily recommend you purchase a copy and walk into life.

Charlene

 

 

OLD BARNS AND BEAUTY   

Why the picture of the old barn in a beauty article?

Read on...

 Ephesians 2:10

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

 

    Sometimes we forget that we are special. 

    Sometimes we don't even know, or have forgotten because of the cares or unfairness of life.

 

I have noticed through the years my brother Ron often telling his children that they, or something they did were 'Special'.

Today, when my grandchild did something really kind, his siblings and I started singing "For he's a jolly good fellow!"  Let me tell you, he was taller and even more sweet than usual for the rest of our visit.  He saw he was special, he heard it too, and as he looked in surprise from one to the other, the smile on his face told me he knew it!



 "As I walked on a little country road in Lancaster Co., PA about 22 years ago, I unwisely burdened my 11 year old daughter with yet another complaint of how draggy I felt and looked.

 

     There was ...a long pause in our conversation and then she just commenced strutting down the road in front of me like a queen on Red-Bull. She turned to face me and said "Mom, if you walk and act like you are beautiful...you will look beautiful"

 

     And so sisters,

I realize we feel we have 'better, more important' uses for money and time than taking care of ourselves and looking nice, but I now look at things differently.

 

When we have neglected our housework, or just fallen behind, do we open our door wide and exercise gracious hospitality?

I

 

When we are dressed shabbily, or haven't plucked the dark chin hairs or fixed our hair, do we walk with the same open-ness, smiling at people and being sunshine?

 

I don't. 

 I want to hide behind the shelves when I see someone I know.  Or delay stopping to visit someone I feel led to visit.

 

Years ago, in Hobart NY, some ladies from my church went to a yard sale.  The pastors wife was with us.  Three of us were fairly newly married and pretty sheltered.

Something really cool happened that day, at that sale, with that pastors wife (and you know who you are).

 

The table was filled with clothes and we were all dutifully searching out bargains and treasures when our attention was turned to Mrs. Pastor who was holding up a VERY scanty bit of lingerie, indeed!

 "Hmmm", she said, "I guess fifty cents is not a bad price to pay to boost your sex life." 

 

I have loved her every since.   I do not know if she bought it, I guess my embarrassment and shock at the time wiped other memories of the event away.

  But I remember that best part.

 

 

      More recently a friend of ours posted a photo of herself wearing a beautiful scarf.  If I remember, it was a splurge to her, to someone anyway.  It transformed her with color and style and I could see in her expression as well a change.  She was radiant.

She knew she looked really great.

 

And what's more, her friends were happy she felt this way.!

 

We were proud I believe, to have the spark we love so much be seen by the world.

  Why?

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

 

 

 and because

we are family, Gods family.

  We carry His name, we want to bring Glory to that Name.

 

We are not in competition with each other, we are walking together, encouraging each other, active in illuminating the gifts, talents and strengths of each other.  For the Name.

 

 

If you need a new scarf, or piece of lingerie, a new foundation or anti-wrinkle cream, or a new shade of lip color...perhaps it is time. Take some special care of someone very special. 

 You.

..and let those things which better showcase the outer beauty, encourage you to share the inner beauty.

 

Maybe we also should have a little Red Bull, and practice the wise little 'Laura Strut'

  then we will begin to feel the Truth of It.

 

If you see me today, remind me to stand tall and walk in confidence.

 

OK

Please don't be offended by the barns or the comment below.  I intend them to be as amusing to you as the saying was to me when I first heard it.

 

now the answer to the question, "Why the barns in an article about enhancing our beauty?"

 

"If the old barn

  needs a coat

     paint it!"

 

said the old man at church during heated discussion regarding appropriateness of make-up.

 

 

Charlene 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     When I chanced upon the following comments about our injurious  preoccupation with our weight and personal appearance,  I thought it should be shared here as it relates to us accepting ourselves as Our Heavenly Father sees us.
     Renewing our relationship with God, and regenerating our walk with Him is, as you know, the theme and goal of  Pathways to Renewal .
     I wish as you look in the mirror this evening you will get a glimpse of the beauty He sees in you.


Now this article from a man I do not know...but I like what he says here............

“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience  

   “Get Off The Scale!

You are beautiful. Your beauty, just like your capacity for life, happiness, and success, is immeasurable. Day after day, countless people across the globe get on a scale in search of validation of beauty and social acceptance.

Get off the scale! I have yet to see a scale that can tell you how enchanting your eyes are. I have yet to see a scale that can show you how wonderful your hair looks when the sun shines its glorious rays on it. I have yet to see a scale that can thank you for your compassion, sense of humor, and contagious smile. Get off the scale because I have yet to see one that can admire you for your perseverance when challenged in life.

It’s true, the scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity. That’s it. It cannot measure beauty, talent, purpose, life force, possibility, strength, or love. Don’t give the scale more power than it has earned. Take note of the number, then get off the scale and live your life. You are beautiful!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free