This is my weekly, if I can, Here and There posts. These are some of the finds I have enjoyed this past week across the world wide web. And what do you think about that title? Should cover about everything in life huh? Share your finds in the comments.
Here and There: Prayer, Chickens and Truth
Now this was an interesting read, What it’s Like to Go Without Complaining For a Month. Doesn’t it seem like complaining is contagious? Consider what happens in your house when one person starts…they all join in eventually it seems people start to complain about the complaining!
When we complain, our brains release stress hormones that harm neural connections in areas used for problem solving and other cognitive functions. This also happens when we listen to someone else moan and groan. “It’s as bad as secondhand smoke,” Gordon says. “It’s secondhand complaining.”
I loved this post, Dear Facebook, it’s Time to Let You Go.
But it also got worse. I started to find that I would not only get annoyed by some of the more offensive posts, but also those who tried to come between us–namely the two little people who kept calling me “Mommy.” They wanted my full attention, but so did you, always luring me in with a picture of an old high school friend or a post I just had to read right then and there. You’d sweep me off my feet and were so much more exciting at times than the cleaning and cooking that was in front of me. You always had such new and fresh ideas to share with me, and I started to realize that I wanted to be with you more, at times, than where I actually was. We were just spending too much time together.
Connie Rossini has some of the best posts about prayer and this one, Mental Prayer for Adolescents, is another one. She also has a new book coming out soon, A Spiritual Growth Plan for Your Choleric Child. A couple of my children (as well as myself) are choleric so I’m looking forward to her insight.
I appreciated this post on The Real Cost of Fresh Backyard Eggs. I do not have the mathematical and analytically accurate brain the author does so I appreciated her cost breakdown…and now I know.
I revisited an older post from Elizabeth Foss, What I’m Never Going to Tell You. I never tire of gleaning nuggets of wisdom from Elizabeth and her ways. And I’m there, each day brings me closer to the fact that these souls I have spent almost every waking moment with, will be ready to go out on their own and make their own way…and all I can do is pray through the fear. I pray through the fear that hopefully I’ve done enough, while not doing too much and that it will all turn out…I’m not sure what word to use here? Good? According to His perfect Will?
So I don’t leave you with promises that all will be rosy if you just work hard enough at it. I only leave you with the promise of His grace in the hard moments, the moments that you are sure you’ve failed at the one thing you’ve worked hardest at your whole life. I leave you this morning with words of hope for mothers in anguish:
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.
James 1:2-5
Speaking of Facebook, The Littlest Way has a Facebook page. If you follow that page, you will already know I cannot get enough of this song, Wonderous Love by Blue Highway.
When I’m not listening to it, which is rare, I’m listening to Chelsea Moon sing her version of What Wondrous Love Is This?
What did you read or listen to this week that you shared? Tell me about it in the comments.
Thank you for sharing my post. I really enjoyed reading your favorites of the week and look forward to future posts.
Of course. I appreciate the good read and gladly shared it.
Wow, sorry for two comments, but I was blown away by the Elizabeth Foss post. I am that mother. I have been tempted by the Devil to abandon any efforts with my other children for the same.
Once, I was reminded of the verse in scripture, you know the one: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (RSVCE).
And I said to myself, “Well I must have done a lousy job of that then.” And then I heard God’s voice say to me, “Michelle, you didn’t lay the foundation, I did. So do not worry.” The hard part? “And when he is old….” The hopeful part? Look how I turned out?
I don’t do well with Facebook. For one seemingly good reason or another (i.e. Military Homeschool Group), I keep going back. Some worthy groups can only be accessed in this way. And each time it’s the same thing. I lose peace and I can’t put my finger on what exactly the problem is. Then, yesterday, I read this and it articulated the problem ~ at least for me, since I know others do not struggle at all.
Chapter 86
Needless Curiosity
CHRIST
MY CHILD, uncontrolled curiosity draws your attention away from your duties and brings needless distractions. It can waste a good deal of time and energy which you might use to greater good. It leads to pointless visiting and useless conversations. It fills the mind with so many empty distractions, which prevent you from freely receiving the holy thoughts and good desires which I send you throughout the day.
2. You would have great peace if you were less curious about things which do not concern you. One who is too interested in the sayings and doings of others, becomes forgetful of the glorious ideal which I present to him – the ideal of pleasing Me in all things and thereby gaining eternal life.
My Daily Bread
I love the insight you shared here. These quotes are absolutely perfect and such a reassurance to this step in my journey. Thank you for sharing.