Ouch Holy Spirit Kapow! Convicted over how I spoke to a telemarketer–Good one. “It was one of those days.” One of those days where my heart needed some firm redirection. One of those days where my attitude was getting “a little big for its britches” as my grandma used to say. One of those days where His new mercies were obviously poured out on me as I spent time with Him in the scriptures. He used that time to teach, correct and train. (2 Timothy 3:16)
A meditation from the Daily Advent Devotional for Women–Day 22…When we crawl in bed at night, what’s the mathematical equation to find the area between us and our husband? Him hanging off the right side plus us hanging off the left equals a span of separation not only physical, but emotional, and spiritual as well. What would happen if we just reached out yonder, across crumpled sheets and through flannel pajamas and touched his arm as we fell asleep? Would that be the first step to help fill that void?
I’ve shared before the art project–Our Family Rules Board–that turned into a Nightly Examen with Children. I would like to say, although ideally we would do this every single evening, life does sometimes interrupt our best plans. And if evening time does not work for your family, try during midday during a lunch break. Sometimes midday can help recapture a day that may have gotten off to a bad start or gotten out of hand. The purpose is to begin a nightly examen for children that they will then carry into their adult lives. And if you miss a day, grant yourself and your family grace.
“He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”
― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
A couple of years ago my sister and I each decorated a canvas to hang in our homes. Mine started out being a “Family Rules” canvas. After I was finished and hung it on our wall, a visiting priest commented on how it read more like a nightly “Family Examen” rather than a “Family Rules” board.
We’ve used it “officially” as a nightly examen after family rosary, but lost the habit some where along the way. I regret that and have vowed to pick it back up. Not only pick it back up, but tie it to the Word of God…win-win.
–Nobody wants to gather around with people who despise you and who see you as a task to be checked off…They (our children) should see us laboring hard to make a beautiful life for them while not losing sight of them in it. This quote, along with Sarah’s book, Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace, has me rereading all those homeschooling books I read so long ago. I want to make sure my children’s education is not just one more thing to be checked off, unless they are a child that wants to check off the box.
I'm Jenny, a God lover, Word seeker, truth teller, wife and momma living my little life in a big way...or is it living my big life in a little way? I write about Bible and Prayer Journaling, Daily Affirmations, Inspiring Bible Quotes and Books...Oh the books! Read More…
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