Many times we have family, friends, or simply aquaintances who are in need of a hug, a meal, help with children, or running an errand. Keep in mind a few simple suggestions:
1. Offer specific assistance verbally, then follow through.
2. When I am in need, the last thing I will do is ask-just do it for them.
3. A completely unexpected gift of your time means more to a person in need than we'll ever know, especially in our fast-moving culture today. Relationships are really still important, and needed more than ever.
Others suggestions to help include driving someone to their doctor's appointment, picking up medication for them, doing their grocery shopping, writing a short note including your phone number or ways/times to contact you, having their children over to play for a couple of hours, placing a prepared dish or loaf of bread in their freezer for a tough day, transporting their children to an activity.
For someone who is bed bound or challenged visually sit with them and read them the newspaper, or an uplifting magazine article. Holding their hand or giving a hug can fill their heart full of love too. We often take these acts of kindness for granted. Remember, if you ask if you can help them, most of us are going to say no-it's a pride thing you know!
Have a great day,
Mom at Work
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Leaving a Legacy
Once there was a mother walking with her little girl. They were talking about growing up. The little girl looked at her mom, and said, "when I grow up, I want to be just like you." These may be scary words for us, but the reality is that our little boys and girls will someday grow up and be very much like us in many ways. What legacy do we really want to leave for our children?
Starting with the very basics, do we show our children, daily, that we love them? Is that love shown to them in a way that they can understand? In The five Love Languages of Children, Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D. define for us the five languages of love. They teach us how to discover the primary love language of each of our children. For us moms with more than one child, guess what? You've got it; they may be completely different from one another. For example, one child may like it when you praise them, cheer for them at a game, or writing them an encouraging note. The authors call this "words of affirmation."Alternatively, another may respond predominantly to seeing that you love them by doing things for them, like making their breakfast or folding their clothes a certain way. This book is a wonderful addition to the family library and extremely insightful in raising healthy children. See www.MoodyPublishers.com for further information on this book, or others by these authors.
Do we live our life in the Truth of God on a daily basis, before them? Do we exercise with them, and demonstrate healthy nutritional choices? Do we play games with them or have a "family movie night?" Do we show them by our actions that they are very important to us as moms? Do we set reasonable boundaries for them? Do we teach them life skills such as cooking, money management, laundry, and childrearing?
Moms, I can assure you that the world around our children will TELL them how much they care for them, virtually everywhere. I can assure you that it is purely for selfish reasons. We have been given the opportunity to SHOW our children that we love them. This is a huge calling that we must rise to the occasion for, if you will. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Only through God' s love and forgiveness for us, are we able to love our children, and others. For further reading, try Deuteronomy chapter 6.
Have a great day,
Mom @ Work
Starting with the very basics, do we show our children, daily, that we love them? Is that love shown to them in a way that they can understand? In The five Love Languages of Children, Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D. define for us the five languages of love. They teach us how to discover the primary love language of each of our children. For us moms with more than one child, guess what? You've got it; they may be completely different from one another. For example, one child may like it when you praise them, cheer for them at a game, or writing them an encouraging note. The authors call this "words of affirmation."Alternatively, another may respond predominantly to seeing that you love them by doing things for them, like making their breakfast or folding their clothes a certain way. This book is a wonderful addition to the family library and extremely insightful in raising healthy children. See www.MoodyPublishers.com for further information on this book, or others by these authors.
Do we live our life in the Truth of God on a daily basis, before them? Do we exercise with them, and demonstrate healthy nutritional choices? Do we play games with them or have a "family movie night?" Do we show them by our actions that they are very important to us as moms? Do we set reasonable boundaries for them? Do we teach them life skills such as cooking, money management, laundry, and childrearing?
Moms, I can assure you that the world around our children will TELL them how much they care for them, virtually everywhere. I can assure you that it is purely for selfish reasons. We have been given the opportunity to SHOW our children that we love them. This is a huge calling that we must rise to the occasion for, if you will. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Only through God' s love and forgiveness for us, are we able to love our children, and others. For further reading, try Deuteronomy chapter 6.
Have a great day,
Mom @ Work
Monday, January 28, 2008
A Lesson in History
In her book, Women's Voices from the Oregon Trail, Susan G. Butruille paints a living picture of families who were following their dreams, and moving westward. The author begins her narration at the National Frontier Trails Center in Independence, Missouri. The book presents a compilation of quotes from women and children traveling the Oregon Trail in the 1840's and 1850's, along with pictures, and guides for travel along the trails today. Included are state-by-state finds of markers, signposts, landmarks, and historical sites that serve today to educate us on the history of women in the massive westward expansion of our United States.
I highly recommend this book as a read-aloud to elementary and middle school aged girls. Take a few hours this week to read to your daughters, share some hot tea or cocoa, and learn about some heroic women, in their own right, who were instrumental in the growth of our great nation.
Why not plan a summer trip now, to experience history together, by traveling to places like Fort Laramie, Wyoming, or Register Cliff in Guernsey. Research your own family and discover if some of your own relatives traveled these early pioneer trails. Learn TOGETHER.
Have a great Monday Moms!
Mom at Work
I highly recommend this book as a read-aloud to elementary and middle school aged girls. Take a few hours this week to read to your daughters, share some hot tea or cocoa, and learn about some heroic women, in their own right, who were instrumental in the growth of our great nation.
Why not plan a summer trip now, to experience history together, by traveling to places like Fort Laramie, Wyoming, or Register Cliff in Guernsey. Research your own family and discover if some of your own relatives traveled these early pioneer trails. Learn TOGETHER.
Have a great Monday Moms!
Mom at Work
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