Nancy’s Kitchen

I am noticing that taking offense from what others do is counter-productive to my peace.  This is not a new concept to me, as I recall a past mentor talking about this.  He said that we have time, even if only a split second, to choose how we will respond to people and situations.  He emphasized how important it is that we not lose or yield our peace when people and events don’t go our way.  I discovered that he was right!  However, as time goes by, I seem to forget what I’ve learned.

A few weeks ago, some friends commented that they had committed to not take on offenses.  They have many opportunities to take offense, but instead of picking them up, they turn the opportunities with prayer over to God.  This is very hard at times, easy at other times.  People have sensitive hearts that are easily wounded.  But picking up the Shield of Faith protects us from firey shrapnel spewed in our direction.  As we watch the offenses fall to the ground and fizzle out we can rejoice in God our Savior who is always with us.

Some offenses are much harder to get deal with than others.  Wounds from our childhood, wounds from last year, wounds from yesterday… these all hurt!!  But we still have the choice of whether or not we will take offense and harbor the wounds in our hearts.

I appreciate this wise advice:  “Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Also this:  “Be angry, yet do not sin.”

Anger today only reveals the wounds and offenses of the past. May you choose wisely how you will respond.

No Comments »

We walked into the sanctuary today as a broad range of children rehearsed what they would be sharing during the service. There were dioramas, pictures, pottery, reports, music, student-made videos and slide shows complete with music. We were “celebrating school” at the end of the year. The children attend public schools, private Christian schools, and home-school. All did excellently. Our granddaughter, Julia (6 yrs old), showed her diorama of a mother polar bear and her cub in their habitat. She proudly and sweetly shared about it.

The greatest aspect of this time of sharing was the feeling of family it created among us. We are a small, fairly close-knit congregation, but this day something happened and we all felt proud of all our children. None were favored over the others, none were lacking for appreciation. These were OUR kids!! I am so thankful for our worship leader and Kidz Praise leader, Stephen Elliott. He gets great ideas and follows through on them. He is a gift to our congregation. Thanks, Steve!

No Comments »

In visiting Steve, Jodi and Adelina with Julia, and conversing about child-rearing, we discussed the need for – within limits – children to work things out for themselves. It occurred to me this morning that adults as well as children need to learn to get along together, to be considerate of and respect others as persons. Adults need to remember and understand that other adults also have needs, desires, preferences and agendas. Adults get their feelings hurt. Adults need to be affirmed. Guess what? So do kids! Kids have needs, desires, preferences and agendas. We as adults have the responsibility to help our children explore their world and learn what their own needs, desires, preferences, and agendas are, and what limits are necessary and good. We need to respect and honor each other as persons of worth, which we all are. Families and communities, places of employment and worship are all good places to practice this.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

No Comments »