Family First | Intercer Adventist News

Redeeming the Years

May 23, 2018 By admin

Photo: Studiomill

As I send another baby gift to one of my children’s friends, I am amazed that we are now entering this phase of life. I am not yet a member of some of my generation’s elite club known as Grandparents. However, I have watched numerous grandparents interact with their grandchildren. I had the company of three grandparents during my childhood. And my own children spent most of their childhoods within one state with four grandparents and several great-grandparents. They have special memories of going to the beach for several summers with one set of grandparents, and riding the tractor and petting kittens with the others.

Several of our favorite mentors have been great role models. At retirement, they moved to be in the same town with their only child’s family and thoughtfully wove themselves into the fabric and daily lives of their grandchildren. Jack hung a special swing at the family cabin, he took fresh doughnuts to his grandsons every weekend, and he and Mary attended every ballgame, concert and school event. Most importantly, they encouraged their grandsons’ church attendance and spiritual lives. The consistent message to their grandchildren seemed to be: “You matter. You are precious. You will become God’s men.”

Grandparenting might be welcomed as one of life’s chances for a “Do Over.” When I think about all the mistakes I made with my children, how the years’ rushed by, what I have learned about priorities, I welcome the thought of blessing my family with another opportunity to love and leave a legacy. Perhaps you will think of some other Grandparent Gifts to be gained or given for this list:

The Gift of Time: Toddlers and grandparents both need a place and space to walk a bit slower than the rest of the world. While everyone else rushes, grandparents can be a safe place to “exhale,” kick back and have the time to talk, examine, play, hug and nap. Because they are going a bit slower, grandchildren and grandparents have many opportunities.

The Gift of Sharing Stories: what child doesn’t squeal with delight to learn of their own parents’ childhood stories of mischief? With fondness, I remember my husband’s grandmother telling stories to her great grandchildren about traveling in a covered wagon with her family. Grandparents are the historical society for the family and for life before the parents were born. Who else remembers long dead family members? This provides children with a sense of history, belonging and context in an increasingly fragmented world. In addition, when grandparents listen, they often hear the fanciful and highly creative tales that grandchildren can “practice” with someone.

The Gift of Understanding the Life Cycle: grandparents are a great learning tool for children to appreciate and become more patient with all stages of life. Today’s grandparents are usually active and this is an encouragement for the future. However, this is where many of us come to examine first hand, dentures, hearing aids, wrinkled skin, and canes. Grandparents’ bodies are a bit different from people in the parents’ generation. Not everyone is young, tall or muscular, and yet they can be valued.

The Gift of a Spiritual Legacy: we have the example of many grandparents in the Bible, such as the generational scoundrels of Old Testament patriarchs and kings. However, it is in 2 Timothy 1:5 where Paul reminds us of the faith that first dwelt in a grandmother, then a mother, and finally in a young man. The godly example of faith in the face of death can impress young people with the faith and courage that they need for living. They do not often see that displayed in a jaded world. Knowing that their grandparents have confidence that the family will someday be united in Heaven, is a gift of love to “stay the course.”

The Gift of Reassurance: as the past peels away for grandparents and their immediate family members and friends die, they need the hope and blessing of knowing that grandchildren will carry on their legacies. Rediscovering the simple joys of life through the eyes of little family members can be a good medicine for aging. What a wonderful plan, that at a time in life when there is so much loss, beautiful precious babies enter the world!

The Gift of Unconditional Love: this example of God’s love is supposed to come from our parents; however, having a back-up plan in a sinful world is another blessing. Parents can be tired and distracted. Grandparents may not feel needed, appreciated or huggable in any other role. Hugging and forgiving sometimes comes a bit easier for those who realize that children grow up and life is indeed very short.

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Read more at the source: Redeeming the Years

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Family First.

Green-Eyed Monsters

May 22, 2018 By admin

Photo: Hemera

Looking back on my childhood, I now realize I was a somewhat mischievous kid. During the summer months especially, “our gang” of neighborhood children would circle around on our bikes playing “doorbell ditch” and throwing water balloons at unsuspecting passerby’s. We regularly monopolized the phone lines “prank calling’ little old ladies. There was something about theses acts that excited me. It must have been the adrenaline rush.

But one day my tricks caused someone a lot of pain. It was 6th grade summer school and a few select students were chosen to play their musical instruments for general assembly. Parents, students and teachers were invited.

I was not among the chosen musicians, so jealousy fueled my impish nature to new heights. As I sat in the darkened auditorium next to my friend Mary who waited to perform on her violin, my hand silently crept toward her instrument case. Finding the knobs that tightened her violin, I began turning them ever so slightly, one at a time loosening the strings in the darkness.

A Devious Act

When Mary rose to her feet to perform she had no ideas what awaited her. Making her way to the stage, she placed the violin under her chin and drew the bow across the strings. The sound that emanated from her instrument was awful! Again and again she tried to play but the only sound she could muster was a grating, screeching noise. Finally, in humiliation, Mary rushed from the stage, tears streaming down her hot cheeks. I’m sure guilt was written all over my face but I lingered in the dark auditorium hoping I would not be fount out. I wasn’t.

Jealousy is not called the green-eyed monster for nothing. For, when it takes a hold of us we often act in ways that are less than human. As adults, we too, are plagued by thoughts of insecurity and inadequacy that lead to jealousy. For every day we meet people who are smarter, more attractive, and richer than us.

Even so, our Creator has made each one of us very special and unique. When we realize God loved us so much that Jesus was sent to die in our place, we begin to recognize how special we really are. Then, we can love and value ourselves more deeply, as well as others, and the green-eyed monster begins to melt away.

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Read more at the source: Green-Eyed Monsters

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Family First.

Children Do Listen

May 21, 2018 By admin

Photo: Pedro Irizarry

If you have been a parent for any length of time you know that kids will make you look bad every time. Whether it is the baby proving you wrong when you say, “Come look! She just rolled over!” And she doesn’t roller over again – for another four weeks. Or whether it is your angel faced son who hasn’t been bringing home the notes from his teacher. Or whether it is your toddler throwing herself down in the middle of Wal-Mart screaming for a new toy— kids will make you look like a horrible parent.

I remember my most embarrassing moment. I had taken my two little girls out shopping to a department store for some new clothes. Everything was going pretty well. But you know how little kids are. They like to run around and hide in the clothing racks. Today was no different.

I had just told Sarah, “Don’t run in the store!” But as children are apt to do, she immediately forgot my words and charged for the clothing rack – full speed ahead.

Before I knew what had happened I heard that sound. The kind of sound no parent wants to hear. A CRASH and a CLATTER. I turned to look and watched, horrified as the rack of clothing tipped over, falling directly on the rack next to it. And then, as if in a dream, I watched as the entire row of clothing racks, all the way down the center aisle of the store, fell like a perfectly laid out dominos game.

Mutual Embarassment

There was nothing I could do to prevent it. You can imagine how everyone in the store turned and looked at the racks – and then at me. My faced turned red and I thought, “This isn’t happening.” I looked down to see my precious Sarah Rose, popping her little head out from beneath the pile of clothing. Her faced was as red as mine. She was humiliated. I, too, wished the floor would open up and swallow me.

At that moment I had a choice. I could either laugh or cry. So… I burst out laughing! I mean, how could you not laugh? I realized that Sarah had delivered her own punishment. I didn’t have to say a word.

Sometimes as parents we think, “These kids never hear a word I am saying!” I suppose, yes, sometimes they really aren’t listening. Sometimes they look over at us, just daring us to react. Other times they act like little angels and we wonder where the real monster-child is hiding.

Patience is important when you are a parent. There are times when we just have to choose patience because, it’s not happening any other way. Be consistent in your teaching, training, and disciplining of your child. Your child really is listening to – and watching – everything you say and do. The Bible tells us, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22: 6). Notice it says, “when he is old.” Kids will listen, learn and remember – and then do everything they can to test your character in the process. In the end… it will be worth it.

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By Melissa Ringstaff, director of A Virtuous Woman – www.avirtuouswoman.org. Copyright © 2006 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®.

Read more at the source: Children Do Listen

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Family First.

The Porch Cover

May 20, 2018 By admin

Photo: Mohammed Shaker

The cover over the front porch is ugly! Why did we spend hard earned money to have it built? These thoughts tumbled through my mind as I looked back at the house on my morning walk.

We had planned for weeks to have the cover built. My husband had carefully drawn a plan. We had finally found a builder who would so a good job at a fair price.

Monday morning the builder and his sons showed up early. They worked steadily all day, carefully measuring lumber and plywood, cutting boards, and pounding nails. They had even stayed late that evening to finish the project so they wouldn’t have to return another day.

The air was still, the sawdust had settled, the project was finished. The smell of wood lingered in the air. The boards were just where they were supposed to be. The builder had followed our instructions to the letter—but the result was ugly. The bare lumber was unsightly and looked stark next to the blue-gray house with white trim.

The following week my husband found a bucket of white paint in a corner of the garage. He attached a paint roller to a long pole. He spread some tarps over the concrete beneath the porch cover. Then he began painting. He painted most of the morning. He searched the garage again and found a paintbrush on his work bench and painted the trim. Finally, he was finished, and we stood back for a look.

The Final Touch

What a difference that coast of white paint made! The porch cover looked like it belonged now. No longer did it stick out like a patch of a bare earth in the lawn. Smiles covered our faces when we returned from a walk later that evening. The porch cover was a wonderful addition to our home after all!

Are there any porch covers in your life waiting for a coat of paint? Jesus wants to cover your unsightly sin with His precious blood. He wants to make you look totally different from the way you did before. The best part about His paint project is that He not only covers you but can make you brand new from the inside out.

When we look at ourselves and others, do we see the unfinished project with plywood and nails exposed? We need to ask God to give us new eyes to see the finished project—that looks like it really belongs in God’s kingdom.

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Read more at the source: The Porch Cover

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Family First.

Homecoming

May 19, 2018 By admin

Photo: Matthias Gelinski

The summer following my 10th birthday, our family made its first and only trek to Disneyland. We lived up north in Stockton, California, and in those days one had to travel Highway 99 to get to L.A. I well remember the all day trip driving with the “big trucks” through every town in California’s central valley that dotted the “99.” The stars were out (you could see them back then) by the time we pulled into Anaheim.

The three of us kids were so excited we could hardly sleep. But the next morning found us bright and early standing by the gate of the amusement park we had waited so long to see.

The day began well enough, that is, until my brother and I threw up our cotton candy on the spinning teacups. Our family had barely recovered from that mishap when the unthinkable happened. My sister disappeared in Frontierland. None of us even saw her slip away. It seemed we just looked around and she was gone.

I’m sure my parents were heart stricken for she was only three years old. Our holiday came to a screeching halt as we reported her lost and then waited moment by agonizing moment for her to be found. My parents were undoubtedly petrified by the possibility she might have fallen in one of the parks lagoons.

The Lost Is Found

Finally, after an hour or two, a policeman wearing a dark blue uniform, appeared with my sister by the hand. I can only imagine the relief and total joy of my parents at that moment. Their lost little girl had been found!

Now that I’m a mother myself, I think I can identify with the range of emotions my parents must have experienced that day, from agonizing heartache and fear to incredible happiness and relief.

Somehow, I sense that God must experience these same emotions on a daily basis millions of times over. For, we are all children of the Creator, each and every one of us. Yet, the Lord loves us individually as if we were an only child.

How it must hurt and grieve the Almighty when we wander away and get lost, for we mean so much to God. How the Lord longs for us to come home. But never forcing us, our God waits patiently, moment by agonizing moment hoping we will return.

This longing and desperation turns to indescribable joy when we finally do decide to turn around. Isn’t it time now to come home?

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Redeeming the Years

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Green-Eyed Monsters

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Children Do Listen

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The Porch Cover

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Homecoming

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