Weekend Kindness
Reaching Others Through Kindness

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When I dally with memories of childhood, it’s not music lessons, or time spent “on the go”, or birthday and Christmas gifts that come to mind. It’s all the simple things. Helping my grandma rake leaves into big piles, riding my bike to the library with my dad, enjoying my mom’s fresh baked breads and the feel of her hands playing with my hair during church…

I think sometimes organized activities take away more than they give. In making each moment count for something, we lose track of what’s sacred. We fill our lives and our minds, but what about our souls? Sometimes you have to have *time* to stop, in order to recapture the magic of “appreciating the ordinary”.

Here are some places to start, a word of warning though: Plans very often need adjusted, and sometimes the best memories are messy. (more…

Friday night found us watching Pollyanna together…the old Disney version starring Hayley Mills. Now, we all agree that dear Pollyanna wouldn’t recognize a “real problem if she tripped on it”. *smile*

Be that as it may, this is such a great movie for families. Pollyanna exemplifies the “best” in our hopeful striving to teach our children the “good~better~best” lifestyle.

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My wife had used my High School year book as a writing surface the other day, and when I saw it I started to flip through the pages looking at the names of the people that signed it.  One of the names stood out as both a lady that was no longer with us, but who was also one of the teachers of whom I have fond memories.

You see, it’s not the easy teachers that we remember, it’s the hard ones– those that made us work, that inspired us, that made us reach inside ourselves and draw out the best in us.

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Hurray! It’s December, and Christmas is coming! Are you crossing off items on your shopping list, getting cards in the mail, and baking holiday goodies?

I’m not. Yet. I still have almost two weeks, right? Anyway, I think this year will find our family celebrating simply, which is fine with this mommy. Last year we had all the fuss and tinsel, and found it’s not all its shined up to be.

I personally can get carried away planning things. Too many lists. The Shopping List (and all its versions). The Christmas Card List. The Holiday Baking List. The Christmas Breakfast/Dinner/Supper List. The Christmas Party List, which includes games, crafts, and grocery supplies. Add two children involved in two Christmas Programs apiece, and myself helping with a third one…well, I’ll not bore you with the associated itemizations these involve!

The worst of it is, I get so busy I don’t have energy or the *desire* to focus time for the real reason behind Christmas. The celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth, God’s special gift to us, His people.

So here are some ways I’m carving out extra time this year, as well as saving money and stress:

• Buying most of my gifts at the same store, ie: a book store, a kitchen store, or online (how about magazine subscriptions for those nieces and nephews?)
• Hubby and I are saving up for some exercise equipment, so we’re not exchanging gifts. We’ve decided on only two gifts apiece for our girls.
• I vetoed my own “homemade” Christmas gift ideas. I didn’t start early enough and don’t need the stress this close to Christmas. I may do peanut brittle, as it’s a favorite with the in-laws, but it’s pretty simple.
• No UPS packages to extended family. Cards and money–they can have a family movie night with it or put it towards their New Year’s Eve celebration.
• The girls and I are doing the bare minimum of school this month, keeping to the major subjects. As a result, we have more time for their Christmas “projects”. We’re also playing more games like Scrabble, Progressive Rummy, Candyland (Toddler’s favorite!), and Scattergories…
• Instead of making Gingerbread Houses, we’re talking about making a 12 Days of Christmas Lapbooking project from the Homeschool Share website. Check it out, it’s a free download, and the focus is on displaying the Christian symbolism behind the 12 Days song…

I’d love to hear your ideas on simplifying the glittery side of Christmas and magnifying the truth that Jesus really is the best gift of all!

This was in our church bulletin recently, and I thought it was worth sharing with you.

What Really Counts

Don’t tell me what you’ll do,
When you have time to spare.
Tell me what you did today
To ease a load of care.

Don’t tell me what you will give
When your ship comes in from sea;
Tell me what you gave today -
A fettered soul to free.

Don’t tell me the dreams you have
Of conquest still afar.
Don’t say what you hope to be,
But show me what you are.

-Author Unknown