Back in the saddle again

This week and next I get to be a site leader at our special education school.  We have a large group of students- five of whom are working at the school.  Our current director just gave birth to her second daughter, and our new SI staff for the school will not arrive until late spring.
Working all day at the school has been tiring at times- but energizing at others.   The kids we have at the school are so much fun.  And I feel like everyday I get a "new joy" to carry home with me.  The biggest joy this week was 30 minutes of therapy time with a little boy named Junior.  He is 5 years old and has cerebral palsy.  He walks with a walker, but during therapy took four independent steps!  I remembered all over again why I wanted to be a physical therapist....but I also was reminded of much more.

Living parable: In many ways, we are all spiritually like Junior.  We have damage in our lives and hearts that paralyzes us in one way or another.  We can make excuses- and let the damage disable us.  Our we can understand that God works all things for good for those that love him and are called according to his purpose.  That call does not negate the damage or make light of its impact- but brings us back to the transforming work of grace.  I want to be more like Junior- pressing on to the goal set before me.

I will try to post a picture soon of this precious new love in my life.

Reading

We are starting out the year with a collection of books on our "To Read" shelf.
Next up, "The Age of Opportunity" by Paul David Tripp (Ted's brother for those of you who have read "Shepherding a Child's Heart").  Reading this book has brought me back to my "More like Christ" goal time and time again as I contemplate what it means to parent a teen.  (Yes, in just a few short months Brian and I with be parents of a teenager!)  Really we can't expect too much from a teen if we as parents segregate our lives into secular and sacred.  (Well, we can- but we will be disappointed time and time again.)  We will drive behavior changes- and completely miss the most opportune time to impact our children's hearts.  The heart drives our words and actions, and ultimately what we think is hidden will come into the light.
Step One: Encourage vs. Criticize
Step Two: SEEK WISDOM vs. act foolish (most importantly in the way I parent)
I know myself well enough to know that I will not blog much about how step two is transforming my life, but I can recommend the book (even if you just read a few chapters, it is worth it.)  There is an interesting discussion on isolating versus entering culture and what culture really is...

Books on the "Read It" shelf for this year:
10 Second Rule
The Way of the Heart

Please leave a comment if you have been reading anything inspirational/ instructional lately.  We love suggestions.

Rocky

Our family puppy is now 6 months old...and the size of most full grown dogs.  Unfortunately his age and size match up to create over-sized messes.  In the past two days he has pulled up and eaten the largest of 3 broccoli, dug a large hole next to the foundation, pulled off the screen from our front windows, drug the water hose through the yard and around various trees, turned our front porch into an artistic collage entitled "Muddy Paw-prints", and made a pile of his favorite chew toys- namely bricks from the flower bed and various pieces of concrete...
He is now in timeout (possibly permanently) in our backyard. 
If you have knowledge of how to train a mastiff, please leave a comment.

Encourage vs. Criticize Day 3

After a critical word to my daughters (yep, confessing and repenting!) about their inactivity - namely choosing only sedentary activities during free time- I decided I should encourage them by my actions and words.  So off to walk/jog I went.  Starting to realize

• that silence is a great way to not be critical.  (Thanks Henri Nouwen for you encouragement in the The Way of the Heart)
• that I should think before I speak
• and that my actions and words are closely knitted (Yes Mom, actions do speak louder than words)

Encourage vs. Criticize day 2

Lu 6:45 - [ In Context | Read Chapter | Discuss this Verse ]
[  Multi-Translation ]

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 

Ps 51:10 - [ In Context | Read Chapter | Discuss this Verse ]
[  Multi-Translation ]

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

(copied from studylight.org website)