Today after having a conversation with a friend, I was reminded that I don't really know anything. I had this really good deep thought and I thought I knew so much and then when I left and was thinking about it later I realized I was wrong. Even if it would appear that what I said was true, I still was wrong. Not naughty gossippy wrong. I just mean my thought wasn't completely thought through....and in the end it didn't come out.
Another thing I just discovered this week. People see me completely different than I thought they did! That one has confused me all week! I'm shocked and surprised. I don't know why I'm shocked. I guess I"m pretty good at bluffing or pretending. It's made me think that perhaps I had better look at that other person with much more mercy and love and know without asking that God is refining them too. And then to make sure I freely give that smile or honest word. People often aren't who we first see.
Someone asked me today, if it's possible to judge whether one has a pharisee attitude. How do we really know? Jesus did. He judged the pharisees. After hearing the message given this morning, I wonder too. . Because, the things he talked about needed saying. But if one didn't know him it could have seemed pharisofical. I conclude that when one is teaching absolutes to a generation of people fed on tolerance, his teaching could come across self righteous. In the end I think I'll take the absolutes, BUT in the process, I'll try to incorporate the love of my Jesus into my relationships.....because afterall, we're all very very needy.....and knowing I'm needy and knowing God gives me divine love and forgiveness and the get up and go.....I can therefore get down to being real with the needs around me.
So that was all written Sunday evening. Sunday was a REALLY Big day if anyone wondered. Sunday is NOT a day of rest among the Mennonites. I'm sorry if the truth hurts but I've found I am NOT rested after our Sundays here. Yes, we're not doing the normal jobs and work and such but we are working!!! It takes work to get up on a Sunday morning and get three boys through breakfast and into fine dress and buckled into the car all with charming faces and beautiful attitudes and wonderful sparkly smiles. On top of that there's the whole thing where we think we need to have some fabulous meal to put onto the table the minute we get home from church. If you can't understand the stress of that just know that I can! Here's my little secret. I DON'T get those boys out the door with good attitudes and perfectly ironed clothes and the whole list. And I DON'T get that fabulous meal done either. Sometimes we eat leftover soup. But last Sunday I was going to do a Chuck Roast and just when I was preparing it we got an invite to eat lunch with some friends....and to help them sing at the rest home. So I got my break from making the fabulous meal but trust me....it wasn't a restful day. A good day. But not restful. . Sundays just aren't restful.....not if you live in my culture.
And Sunday set the course for the rest of the week. This week has been crazy crazy busy. Monday, I had the "Monday house" thing going on here and two friends came to see me. Fun and lots of talk. Tues. I ran to Seward to get the baby his shots and home for naps and off to the babysitters. And then I shopped and ate out with two dear friends. Oh the talk and conversation that went on there! Good time and encouraging. Wed. grumpy grumpy boys. Wow. Today...everyone's finally relaxing and content to enjoy home and take naps and find their contentment spirit. Tomorrow....weekend starting....where we get to do it all over again! Did I make you tired? Me too.
So have a fine weekend................Amy
Another thing I just discovered this week. People see me completely different than I thought they did! That one has confused me all week! I'm shocked and surprised. I don't know why I'm shocked. I guess I"m pretty good at bluffing or pretending. It's made me think that perhaps I had better look at that other person with much more mercy and love and know without asking that God is refining them too. And then to make sure I freely give that smile or honest word. People often aren't who we first see.
Someone asked me today, if it's possible to judge whether one has a pharisee attitude. How do we really know? Jesus did. He judged the pharisees. After hearing the message given this morning, I wonder too. . Because, the things he talked about needed saying. But if one didn't know him it could have seemed pharisofical. I conclude that when one is teaching absolutes to a generation of people fed on tolerance, his teaching could come across self righteous. In the end I think I'll take the absolutes, BUT in the process, I'll try to incorporate the love of my Jesus into my relationships.....because afterall, we're all very very needy.....and knowing I'm needy and knowing God gives me divine love and forgiveness and the get up and go.....I can therefore get down to being real with the needs around me.
So that was all written Sunday evening. Sunday was a REALLY Big day if anyone wondered. Sunday is NOT a day of rest among the Mennonites. I'm sorry if the truth hurts but I've found I am NOT rested after our Sundays here. Yes, we're not doing the normal jobs and work and such but we are working!!! It takes work to get up on a Sunday morning and get three boys through breakfast and into fine dress and buckled into the car all with charming faces and beautiful attitudes and wonderful sparkly smiles. On top of that there's the whole thing where we think we need to have some fabulous meal to put onto the table the minute we get home from church. If you can't understand the stress of that just know that I can! Here's my little secret. I DON'T get those boys out the door with good attitudes and perfectly ironed clothes and the whole list. And I DON'T get that fabulous meal done either. Sometimes we eat leftover soup. But last Sunday I was going to do a Chuck Roast and just when I was preparing it we got an invite to eat lunch with some friends....and to help them sing at the rest home. So I got my break from making the fabulous meal but trust me....it wasn't a restful day. A good day. But not restful. . Sundays just aren't restful.....not if you live in my culture.
And Sunday set the course for the rest of the week. This week has been crazy crazy busy. Monday, I had the "Monday house" thing going on here and two friends came to see me. Fun and lots of talk. Tues. I ran to Seward to get the baby his shots and home for naps and off to the babysitters. And then I shopped and ate out with two dear friends. Oh the talk and conversation that went on there! Good time and encouraging. Wed. grumpy grumpy boys. Wow. Today...everyone's finally relaxing and content to enjoy home and take naps and find their contentment spirit. Tomorrow....weekend starting....where we get to do it all over again! Did I make you tired? Me too.
So have a fine weekend................Amy
Comments
And I too keep my Sunday meals simple! We have soup or leftovers a lot! Even my company meals are super simple - sometimes a frozen casserole like lasagna out of the freezer.
Gina