What's the Magic Word?

Yesterday I volunteered in my daughter's kindergarten class. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of my old job. For the most part the children were delightful and very polite. During recess I sat at a small picnic table watching the children and chatting with them. Then I met a little boy who stood out from all the rest. He plopped down on the bench next to mine, flung his foot on the table in front of me and demanded, "Tie my shoe" in a very obnoxious voice. I was slightly taken aback by his tone after talking to all these polite children. I replied, "Excuse me? Could you ask me nicely?" He said, "No, we don't talk nicely at my house." I told him, "Well, that's not going to get you very far. People won't want to help you if you don't ask nice." He demanded several more times that I tie his shoe for him, refusing to be polite. Each time I told him that I would be glad to tie it for him when he said "please". Finally, he kind of glared at me and grudgingly said, "Please tie my shoe for me." It wasn't quite the response I was looking for but I gave him credit for for saying please and smiled at him as I tied his shoe.

I feel sorry for the rude little boy who hasn't been taught even the basics of courtesy and politeness; who lives in a place where "we don't talk nicely at my house."

Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

Second Generation Christians

I've recently had a few discussions with a friend who was saved later in life. We were talking about the differences between Christians who were saved later in life and second generation Christians who were saved at an early age and lived a very sheltered life. Both types of Christians have their pros and cons which can strengthen or hinder their work in various ministries. As a second generation Christian myself, I have experienced the negative aspects and am working on trying to figure out how to fix them to make them positive. My friend who was saved later in life has helped me put some things into perspective.

Heather, who is also studying second generation Christians, wrote in her blog post that she believes strongly in exposure to and interaction with the "real world". I agree with that. Some Christians try to keep themselves and their children too separated from the world. This can create some problems. It can hinder their ministry to the unsaved and new Christians because they can't identify with them or understand them. Sometimes it can cause them to look down on "worldly" people and they could end up unintentionally offending them. Christians who have been exposed to the world know where they're coming from and can tactfully present the truth without offending. I'm not saying a sheltered Christian can't do the same but it will be harder for them.

Children who live an overly sheltered life will have a big shock when they grow up and enter the "real world". If they are not prepared it could lead to problems later in life. They may end up experimenting in worldly things to see what they missed out on. Or they might become very legalistic, defining their spirituality by the "good deeds" they do and the moral lifestyle they live.

Faith is strengthened by the trials we face and many Christians saved at an early age are sheltered from the challenges that could anchor their faith. People who are saved from the world know what they are saved from. One of the problems I faced as a young Christian is that I didn't notice a big change in my life when I was saved. Yes, I was a sinner and did bad things, but how wicked can a four year old be? Those saved later in life can appreciate their salvation much more as they experience the power of the Holy Spirit turning their life around.

I'm not saying that people should put off salvation until they're older or that Christians need to experience a worldly life before they can be used by God or appreciate their salvation. I heard the story of one man who lived a sheltered life. Then he heard the testimony of another man who talked about how he was saved out of a life of drugs, immorality, and who knows what else, and praising God for saving him out of that life. After hearing that testimony, the sheltered Christian said, "Wow, I need to go out and get me a testimony like that." And he proceeded to go out and live a wicked life. The experience didn't give him a better testimony; it ruined his testimony and his life. One of the things I praise God for is that I was saved from a wicked life, not out of one.

I led a fairly sheltered life but I don't consider myself to have been completely sheltered. From a very early age I faced internal spiritual battles. I can remember at the age of 5 or 6 thinking things like, "Even though I'm a Christian, I could go out and steal something or even kill someone, and God would still love me. I would still go to heaven." I would contemplate doing some really horrible things, but then I would think, "If I did those things, it would make Jesus very sad, and I don't want to do that." So I chose not to live a wicked life. God has helped me to stay away from really bad things, but I have still been tempted by things in this world, and made bad choices. Most of my convictions today aren't ones my parents taught me or ones I learned in a Christian setting. My strongest convictions are ones I learned the hard way or studied myself to find out why I should believe or live a certain way.

When it comes to interacting with the "real world" I believe there needs to be a balance. The Bible teaches that we should be separated from the world. So we shouldn't try to look like them and act like them and think we'll reach them that way. But we also can't bury our heads in the sand, then look down on unsaved people and act shocked when they act worldly. Without partaking in worldly sins, we need to be aware of the ways of the world, understand where they're coming from so we can best help them.

Time Changes Everything

An unintentional gift given
A lesson learned
A test passed
A wrong forgiven
A grudge ended
A heart mended
A relationship restored
A peace delivered
A freedom gained
A new beginning
True love discovered
Real joy uncovered
A life changed

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Time changes everything.
98-08

Sleeping Beauties

Heather sleeping

My daughter sleeping

Somebody takes after their aunt.

Interview with a Kindergartener

My daughter just started kindergarten and she loves it. Every morning she runs down the sidewalk cheering, "Yay, I get to go to school!" I barely get a hug and kiss goodbye when I drop her off. I am so proud of her. So I decided to interview her about school.

Mom: Are you excited about going to school?

Shell: Yes, I'm lots and lots of excited!

Mom: What kinds of things do you learn at school?

Shell: I sing funny songs. I learn about some books we can read. I go to recess.

Mom: What kinds of books do read?

Shell: The seal one, a school book about a little boy who goes to school, and If You Take a Mouse to School.

Mom: What are you learning about numbers?

Shell: We did a number song. We made numbers with play dough. We counted to 30 today. Mrs. Ellis said I had to do it even though I already knew how.

Mom: What kind of things do you draw or paint?

Shell: I was an illustrator. I had to color Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf in Grandma's bed. I colored the cape red, hair yellow, left the skin white, and made the tongue red.

Mom: What kind of special things do you do at school?

Shell: I did a magnadoodle because I got my jobs done before it was time to clean up. I also did cubes and strings. I had to do blue, red, blue, red. I did puzzles and cutting (mouse to cheese).

Mom: Have you made any friends at school?

Shell: Yes, there's Jaylin, Jacklyn, Makenna (not sure if I spelled them right), and I can't remember the name of one of my friends.

Mom: Do you like your teacher?

Shell: Yes, 'cause she's nice and I like the stuff that she talks about. There's also no running the classroom.

Mom: Do you ever get into trouble at school?

Shell: No, never. I got moved today but not because I was in trouble. Kayla was talking. I never get my name written on the board either.

Mom: What is your favorite thing to do at school?

Shell: Playing on the playground at recess. I also really like scissor cutting. I also like hopscotch, running on the grass, playing duck, duck, goose. I also like reading books. The seal book is my favorite. It has cute little seals and the whale tries to eat them. It's funny. (laughs) I really like everything I talked about today.