GRIT

Grit is defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals.  Grit entails working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.  The gritty individual approaches achievement as a marathon; his or her advantage is stamina.  Whereas disappointment or boredom signals to others that it is time to change trajectory and cut losses, the gritty individual stays the course".  Grit is the best indicator of success. According to a study by W. W. Willingham* follow-through (here, referred to as grit) was the single best predictor of significant accomplishment in science, art, sports, communications, organization, or some other endeavor.

One gritty individual is William Carey.  Carey is considered the father of modern missions.  Carey was born in 1761 in Northamptonshire, England.  Carey was apprenticed as a cobbler and spent many years repairing shoes.  Carey showed a talent for languages.  Carey learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Dutch and French while cobbling shoes.  Carey had a growing conviction that God was calling him to translate the Bible into the Indian language.    As Carey prepared to leave England Carey's father questioned his decision to go to India.  His father could not envision what skills he would take to India.  Carey told his father "I can plod".  With that single qualification William Carey left for India in 1793 with his family and a desire to reach the Indian people with the gospel.   He and his family suffered many, many hardships.

At the heart of Carey's mission work was the development of a dictionary, grammars, and the Bible in both the Bengali and Sanskrit languages.   On March 11, 1812 a fire swept through the printing building destroying 17 years of pain-staking work.  Carey did not give up.   Carey went back to work translating the Bible one page at a time.   By the time of his death in 1834 the Bible had been translated into 44 languages.  This is grit in action.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
James 1: 2-4

Please share your examples of Grit in action.

*Willingham, W.W. (1985) Success in college: The role of personal qualities and academic ability, page 213. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.

What really matters...Number Two

Having someone to pray for...

If you have someone to pray for you are indeed blessed!  Having someone to care about, nurture, and pray for is the stuff of life!  This is your legacy.  Paying it forward by investing your prayers is others is a privilege.  

Who are you blessed to pray for?

The road less traveled...

Today I took a walk.  The winter woods had a fresh skiff of snow.  I saw the adventures of Mr. Fox, a rabbit, and a deer as I followed their tracks.  I discovered their secret travels all over the woods.  The stream laughed as it tumbled over rocks.  The crows complained about my presence with their sharp warning "Caw, Caw, Caw!"  A jay scolded as I hiked past.  In the distance I heard the muffled hoot of an owl. 

I was disconnected from the busy rush of the world and it's troubles.  No text messages, no calls, no TV or radio news.  It was wonderful.  I was connected to another world.   It matters not what the troubles of the day may be nature carries on with her work.

I took my peaceful moment with me and cherished it, savored it, and enjoyed it.  I found myself resting in the knowledge that God is sovereign and He will carry on his purposes.  "Let not your heart be troubled for I have overcome the world".

How do you disconnect?

Simply beautiful.

Last night we attended a Live Nativity at the Bridge Between Retreat Center in Maribel, Wisconsin.  It was a dark and foggy night.  As we traveled across the back roads of Wisconsin  we wondered there would be anyone else there.  We arrived to find that many others had gathered for this very special worship service.

The old barn was packed to the brim.  We sat on hay bales with other Christ followers and soaked in the quiet and joyful atmophere.  Exactly two strands of white Christmas mini-lights decorated the old barn.  The chickens, lammas, ducks and geese were present but quiet, captured by the Holy hush.

The service began.   Readings and acappella Christmas Carols were shared.  The children gathered for a Christmas story entitled "Who is Coming to our House?".  A costumed Mary and Joseph entered in answer to the story's question.  An enthralled audience was delighted with their baby (aka. Daniel) who portrayed the Christ Child.  The service was concluded with more thoughtful readings and singing "Joy to the World".

I think that this is the most unembellished and meanful Christmas worship experience I have ever had.  I was stuck by it's beauty and simplicity.   The hope and knowledge that Christ's Church is eternal and not engulfed by the troubles that beseige our world sprung up in my heart.   It is easy to get caught up in the trappings of our religious experiences and forget the simple message of redemption. Christ's church is eternal and therein lies our future and hope.

How do you keep Christ in Christmas with your family?

A house divided...

Dear Children:

It's Thanksgiving time again.  I am really looking forward to spending time with all of you.  You are great kids. 

This time of year brings some sadness for me too.  I remember other Thanksgivings with extended family.  As a child I loved Thanksgiving with my mother's extended family.   That is all gone now.  Most family members that were on my side of the family are dead or have simply moved on.  There were lots of tensions in the family.  I really don't know what those tensions were about, however, as a child I greatly enjoyed being with my cousins and playing on Aunt Marie's back porch.

After I was married, we enjoyed being with both sides of our family... sadly that has gone by the wayside too.  As a child of a small family I find myself really missing being a part of a larger extended family.  Despite our efforts and consideration of our extended family it seems that no one wants to come out and play anymore. 

I really want you children to be friends going forward.  I pray that God will bless us with a bond that will last for many, many generations.  As your Mother that is my goal!

Both sides of the family have a great deal of brokenness.  Divorces, money problems, bad decisions that have had some big consequences, death, enabling, deceit all contribute to the mess.

I believe that the real problem is not any individual's particular issues, it is a lack of moral consensus within the extended family.  Family members want a pass on whatever they choose to do.  We have become a house divided.
"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as his saw fit".  Judges 17:6

Here is my thought.  All families have problems.  Death and divorce occur.  However if we as a family uphold a shared moral code of honoring marriage, holding children accountable, and being honest with each other things should go pretty well long term.  Please do not misunderstand me.  This does not mean that when things go wrong (like a divorce) you will be thrown out of the family.  It means that we share upholding the institution of marriage (and the Ten Commandments) while understanding that we live in a fallen world and things go wrong.  This is holding a shared vision of what Christ would have us be. 

I think this very thing is the root of the United States of America problems.  We as a nation do not share a moral consensus of upholding marriage or the Ten Commandments.  If we agree that the home and the Ten Commandments are the blueprint for an orderly society then we know where we are going as a nation. Sadly, the family problems are a reflection of our country's cultural problems. 

I love you all and this is my prayer...
""But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations".
Psalm 33:11

Mom's top 20!

1. Follow Christ everyday and make sure your life reflects that you are a disciplined disciple.
2. Be good to your family. Make sure they are your first priority.
3. Love yourself. Love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t look to others for approval or love. Some people just don’t have the capacity to love others.
4. Truly love others and demonstrate this with acts of kindness and service.
5. Be kind with your words.
6. Hear and heed correction when it comes your way.
7. Don’t marry someone that is selfish or self centered.
8. Have a big family and raise them right.
9. Hang on to your money. Be a vigilant saver and a wise spender.
10. Stay out of debt.
11. Splurge once in a while. Your kids will be delighted.
12. Pay attention to your money. Know how much you have and how much it is earning. Educate yourself on investing. No one cares more about YOUR money than you do. Be careful whom you trust.
13. Don’t waste much time in front of a screen.
14. Work hard. Be polite. You will go far.
15. Eat your fruits veggies. Organic if possible.
16. Exercise and get some sunshine everyday. It will keep the blues away.
17. Count your blessings. Maintain a positive attitude.
18. Don't waste your time, effort, money, or emotional energy on people that don't appreciate you for what you are.
18. When going through troubles know that “this too shall pass.”
19. Take care of your stuff and don’t keep excess. Stuff can really burden your life.
20. Collect memories!

I wish you enough...

King Uzziah becomes King of Jerusalem when he was 16 years old. He started out as a good king. You will find his fascinating story in 2 Chronicles 26. The Bible describes King Uzziah’s life as: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord … He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success”.

Things go along quite well. King Uzziah is a busy and successful man. The Chronicler describes his many activities which include successful military conquests, building towers, fortifying city walls, and building catapults. King Uzziah’s favorite activity was farming and the Bible describes him as “having much livestock in the foothills and the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil”.

But then things go south…”But after Uzziah become powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense”. This was a job that only the priests were to do in the temple. The priests confronted King Uzziah and asked him to “Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God”. King Uzziah gets really angry and while he “was raging at the priests…in the Lord’s temple leprosy broke out on this forehead”. Whoa! The King quickly leaves the temple now and spends the rest of his life living in a separate house as a leper.

It’s hard to stay focused on God when we have too much. So with this story in mind…
I wish you enough…

o I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
o I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
o I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
o I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
o I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
o I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
o I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

"...give me neither proverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say,'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God". Proverbs 30:8b-9

Tightwad

Yes. I admit it. I am very, very frugal.

I will share a story out of my life. My oldest daughter is very artistic. For her 24th birthday she wanted the whole family to go to a ceramic shop and have each family member paint and glaze a cereal bowl for her. I must admit that I complained about how much this was going to cost and even tried to talk her out of such an expensive birthday treat. In the end I agreed and begrudgingly paid the bill.

As it turned out we had a fantastic afternoon as we painted and laughed together. I apologized to my daughter for complaining about how much it cost and told her it was a great birthday party.
The bowls turned out beautifully and she has a special bowl that reflects each family member's personality.

Two months later...
An uncle who attended the party passed away very unexpectedly at age 53. I almost missed making a very special family memory because I didn't want to spend the money. I am reminded of the story of the woman who poured the expensive perfume on Jesus' feet. She was rebuked by some of the disciples for wasting money that could be used to help the poor. Jesus replied " Leave her alone, Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me." Mark 14:6-7

Every day is a gift.

Valentines!

I have always enjoyed this cheerful little holiday in the middle of a long winter. I remember stopping at a little downtown bookshop when I was in high school and carefully picking out special Valentines for each of my family.

I recently ran across and old Valentine from my childhood. It was from Mrs. Marie. She was a sweet lady that lived in my neighborhood. She sent 100's of cards to many, many people. Her dinning room table was stacked with cards and she was always busy sending cards that cheered and encouraged everyone she knew. If you were sick you would be sure to get a card from Mrs. Marie.

Mrs. Marie remembered me on every holiday and every birthday. Mrs. Marie didn't just send me a card, she sent me a special card. The card in the photo has a miniature card inside for your doll. I always looked forward to Mrs. Marie's cards because they were special.

This dear lady was just an ordinary person but she touched the lives of all those around her. She invested in others and brightened many lives. Her investment in others was consistent and thoughtful. She was a sweet lady.

Please share your ideas for investing in others.

Do you know where you are going?

Do you know what your destination in life is? Without a clear destination you will find yourself and your family wandering aimlessly through life or perhaps arriving at a place that you don't want to be. Having a purpose and a plan will help you get where you want to go.

I would invite you to develop a family mission statement. Your mission statement should reflect your goals, values, and morals. What are you trying to accomplish with your children? What will your children learn from you? What will your children teach your grandchildren? What will the great-grandchildren carry on? In the business of everyday life it is easy to forget that daily habits and attitudes can carry on far beyond your lifetime.

I want to leave this world a better place and I want my children to also make a positive contribution to others. Here is my family's mission statement:

Our family will strive to discover our God given gifts and talents. We will develop those gifts and use them to further God's kingdom in service to others.

Let the journey begin!

My Velveteen Rabbit

This wonderful old rabbit was made by my dear Aunt Marie for my mother in about 1928. Aunt Marie was a wonderful seamstress and overall sweet lady who always had ALL her candy dishes full (and she had lots of them!).

Mr. Rabbit was loved and played with by two generations and he shows his age just like the Velveteen Rabbit. I sometimes feel like Mr. Rabbit worn old by life's wear and tear. I have had my share of troubles in life (as we all do) but I will have to say I have become WISE THROUGH MY WOUNDS.
Here are some things I learned the hard way:
In dealing with sickness, I learned empathy.
When I was unfairly imposed on by others, I learned to be unselfish.
When I was treated badly, I learned to establish emotional boundaries.
When I failed, I learned to be humble and depend on God not my own resources.

The lessons of life leave us battered and wounded but they also leave a treasure trove of wisdom.

Please share a piece of wisdom you learned during a hard time.

The 100 year plan

Father time... He is relentless in his march forward. How should we be spending our precious family time? What will count for something in 100 years? It easy to get caught up in the rush of life and forget to "stop and smell the roses" together. The perspective of 100 years makes baking cookies seem a lot more important.

What do you think?

Passing the baton....

I have been giving a lot of thought to what is really important in life. I am old enough that most of the older generation has passed away. While I miss them I also realize that I have the opportunity to pick and choose what I carry on to the next generation. What did the older generation leave behind? What things should be deleted and not passed to the next generation? What things should be kept and nurtured for future generations? As I look back on the legacy that was left to me I realize that some of the most meaningful things are very, very simple. To list a few of the positive things that meant a lot:

*phone calls just to see how we were doing
*little hand-made gifts
*cookies
*making a favorite food for a family gathering
*sharing a recipe
*laughing
*doing fun things together like picnics or hot dog roasts

How do you carry love forward to the next generation?