Therefore,I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they? Mattthew 6:25,26 WEB
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Burnt Biscuits
I was cleaning out one of my email accounts when I came upon this message sent by a friend earlier this year. She reguarly sends out messages which are inspirational and thought provoking. This is one of them and also ties in with the thoughts for this blog. I hope you will enjoy this message from the heart...
When I was a kid, my mum liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.
On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed, yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mum and ask me how my day was at school.
I do not remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite.
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits and I will never forget what he said.
He smiled at her and said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss my dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.
He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone."
Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I am not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else, but what I have learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults, and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing and lasting relationship.
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship.
Do not put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket; keep it in your own.
God bless you today and always.
So, pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.
Moreover, pass this along to someone who has enriched your life . . . I just did.
When I was a kid, my mum liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.
On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed, yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mum and ask me how my day was at school.
I do not remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite.
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits and I will never forget what he said.
He smiled at her and said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss my dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.
He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides, a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone."
Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I am not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else, but what I have learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults, and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing and lasting relationship.
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship.
Do not put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket; keep it in your own.
God bless you today and always.
So, pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.
Moreover, pass this along to someone who has enriched your life . . . I just did.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
More than 2 cups of Coffee.
One of my most favourite devotional thoughts is about 2 cups of Coffee. I have actually presented this with the container and all the bits and pieces that go with it. It is something we may at times follow and yet do so poorly at. I hope you enjoy reading this again.
A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. The Professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "Yes". The Professor then produced 2 cups of coffee from under the desk and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty spaces between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now" said the Professor, as the laughter subsided "I want you to recognize that this represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, your children, your health, your friends and favourite passions.. things that if everything else was lost and only they remained your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house and car.
The sand is everything else - the small stuff.
"If you put the sand in first" he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes of golf. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The Professor smiled "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. The Professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "Yes". The Professor then produced 2 cups of coffee from under the desk and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty spaces between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now" said the Professor, as the laughter subsided "I want you to recognize that this represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, your children, your health, your friends and favourite passions.. things that if everything else was lost and only they remained your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house and car.
The sand is everything else - the small stuff.
"If you put the sand in first" he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes of golf. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The Professor smiled "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Friday, September 3, 2010
Food for Thought
I found this poem in the Australian Table Magazine from 1999 when I was helping my Home Economic students find some pictures and information for posters they were researching for, and I thought it would be nice to share it. I shared it with them and they thought it was special and should be shared too. I have used in another blog site but thought it was too good just to have on one site.
Do you have time to cook a meal?
Do you have time to supp?
Do you know how your children feel when dinner times is up?
Does your kitchen smell of chopped up fruit?
Of pies and mince and bread?
Is your table strewn with drink to suit?
Do the smells fill your head?
Fill your head with memories?
And the stuff to make some more.
Are meal times like a gentle breeze that can open doors?
Does eating give you nourishment
For your body and your soul?
Does your table do just what it’s meant or has it a greater role?
Is it a place of talk and jest?
Of philosophy and mirth?
Is it a place where you can rest and come back down to earth?
Is your palate served a King’s delight
Or are your meals but simple fare?
Are they fatty or labeled “light”? Or do you really care?
Do you cook your meals in the coals
(as would a drover or a camper)?
They catch from favourite fishing holes with billy tea and damper.
No matter where your supper’s laid, No matter with who you dine
No matter if it’s ready-made or a chef’s design
Here’s a little food for thought when next you carve the roast
Share the time as we ought with those that mean the most
Kim Russell (Australian Tables, November 1999)
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