Forgiveness is so important in family life. Our failure to offer or even receive forgiveness results in unrest and lack of joy. It has to happen in order for us to enjoy peace.
The Bible is teaching me to forgive my children when they fail and to assure them that I will not return where we were, nor will we remember that again. Each time I do that, I remember God’s forgiveness. This kind of forgetful forgiveness helps us move forward without being stuck in the past.
Forgiveness is necessary for spiritual growth. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul urged us to “forget those things which are behind”, so we can be successful Christians without the burdens of guilt. One cannot be one’s best while still carrying the burden of mistakes, failures, and sins. God knows it and wants us to be free. In Isaiah 43:25, the Lord tells us that He will not remember our sins. When we confess our sins, He forgives and does not remember them anymore. We must each trust this wonderful truth.
Easter is a powerful reminder for us of God’s perfect love and forgiveness. Let us rejoice with thankful hearts knowing He loves us and remembers not our past sins.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
A Hidden Soviet Christmas Remembered
As I anticipate Christmas with my two children, I remember my childhood and my very different, but still wonderful, Christmases. I was born and grew up in Lithuania. During World War II it was occupied by Russia and made part of the Soviet Union. That was the end of freedom of speech and the open practice of faith. And so, when I was growing up, I learned early to keep secrets well. Our family’s faith in God was the greatest secret. If the secret got out, life-shattering consequences would occur.
In our home the Prayer Book and the New Testament were hidden in the drawer under the linens. Our Christmas and Easter celebrations were hidden from neighbors and friends, but, despite that, they were very special and wonderful to me; probably because children enjoy secretive things.
On Christmas Eve my father always tried to come home earlier. I would wait for him at the window, staring into the dark. As soon as he was home, we rushed to go to my Grandmother’s where our family and all aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered for a Christmas Eve dinner. How excited I was! I still recall the long table dressed in a white tablecloth covered in twelve traditional Lithuanian dishes. The dishes represented the twelve disciples; the hay under the cloth was to remind us of the stable Jesus was born in. On each plate there was a square Holy Communion wafer for everyone to share with others at the table, as we wished one another peace. I never told anyone at school that we did this. I loved Christmas and it was my most precious secret.
There were many Lithuanians sharing the Christmas meal and remembering Christ on his birth during those years. I am thankful to God for my family who loyally passed on their faith to me so I could pass it on to my children. But, oh, what a joy, what a privilege now to be able to believe openly, share freely, read the Bible and enjoy the company of other believers in America and Lithuania alike!
I wish you a most joyful Christmas!
In our home the Prayer Book and the New Testament were hidden in the drawer under the linens. Our Christmas and Easter celebrations were hidden from neighbors and friends, but, despite that, they were very special and wonderful to me; probably because children enjoy secretive things.
On Christmas Eve my father always tried to come home earlier. I would wait for him at the window, staring into the dark. As soon as he was home, we rushed to go to my Grandmother’s where our family and all aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered for a Christmas Eve dinner. How excited I was! I still recall the long table dressed in a white tablecloth covered in twelve traditional Lithuanian dishes. The dishes represented the twelve disciples; the hay under the cloth was to remind us of the stable Jesus was born in. On each plate there was a square Holy Communion wafer for everyone to share with others at the table, as we wished one another peace. I never told anyone at school that we did this. I loved Christmas and it was my most precious secret.
There were many Lithuanians sharing the Christmas meal and remembering Christ on his birth during those years. I am thankful to God for my family who loyally passed on their faith to me so I could pass it on to my children. But, oh, what a joy, what a privilege now to be able to believe openly, share freely, read the Bible and enjoy the company of other believers in America and Lithuania alike!
I wish you a most joyful Christmas!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Three Pre-school Thanksgiving Crafts
Pre-school and early elementary children learn best by doing. While learning to be thankful should be taught during every season, Thanksgiving time is a great time to emphasis thankfulness. An activity or two in preparation of the big day of feasting adds to the excitement.
If your family gathering will have the tradiitonl "kids table," then put you little ones to work creating the centerpiece for thier table. Pinecones painted with child friendly tempra paint in the orange, reds and yellows of fall will brighten up the table. They can be stacked in the center, used as place setting card holder at each place or arranged in a basket.
Another idea is to cover the kids' table with white butcher paper. Draw the outline of a large tree with bare branches on the paper. Place red, orange, yellow and brown crayons or markers at the table. As the children, or even adults, wait for dinner encourage everyone to draw a leaf on the tree and write or draw a picture on the leaf of something for which they are thankful. By the end of the day the tree should be covered with colorful thanks.
Create a table or after dinner game all the guests can play that prompts all to be creative in thinking of their many blessings. Before dinner write categories on slips of paper such as school, home, church, a family member, a lesson learned, nature, weather, friends, and God. Each person takes a turn drawing a slip of paper. Everyone in the group must name something in that category for which they are thankful and no two people can say the same thing. This will stretch everyones thankful thoughts.
As parents we are very blessed by our children and as we acknowledge aloud to them how thankful we are for the blessings God has given us, they will learn to see the blessing in their lives and incorporate thankfulness in their day.
If your family gathering will have the tradiitonl "kids table," then put you little ones to work creating the centerpiece for thier table. Pinecones painted with child friendly tempra paint in the orange, reds and yellows of fall will brighten up the table. They can be stacked in the center, used as place setting card holder at each place or arranged in a basket.
Another idea is to cover the kids' table with white butcher paper. Draw the outline of a large tree with bare branches on the paper. Place red, orange, yellow and brown crayons or markers at the table. As the children, or even adults, wait for dinner encourage everyone to draw a leaf on the tree and write or draw a picture on the leaf of something for which they are thankful. By the end of the day the tree should be covered with colorful thanks.
Create a table or after dinner game all the guests can play that prompts all to be creative in thinking of their many blessings. Before dinner write categories on slips of paper such as school, home, church, a family member, a lesson learned, nature, weather, friends, and God. Each person takes a turn drawing a slip of paper. Everyone in the group must name something in that category for which they are thankful and no two people can say the same thing. This will stretch everyones thankful thoughts.
As parents we are very blessed by our children and as we acknowledge aloud to them how thankful we are for the blessings God has given us, they will learn to see the blessing in their lives and incorporate thankfulness in their day.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Three fun activities for the Fall
The school year has started and it is a little cooler than it has been. We often get caught up in the work of school and forget to play. Many studies have shown that a happy mind is more open to learning. Incorporate learning into your play time and play time into your learning time.
Here are three suggestions:
1. Write and draw a poem or a prayer for a grandparent or special older person. Much in the way of beginning reader books, write the prayer but instead of using words for the nouns and verbs have your child draw a picture or use a found object to glue on the page to represent the missing word.
2. Why wait for Christmas to decorate cookies. Bake cookies and shape them like fall leaves. Get a book about leaves and label your edible leaves with icing, writing "Maple" or " Oak" on the appropriate shaped leaves. A botany lesson or a God's creations lesson that is yummy.
3. Make homemade playdough. The recipe can be found on the internet or any children's craft book. The math of measuring, the miracle of plain kitchen ingredients turning into hours of fun and the fun of creating are wonderful lessons.
These are simple ways to be with your child, have fun and learn at the same time.
Remember that the best lesson of God's love is what your child learns in his day to day life with you.
Here are three suggestions:
1. Write and draw a poem or a prayer for a grandparent or special older person. Much in the way of beginning reader books, write the prayer but instead of using words for the nouns and verbs have your child draw a picture or use a found object to glue on the page to represent the missing word.
2. Why wait for Christmas to decorate cookies. Bake cookies and shape them like fall leaves. Get a book about leaves and label your edible leaves with icing, writing "Maple" or " Oak" on the appropriate shaped leaves. A botany lesson or a God's creations lesson that is yummy.
3. Make homemade playdough. The recipe can be found on the internet or any children's craft book. The math of measuring, the miracle of plain kitchen ingredients turning into hours of fun and the fun of creating are wonderful lessons.
These are simple ways to be with your child, have fun and learn at the same time.
Remember that the best lesson of God's love is what your child learns in his day to day life with you.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sharing God's love with our Children
As we celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit,
let us remember how visual our children are. The story of Christ is the story
of God’s greatest miracle that is a gift for all. Let us open picture Bibles,
let us see animated productions of Bible stories together with our children. I
still remember a strong feeling inside of me after seeing a movie about Jesus
for the first time in my life. I believed and wanted to follow Him! Let us
remember in our family prayers the victory of Christ and thank him for the
future with Him.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter as Renewal
Being a mother of young children is a blessing, but it is also very tiring. It is easy, as children start to enter school age, to become more and more busy. As we become more busy the activities that were once very important can slip by.
It is important during the most significant religious holidays to take the time to be with our children, to read to them, to pray with them and to teach them the word of God. Each of us struggles with organizing our time, but each of us must remember to set priorities. Our priorities must be to God first and to our other commitments second.
This Easter be sure to share with your children the joy of Easter, not just the rush of Easter. Share with them the love of God by reading or telling them the very human story of Jesus death and the very heavenly story of his resurrection.
Have a joyful Easter.
It is important during the most significant religious holidays to take the time to be with our children, to read to them, to pray with them and to teach them the word of God. Each of us struggles with organizing our time, but each of us must remember to set priorities. Our priorities must be to God first and to our other commitments second.
This Easter be sure to share with your children the joy of Easter, not just the rush of Easter. Share with them the love of God by reading or telling them the very human story of Jesus death and the very heavenly story of his resurrection.
Have a joyful Easter.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Gentleness in Lent
This Lent I encourage us to stop and evaluate how we treat children in our families. Are we gentle, kind, generous with our time? Are we slow to anger and forgiving in big and little things? Are we affectionate and encouraging? When was the last time we played dolls, ball or cars with them? Are we joyful in our relationship with them?
It would make a huge difference if, starting this Lent, we would begin the day talking to God before we talk to people. Sometimes it is easier to be patient with a stranger than your family member. But when the Lord is first in our day, He prepares our hearts, fills them with light, strengthens us, so we can be full of love and ready to be how He wants us to be: gentle, kind, loving, patient, and joyful.
Starting this Lent, let us talk to God before we talk to people.
It would make a huge difference if, starting this Lent, we would begin the day talking to God before we talk to people. Sometimes it is easier to be patient with a stranger than your family member. But when the Lord is first in our day, He prepares our hearts, fills them with light, strengthens us, so we can be full of love and ready to be how He wants us to be: gentle, kind, loving, patient, and joyful.
Starting this Lent, let us talk to God before we talk to people.
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