{Thoughts} Recently Crossed My Mind

I read a book last week by Elizabeth and Anna Sofia Botkin called It's (not that) Complicated. Really it was mostly about godly friendships/relationships with boys/young men. The emphasis was really just on friendships versus more romantic relationships. I did enjoy the book. It was engaging, very thoughtful and had lots of good points. However, I wasn't overly impressed. EXCEPT the section on being a godly sister. *bam* Where they specifically looking at my life when they wrote that? I'm very suspicious. So here's a little run-down of my favorite parts about that section... also known as the very convicting parts.

 The whole brothers section started out with the point that we are commanded to treat all men (and women) as brothers (or sisters) in Christ. Personally, I don't want to start treating everyone like I do my siblings (as Hiccup says, "we need  her to like us!") So, first step... work on my relationships with my real brothers. Because they are my practice. I know personally, the relationship I have with my younger and older brothers needs some work. "Some" in this instance means "I will be working on this for the rest of my life".

The Botkin's listed several things that I hadn't considered in my role as a godly sister/woman "...to confess...to admit wrong...to defer to another in love...to care, to ask questions, to sympathize...to be capable of giving wise counsel, loving reproof, and gentle exhortation..." (56). Okay then, let's just apply that list to my younger brothers.Maybe I'll tell another time how this book convicted me about my relationship with my older brother. But for now, we'll just stick with the little, dirty, loud, and pesky ones.
I have a very common relationship with my younger brothers. They plague my life...I plague them back. They tease me...I tease better (I mean, just sayin'!). But to defer in love? (Can you hear me justifying? "But they're my little brothers, I should NEVER defer to them! If I do, I will actually be able to watch their heads swell") But that's not really necessary is it? I don't always have to be exerting my rights as the big sister, do I? And "wise counsel", that would involve actually stopping to listen to them and showing interest in what they're doing ("But I don't care about swords and legos!"). But I'm supposed to be one of their examples of a godly woman. The mission I assigned myself: Stop. Listen. Learn to care so that I can be what a big sister should be; someone who can give encouragement (because I know them well enough to know the encouragement they need), wise counsel (because I'm seeking out God's purpose and plan), loving reproof (loving, not criticizing, undermining, or aggravated), and gentle exhortation (because a gentle answer turns away wrath). Those adjectives are important, let me tell you.

So that's what's been floating across my mind this week. :)

{People} Life Lessons from Others

I did a post like this once upon a time. It was fun, so I obviously wanted to do one again. But the inspiration didn't come until now. The inspiration slowly built over the last couple of weeks. So here's some lessons I've learned from people lately. (No names, sorry. Guess away if you like. You'll never get it. Trust me.)

A week or two ago our family was invited to play games and have supper with another family. I was caught at "games".  I love, love, love playing games. Seriously, love it! Especially with friends. But anyhow, here we were playing games and I watched this interaction between my friend and a couple of her little siblings. We were playing in pairs, and the younger kids wanted to switch around. Something wasn't working out. One person wanted to be with this person, but this person was not in agreement. So my friend really quietly suggested a way for everyone to agree by one person joining her team. I'll add here, her team had won every game up to that point. I just got to thinking about that. She was a peacemaker, obviously. But what stood out to me was that she inconvenienced herself to be a peacemaker. I'd never thought about it that way. I've always thought of being a peacemaker as being the one who just reaches into other peoples life and rearranges things. But, no, peacemaker also means willing to inconvenience yourself to avoid strife for others. Sure, in that instance it was just over a game, but I learned from her small action. (I also learned that it's just a game...I shouldn't be so intense about it....*sheepish grin*)

Second lesson. I was talking with my parents some about being sober (Not talking about alcohol...read Titus 2), and what that means. My mom and I were reading a book with the ladies in our church awhile back and the chapter on being sober was a little confusing to me. (It was on the commands to women in Titus 2) The book almost seemed to suggest no laughing, no teasing. But I couldn't agree with that. I would definitely agree that my family (*points to self*) doesn't have the sober thing down. We tease all. the. time. Anyhow, we were talking over what we thought it meant. So I started going through people in my head who I thought showed what I would consider the right mix of soberness and joy. (If the Bible says laughter is the best medicine, I can't believe we are meant to be always serious) After some consideration, I came across a whole family I thought was headed in the right direction. There's always laughter and fun when they're around, but it never seems to be at other's expense, or rude. It's just good, fun laughter. (Several of them have a gift for telling stories that is really funny!) I think there's a lot of things I could learn from them (there's one specifically who has already helped me a lot in my attitudes toward my family just by example) about being a godly family, but this is one! :)

In conclusion, God has given people many people different gifts. Learn from those around you! :)

{Life} People and Lessons

There's some people in my life who I've really come to admire lately. I'm going to describe what I've learned from them, and why I respect it. However, since I haven't asked their permission to write about them on my blog, I'm not going to share their names.

First, is a girl (more of a woman, actually) who I've been learning love from. In her conversation, and her actions toward others, I just see a really loving, non-judgmental attitude. I  think she sees other people with God's perspective. This really convicts me. I am very judgmental, and it takes effort for me to look at someone and see their gifts right away, see what God sees in them. I've been praying that God would put His lens over my view of people, so I see how they fulfill His plan.

Second is that girl's mom. This lady is one of the sweetest people I know. She always has a smile on. And it's a smile you just want to reflect. She doesn't only carry a smile, but she's always ready with laughter. Her sense of humor is really fun, and I feel like people around her just pick up her joy. But, what I've most been touched by in her life is something that happened a few weeks ago. I was with some people who just knew her name, not her family, or anything about her life, and had only been around her for five minutes tops, but you know what they said? "So-and-so? Oh, she is really nice!!" That just hit me. This lady had left an impression on these people after just a few minutes. She was spreading a little bit of her joy from the Lord in so short a time. Another prayer, "To bear a faithful witness for Christ in all places; to leave a savor of my Master in every society..." {Holiness, by J.C. Ryle}

Okay, the last thing I've seen and been touched by lately is actually three families. From them, I've learned three slightly different, but really noticeable ways of showing hospitality. The first family is so enthusiastic, they just have all this balled up positive energy they share with people around them. They're also really laid back, with true servants hearts. However they can help, whatever works for you, and all with happy energy. The second family live in this little house, but they've asked my family over for dinner several times, and filled it to the brim. They are really funny, ready to laugh, but they add well-thought-through ideas to their conversation. Added to all that, they seek God's plan in their lives with open minds, and a willingness to follow wherever He leads them. The last family is one I've known for awhile, but have been privileged to spend more time with recently. So far, I've never been there when there's not someone else, outside of their family, visiting or staying for a few days while some move or situations switch is happening. Their house is open and inviting. I feel welcome when I'm there. Not like an intruder, or in the way, but just taken in as part of the family. Being around their family has been teaching me other lessons about how I treat my siblings, and how I help (or more often DON'T help) to make our home more inviting to visitors.

Those examples are really just what came to mind first. This post may reoccur often as I see gifts in people and families that I admire and learn from.

Have a great day!