Count Your Blessings

Farmers can be rather depressing. I can say that because I grew up in a farming community in Northwest Iowa and my father is a farmer. They really aren't that bad, except they always seemed to be worried. Any conversation that you may have with one would be about something that they are worried about. The weather is too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry. Some machinery is always broken down or some of their animals are sick. I could go on and on about their daily worries.

When Kirk and I started in ministry, we started in a farming community very similar to my hometown. Of course, our church had many families whose livelihoods involved farming. Every year at Thanksgiving time, as many churches do, the church would take up a special Thanksgiving offering. Every year the farmers would start their worrying that the Thanksgiving offering would not amount to much because that year had not been a good year for the farmers. And each year there would be more money in the Thanksgiving offering than the year before.

I could be wrong in my assumptions, but not only do I think that farmers are worriers, but I think that they can be some of the most thankful. They understand that even though they shed blood, sweat, and tears, all of their crops can be ruined in an instant. That they could be up all night with a sick cow and calf and both the cow and calf could be dead by morning. They live with these situations daily. They are constantly reminded that they have little control. It is mentally important for them to be thankful.

Leviticus 7 gives the rules for the Peace Offering. The Peace Offering can be offered to the Lord for Thanksgiving. Even though we do not have to offer sacrifices as the Israelites did in Leviticus, I think that it is appropriate to say that today we too can give our offerings out of our thanksgiving to God. It may be difficult for us to find much to be thankful about. Maybe you have lost a job, or you are sick. Maybe you are having marital problems or you are having difficulty with a rebellious child. I could go on and on about reasons why it is hard to be thankful.
Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns:

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy that you are called to bear?
Count you many blessing, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at other with their lands and gold,
Think that God has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings - wealth can never buy
Your reward in Heaven, not your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your Journey's end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

(I am sorry if I offended any farmers. I have complete respect and love for the farming way of life.)

When Did You Learn To Tie Your Shoes?

When I was a kid it was expected for kindergartners to know how to tie their shoes. (It took me until I was in Kindergarten and I think I was the last one to figure it out. I remember getting yelled at by my P.E. teacher for not knowing how to.) It still is a part of the list of what a kindergartner should be able to do and I am sure many do. I am guessing that the more shoes have become tie-less, there are more and more children that don't know how until they are older.

My daughter is one of those children. She is in 2nd grade and just today when she was getting out the tennis shoes (we still are wearing sandals in CA) she asked to learn how to tie. We have shown her before - a long time ago, but because she is older now, she picked it right up. I would work with my 5 year old on the skill except he doesn't own a pair of shoes that need to be tied.....someday.

By the way, the outfit that she is wearing in the picture was just purchased at the thrift store yesterday. I am glad that she still doesn't mind wearing used clothing. And that is the latest news at the Evans' house.

One T.V. Rule

I have a rule for myself - the importance of one t.v. in the house. May I also say that this isn't my husband's rule. If we could afford it, I am sure that we would have another T.V. in the house. Let me back up - we do have a 2nd t.v. but it is not hooked up for channels. They can watch videos on it and is usually only used when we have a Bible Study and we want the kids to play in their bed rooms.

There are many reasons why it is important to have one T.V. 1) It makes it easier to monitor what the kids are watching. 2) It is important to learn to compromise and share. 3) It brings the family together. Sometimes we sit down and watch a cartoon with the kids, but we might not do that if there was another t.v. to go and watch. And 4) I think that it is helpful in not watching too much t.v.

There are times, like today (Saturday) when I wish that we had another television. Kirk could watch college football all day, and it gets a little old. But I am thankful for our DVR and it causes me to get more done around the house and with the kids. Lately, I have been reading more books. Having only one t.v. is a good discipline that I hope that will continue in the Evans' house. If I have my way, then we will continue the one t.v rule.