Overtaken

On my way home from dropping Hannah at school today I was happily following another car along the main road and had a number of things on my mind. I was interrupted from my thoughts as a 4WD sped past me on the other side of the road. Ooh, He's in a hurry I thought, until I looked down and we are doing 40km/h in an 80km/h zone. As I look in my rear vision mirror I notice a dozen cars also slowed down by this car in front.

I was still happy to plod along behind this driver...for about 20 seconds...and then I felt my frustration rise. As I watched the 4WD disappear into the distance and the car in front slow down even more as we came to an intersection I started to voice my concerns. Of course no-one could hear me, but it feels better when you say it out loud. I even gave a tiny little toot of the horn (I dont think they heard) cause really, 30ks in an 80k zone, that is just ridiculous!

When they finally turned off (and slowed down even more before they did that I might add) I revved past them hoping they would see the error of their ways and drive faster next time.

But what changed during that stretch of road? One minute I was happily plodding along at 40 and the next minute I am forward in my seat absolutely frustrated with another driver (who was totally in the wrong ;). And you know what it was? I realised someone else was getting ahead of me.

Ouch. Isnt that the same in the rest of my life? Quite happily content with what I have, where I am going, what I am doing, until I take notice of someone else getting ahead and then all of a sudden where I am isnt good enough.

And doesnt that affect our attitude when we do that! We snap at our kids, grumble at our spouse, assert our authority at work, inwardly churning away cause we dont have what someone else has got.

I am SO sorry God for doing that! Next time I am behind someone going 40 I will remember to be thankful for where I am and Ill use that time to pray instead of grumble.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

A Letter to A Teacher

Hannah who is 6 wrote this letter today to her teacher from last year...

Dear Mrs Faley,

Thankyou for being a Gerat ticha Have a Gerat Holaday and In Joy it!
You know I Like You Becos You have a smiil evry Time I See You.
And Josh Likes You to

Love From Hannah

How Cute!

Ra'Yah

Today I was over at 5 Minutes For Faith, talking about my drive across town in my Pink Pyjamas. It would be just like me to get pulled over wouldnt it!

(I didn't get pulled over, but take a look all the same ;)

Yesterday at the Park

Give It Back

I heard footsteps coming down the driveway and then a knock at the door. I curioulsy answered it, not expecting anyone to drop in today. It was a lady named Jean who's elderly parents live next door 'returning' some kids clothing. It seems that their cat has a strange case of Kleptomania. He steals items of clothing from neighbouring houses and presents it to his owners in their loungeroom. Obviously my kids have been leaving things outside because this time she was returning a shirt and 2 pairs of socks! (And no, this is not the first time!)

It is a pity though, that he doesnt have a taste for possums ;)

Jean was giving our clothes back because her parents had aquired them under false pretenses ;). But I need to give some things back too. I need to give credit to Venita for helping me clean up the kids rooms cause I accepted their praises without disclosing all that she had done. I need to give credit to Glenn and to Jenny for helping me get Bryce the best birthday present ever. (Happy Birthday Babe!) I owe my kids more patience than I showed them today. I owe Bryce more kindness. I owe my sponsor child a letter. I owe our Sunday School leaders more thanks. I owe my family more phone calls :). I owe God more time in the mornings. I owe the hungry food, I owe the opressed freedom, I owe the orphans care, I owe the poor shelter (Isaiah 58).

I'm not going to do any of these things because I should, but because I have been blessed, and I'd like to give some back. Because Jesus died for me, my life is rightfully His. But that's not a bad thing, He wants the best for me! So I will sacrifice because He gave his life as a sacrifice. I will put up with insults or discouragement because He was ridiculed and murdered. I will love others because He loved me.

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:7-9

What do you owe?