WELCOME MONDAY, AGAIN

Posted on May 21, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

overcoming

Last week, my Monday post was all about welcoming the first day of the work week, with enthusiasm.  A new week means a fresh start – and oh what a week it was.

Last Monday, President Trump delivered remarks at the  36th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service.  He stated, “”Every drop of blood spilled from our heroes in blue is a wound inflicted upon the whole country, and every heartache known by your families in law enforcement is a sorrow shared by the entire family of the American nation.”  He later shared a link to a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 14 to May 20 as Police Week.  A great way to start the week – right?

On Tuesday, a headline read, “North Korea considers abandoning the highly anticipated June summit.”  We also heard that sadness was all the rage in pop music.  Just another possible contributor to depression in our young people.  What is going on?

The entire week was filled with congressional rhetoric, rather than accomplishing much.  We were inundated with updates on the upcoming wedding across the pond, of an American actress and Prince Harry. All the past memories of the people’s princess, Diana were replayed including the tragic end of her life.  We saw how even the rich can suffer great loss, yet they go on to get married, raise families to be future monarchs and live the life of luxury and extravagance.  We go back and forth from one extreme to the other in the course of a few short days, don’t we?  We’re engaged in a plethora of knowledge through technology.  It’s entering our minds and causing us to overload and become confused, depressed and often distracted from the every day.

In the meantime, Hawaii is being told to stay in their homes or wear masks to protect themselves from the toxic fumes escaping into the atmosphere from a volcano which might explode at any moment.  We continue to fight an opioid epidemic.  Our churches are in declining membership.  Our lack of religion or putting church on the bottom of the priority list seems to be the norm.  By the end of the week, why were we not surprised or shocked by another school shooting?  Ten lives were lost, some injured, others scarred for life.  Yet for the rest of the world, life goes on.

In my little world, my husband had to have some dental work done.  The $250 wasn’t exactly in our budget.  Our neighbor died suddenly.  I lost my debit card. The key to my car’s ignition is acting up and will also be an eventual strain on the budget.  We began to tackle unpacking some of the boxes in our garage.  They haven’t moved since we did, almost two years ago. I found my new Bible in one of them. I planted some flowers.  We suffered aches and pains and allergy reactions, but we made it through another week.

Here it is, Monday again.  If only we could wash away the ugliness of the past.  If only we could eliminate the darkness within our world.  If only we could find some good in our times of strife.  Well, we can.  It comes in the form of consistency and truth.  We can see it in the faces of children.  We experience it when we listen, concentrate and focus on the only One who never changes – the One who knows what we struggle with and gives us the strength to carry on. He’ll never leave us.  He loves everyone with no expectations.  He’s made it possible for us to share eternity in a place where there is no sorrow or pain.  The truth is, all the ugliness has been washed away by our Savior, Jesus.

The world we live in will always experience trouble, pain, depravity, hatred, violence, but God has promised us a future, both here and after we die.  He’ll never leave us – He’ll help us through our struggles – He’ll protect us from our most frightening adversary, the devil.  That’s good news for everyone!

 

Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

 

 

 

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DON’T BE AFRAID

Posted on May 20, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

devil-v-prayer-warrior

 

Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

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WILL IT EVER END?

Posted on May 19, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Shots ring out,

Bodies fall,

Troubled mind,

Has heard the call,

A call to self destruction,

A call within his mind,

A place for his instruction,

Becomes a killing field,

We cry and wonder why,

We shake our heads and sigh,

What caused this vicious act,

Blood flows and we react,

Where children walked and learned,

Disaster now is churned,

It will never be the same,

This place of horror stands,

 

When will this story end,

Will young minds ever mend,

This place they thought was safe,

Breeds pain and loss and grief,

The reasons raised are countless,

They’re all considered groundless,

Yet somewhere within those walls,

Hope must return again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on May 18, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

yoda 1

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AN EMPTY CHAIR

Posted on May 18, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

silhouette-of-a-wheelchair

It was a lovely Tuesday morning.  The air fresh and clean, the sky blue – a perfect day to tackle some of my pruning chores.  As I walked down our driveway, I was met by a street full of emergency vehicles.  A swarm of EMTs struggled over a man, trying to revive him.  My husband joined me in the driveway and soon we could tell that the chest compressions seemed to be in vain.  By this time, my husband had made his way closer to the sight.

The man on the ground was our neighbor.  He was the one who was disabled by diabetes, had a prosthetic leg and spent his days sitting in front of his house in a wheel chair.  At that point they’d brought a chest compression machine and were again trying to bring the man back to life.  The machine made his lifeless body jerk and twist.  At last there was a pulse.  They whisked him off in the ambulance as the story of what happened began to unfold.

Our neighbor was like the neighborhood sentry.  Each day he’d rise early and head for the outdoors.  Even during our coldest winter days, he’d bundle himself up and go to his post.  He had his eye on the comings and goings of the neighbors – noticed when anything unusual happened – stood guard, as it were.  That morning, something happened to cause him to fall from his chair.  Fortunately a passerby noticed him and called 911.  We waited anxiously to hear what would happen next.

My husband had spent much time talking to this fellow. He was only 53 years old. He lived in his house his entire life, along with a couple of brothers.  He once told a story of how he and his brothers liked to rile the temper of a judge who once inhabited our house.  The judge finally got fed up with the young whippersnappers and told them. if they ever set foot on his property again, he’d cut off their thumbs and make soup out of them.  Apparently the boys steered clear of the judge from then on.  I guess I would too.

In spite of his disability, he’d occasionally walk the dog.  Only a week ago, I saw him climbing a ladder, but for the most part, he just liked to sit and watch the neighborhood.  He had a number of friends who would stop by and say hello.  There were those who’d bring him a meal or just chat.  I felt safer because of him.

In the hospital, Jimbo was kept alive with all the necessary equipment and by the next day, the machinery was stopped and within a couple of hours, he slowly passed away.  I don’t know what his religious views were. He was brought up Roman Catholic.  We invited him to church once, but he said, “church wasn’t for him.”  God knows where his heart was and if it is His will, Jimbo may be in heaven, serving as a guard at the gate – standing on two strong legs.  I pray that is the case.

 

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WHAT DO YOU SEE? PART 5

Posted on May 18, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

When we judge by the things we see, our opinions may be wrong,

With just the outward appearance, we’re merely tagging along,

Our vision is blurred by our thoughts, our judgment is based on lies,

We prevent ourselves from knowing, we may be missing the prize,

We rely on what others say, without looking deep within,

Our eyes have become quite clouded, because of our own dark sin,

When we look beneath the surface, we see what lies inside,

The possible threats before us, the fears from which we can’t hide,

God knows our hearts and our spirits, He knows us inside and out,

He knows every thought we’re thinking, still loves us without a doubt,

When our own thoughts get in the way, trust in God to set you straight,

He’s planned for you, a heavenly home, He will meet you at the gate.

 

 

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WHAT DO YOU SEE – PART 4

Posted on May 17, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

lighthouse

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” Henry David Thoreau

We always strive to tell the truth, but it can be so hard,

When asked for our true opinion, or dealt a winning card,

We bluff our way through all our days, still trying to be true,

Some button pushes in our brain and tells us what to do,

It’s like a strong, insistent voice that’s speaks the words to you,

It’s swirls its way into voice, you speak without a thought,

Your words come out in blatant lies, but soon you will be caught,

It isn’t worth the consequence, it isn’t worth the pain,

You will risk your reputation, the lie will bring no gain,

It festers in the recesses of mind, and heart and soul,

Your guilt will overtake you, you’ll never reach your goal,

So put your trust in God’s own Son to take away your sin,

Confess to Him the wrong you’ve done, repent – believe in Him,

Make right the wrong you’ve committed, now go and sin no more,

Depend on the Lord to lead you, He’ll open every door.

 

 

 

 

 

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HONESTY GROWS RELATIONSHIPS

Posted on May 17, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

winstonchurchill1-2xWe’ve all lied in our lives. From the time we’re small children, we soon discover how to maneuver the truth to our advantage.  We may use a lie to cover up a bad behavior – to make ourselves look better – to avoid hurting someone’s feelings – to get our way.

We now live in a world filled with untruths.  We’ve come to a point where we don’t know what to believe anymore. Our media fills the air waves with untruths in order to be first with a story.  Our politicians are guilty of getting elected on one platform and carrying through their own agendas.  In our friendships, our work relationships, even our families, we may hide the truth or replace it with a lie.

The Bible is filled with stories of those who got themselves in a mess of trouble by not being honest.  The father of lies, Satan, was the first liar as he told Adam and Eve they could be like God if they ate the forbidden fruit.  That started the ball rolling and it’s been on a downward spiral ever since.

The fact that honesty is such an important word in our language, makes me wonder how we’ve gotten so far from it.  Success is now measured by how much money you make, what you have in possessions, how quick you climb the ladder no matter how you get there.  Integrity is still an important asset when it comes to business and all our dealings in life, even when it appears to be the least.

An actor strives to believable in presenting his character.  He studies hard, learns what  physical, mental and emotional aspects are involved. He learns about the time period, the pulse of society at that time, how the character fits in.  If he fails at  portraying the character, it’s because something didn’t ring true.

When we meet someone for the first time, we may be impressed with their background, their personality, their looks, but do we know their ulterior motives?  In our marriages, we try to be honest, but often tell a white lie to protect ourselves and not hurt the other.  Our children hear may hear us lying about something, and that will set the pace for what the children do in their lives.

It’s not always easy telling the truth, but doing so isn’t going to break you.  I’m not one for confrontation.  In fact the hardest thing for me to do is get in someone’s face.  Yes, I am a wimp, but I also harbor my feelings.  They grow within me and when they do come out, it’s usually a torrent of rage.  I’d be much better off if I was honest in the first place.

We’ve all failed at being completely honest.  The fact is, we often see through a lie and which is worse – being caught in one or having your reputation suffer because of it? That’s why we need a Savior.  Thankfully, Jesus took our place as the perfect sacrifice and paid the ultimate price.  He said, “I am the way, THE TRUTH and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WHAT DO YOU SEE – PART 3

Posted on May 16, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

birch

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

What lies beneath the surface is difficult to see,

We think that we can fix it like we would have it be,

But time will show a difference, there’s naught that we can do

We can’t continue forward, we cannot follow through,

Our only consolation in times of broken wills,

The love of God is for us, it takes away our ills,

We flounder or we flourish, depending on the day,

We find the only answer is simply walk away,

It may be hard to do so, but do so it must be,

The way to free yourself is to set the other free.

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YOUR INNER CIRCLE

Posted on May 15, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

circleoftrust

In the movie, “Meet the Parents,” Robert De Niro coined the phrase, “the circle of trust.”  This was comprised of his family, a select group of friends and associates whom he could completely depend on to be worthy of him.

Do you belong to such a group?  Are you excluded by people that feel you aren’t worthy?  Have you ever looked at a circle of trust or inner circle as something negative?  Usually there are certain people we go to for advice, for friendship, a good working relationship. There are those we confide in – reveal our worries or successes – depend on to be there when we need them.  Yet in all that nice warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you are part of the inner circle, you might suddenly find yourself cast out, excluded or ignored.  What happened?

When we value our relationships more than our own value system – our opinions – what we hold sacred – we can be setting ourselves up for a lot of disappointment, anger, suspicion and actually a lack of trust.

Being part of select group sounds appealing to us, because with them we aren’t alone.  We have someone to support and help us.  We can depend on them – or can we?  The human race is very fickle, especially in an all exclusive clique.  You can be riding high one day and in the depths of despair the next, because people make mistakes.  We say things or do things that might offend or upset someone and suddenly are outside of the circle.

Poor Gaylord Focker  (Ben Stiller) didn’t stand a chance against the perfectionist Jack Byrnes.  He tried everything to impress his future father-in-law, but met disaster one time after the other.  Do you ever feel that way?  Do you know what it’s like to not be part of an inner circle?  You do your best, try your hardest and something always gets in the way.  This is what happens when we rely on people to influence our lives.

On the other hand, we can’t make it in this world alone.  We need the friendship of other human beings.  To become a hermit and set yourself aside from any public contact, condemns you to a life of loneliness.

So which will it be – become part of an elite group which excludes anyone that doesn’t fit their requirements – or hide in a closet?  When we place ourselves above others, we’re getting into troublesome territory.

“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”   Galatians 6:3

Even the inner circle which should be part of our family life, falls short.  We cannot depend on spouses, parents or siblings to bail us out all the time.

    “Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-la a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.”   Micah 7:5-6

When we place our faith in others, we’re inviting disappointment.  There is only One who we can trust to take care of us, fill all our needs, keep us on track, walk with us through dangerous situations, lift us when we fall, SAVE US!  We can’t always depend on friends or even family, but our God has promised us life everlasting in heaven.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

 

 

 

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WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Posted on May 14, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

You walk into a room full of people,

Forming opinions before you know,

You walk a narrow path in the country,

Treading softly in places unknown.

The sun casts its radiance upon you,

You’re captured by the light and its glow,

Gold and silver threads shimmer,shine and dance,

In a waltz designed for those below,

Bouncing and changing like colored glass shards,

Kaleidoscope designing a show,

Life imitates art as we pass this way,

A stunning display of light will grow ,

In the back of  your mind you record it,

Remaining ready for afterglow,

Impressions are made when we think aloud,

Our thoughts, dreams, hopes and fears we bestow,

Yet one false word or opinion is formed,

When we don’t take time to truly know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Posted on May 13, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

lambs-wedding-bride-of-christ-church-as-bride

  • To those who have experienced the love of a mother.
  • To those who have felt the pangs of labor.
  • To those who long to be a mother.
  • To those whose mothers are in heaven.
  • To those who have lost children to death.
  • To those who have miscarried.
  • To those who have adopted children.
  • To those who know what memories can be formed by being a mother.
  • To those grandmas who have watched their own children grow into adults and become parents themselves.
  • To those care for other’s children.
  • To those who love children.
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MISS YOU, MOM

Posted on May 12, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

31306945_10204289534995578_3453080493971472384_n (2)

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The vision of your loveliness is etched within my heart,

My memories imprinted there, I don’t know where to start,

I know that I was loved by you, with an unending love,

You proved it in a million ways, when push turned into shove,

You looked beyond the cares of life, you leaped among the stars,

You dreamed the wildest dreams for me, you washed away the scars,

I know that you were my hero – the one I looked up to,

Leading me by your example, showing me what to do,

The difficult years of childhood, you made seem like a breeze,

Because of your enduring love, and every single squeeze,

Though you have long since departed, my heart remembers still,

The true, unconditional love, my waiting heart did fill,

I miss you every day, sweet mom, your smile I miss so much,

Your kindness and your gentleness, your sweet endearing touch,

I know my own days are numbered, God’s timeline won’t erase,

But we will meet again someday, in his own heavenly place.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, MOM!

 

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ALWAYS A MOTHER

Posted on May 12, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

Gladys-2

 

Yesterday, my friend Lynn Abbott at inkandimage sent me a comment that inspired me to write this post today.

When we think of mothers, we tend to visualize women with small children – struggling to get through sleepless nights, no time for themselves, laundry sorting, changing diapers, colic, fevers, etc.  We picture a sleep deprived, haggard mother, rocking her wide awake child.

As time goes by, we imagine a more experienced mom, bussing her children off to school, to extra curricular activities and then off to a job to help meet the needs of those kids.  She grows as a mother right along with her children – inspiring, encouraging, sacrificing, praying for and loving them through thick and thin.  Once the kids are out on their own and starting their own families a new breed of mother is emerging – she’s called SUPER GRANDMA!

Imagine a woman with greying, thinning hair – still sparkling eyes amidst deep crevices and puffy eyelids – an ample figure with everything in the wrong place.  Her energy is spent, her joints don’t work, but she still knows how to love children.  She doesn’t wear the typical super hero costume, because the “S” on her chest would now be down around her knees.  The Spandex leotards are out of the question, because she couldn’t get them past her ankles. The cape is a possibility, but chances are she’d be using it to warm herself when she wasn’t experiencing a hot flash.

Yet to the next generation, she is a super hero, because she loves her grandchildren with a special kind of love.  It’s a love reserved just for them. She has time to play with them, listen to them and when the time is right, she can send them home.  These wonderful gifts from God are an extension of her own children and she gets a second chance at doing the parenting thing without all the hassle.

As she continues to age, however, life changes.  She may forget things, fall down occasionally, not be able to get the lid off a jar.  Her strength is sapped and her fingers are crippled with arthritis.  As she reaches her final years of life, she may be placed in a nursing home for her own safety and forgotten.  There will be mandatory visits for birthdays and holidays, but in her mind she feels forsaken and alone.  Still, in her heart, she will always remain a mother.

Mothers are not all the same.  We come in all sizes, shapes and personalities, but one thing is common to all of us. We will always be moms.  Even when we grow old, our instinct leads us to be nurturers.  Whether we are or not, depends totally upon us.

 

 

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CAN VIRTUE LIVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

Posted on May 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

Image-for-parenting.jpg

“One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Maya Angelou

Sin Virtue
Lust (excessive sexual appetites) Chastity (purity)
Gluttony (over-indulgence) Temperance (self-restraint)
Greed (avarice) Charity (giving)
Sloth (laziness/idleness) Diligence (zeal/integrity/Labor)
Wrath (anger) Forgiveness (composure)
Envy (jealousy) Kindness (admiration)
Pride (vanity) Humility (humbleness)

Long before the Bible was penned, mankind knew the difference between right and wrong.  It was a natural part of the human condition, instilled within the conscience.  Over the centuries, we’ve seen a decline in the use of the sevens (charted above) for examples of living a moral life.  They still bear importance today.  We may think humility has been lost, because of the rewards and awards handed out for simply participating.  We might believe that chastity is all but dead, due permissiveness and excessive sexual appetites.  The truth is, virtue lives on – even when it appears that everything is upside down.

What’s a parent to do when society tells young people to live life to the fullest, without restriction?  I believe this kind of thing is cyclical and we’re coming to the end of the cycle.  Looking back through history, we can see this rotation.  A civilization shifts from one end of the spectrum to the other – in search of happiness – following the trends of the times – thinking they have it all figured out.  Then the pendulum swings again and things which were once considered improper have become the norm.

In the early 1900s, the Victorian Age boasted itself as the most virtuous ever.  In the 1920, with prohibition and the forging of the Industrial Revolution, we saw a loosening of moral behavior – speak easies – trafficking booze and prostitution – back street abortions – money in abundance, until the infamous crash of 1929.  In the 1930’s people struggled to find jobs to put food on the table.  They often went to bed hungry, depressed, exhausted and downtrodden.  By the end of the decade, we were involved in a war, but patriotism existed everywhere.

Society is like that.  We fluctuate from one generation to the next.  The older generation tends to feel the younger  is going to hell in a hand basket.  The youngers feel that seniors are useless old fuddy duddys.  Through it all, we’ve inherited that inner voice which tells us the difference between right and wrong.

As mothers, it might be time to review the chart above and start talking and listening to our youth.  They are never too young to learn – nor are we too old.  I personally believe in the younger generation.  They’re a sensitive lot.  They’re a strong body committed to change.  They’re leaders.  They want to learn, do and make a difference. They also have the knowledge of the world at their fingertips!

Does virtue stand a chance in the twenty first century?  Yes, but it must be nurtured. Part of being a good parent is providing your children the courage to remain strong in their beliefs.  Teach them to treat others as they’d like to be treated – help others – be selfless rather than selfish – kind, courageous, self restrained, humble and forgiving. ,They need to be taught to take responsibility for their actions and stop blaming others.  They must also learn to value life – at the beginning and end of it.

These tools will build their character and define the kind of adult they’ll become.  Our children are the future of the nation.  It’s our job to prepare them for that vocation.

 

 

Posted in Family, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on May 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

31946265_10156263818003486_3188333989676974080_nLOOK, JULIE, IT’S YOUR YEARBOOK PICTURE!

 

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SUPER HEROES GOT NOTHING ON MOMS!

Posted on May 10, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

The media sometimes ends it news with one of those super hero stories to make us feel better after hearing all the garbage that fills our world.  We’re hopeful that someone will come and make things better.  We need someone to look up to – to trust and believe in as role models for our own lives.  We certainly can’t expect a guy with a red cape and an “S” on his shirt to bound in and save the day.  Even a rich man in a fancy black car with a bat painted on its hood can’t do everything required to save the world from itself.

When we talk about super heroes, we think of those who put others before themselves – who take chances they normally wouldn’t – who have a servant nature.  If you believe everything you read, you may think such people no longer exist.  Those who lead us – those who teach us – those whom we think we can trust – even our closest friends – put our faith to the test at one point or another.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, let’s take a look at some super hero traits of a mother.  Some women go through a pregnancy and the child is aborted or dies at birth. Some will bare children with special needs.  Many women try desperately to conceive, but can’t.  There are those whose husbands are serving their country in far off places and have to view the birth of their child on the internet.  Some have no husband at all.

The cost of becoming a mother is tremendous.  This new life is depending on her.  It will take mountains of responsibility, energy, love and dedication.  Our lives will take on a radical change.  Our home looks like a tornado went through it.  We get weary of trying to settle another dispute between siblings.  We don’t have the energy or time to get out of our sweats and put on some makeup.  We may feel unappreciated, guilty, tired, misunderstood, frustrated or unable to do it all.

Mounds of laundry pile up. The meals you spend hours preparing are uneaten.  The drives to school, karate lessons, sporting events, music and theatre activities are endless.  Until they have their own driver’s licenses, you hold the keys.  There are dust bunnies growing under your bed.  Your garden needs weeding.  Your own needs are not being met.  Your ironing board is covered with boxes – in fact you don’t even know where your iron is?  Kids bring all kinds of surprises home for you – a bouquet of dandelions, a bucket full of toads, a snake, their friends.

Motherhood is one of the most under-rated and thankless professions known to mankind. It’s too bad we only take one day out of the year to celebrate them. Moms are purveyors of comfort, deliverers of love and encouragement, merchants of morality and learning, solicitors of peace and understanding. They are the vessel of God’s handiwork.  Mother’s need a pat on the back each and every day of the year!

Motherhood is not for sissies.  You will be required to climb tall buildings in a single bound.  You will be expected to accomplish great deeds, but you already have, just by giving birth.  God is our true Super Hero, because He always puts us first.  When motherhood becomes burdensome, turn to Him for the strength you need to get through it.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139:13

 

 

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HE’S GOT OUR BACK

Posted on May 10, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

ewise guy

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Through darkest times and deepest fears, He watches from above,

His wide spread wings encompass us, with His protective love,

He fights off every enemy, with might and power strong,

He cuddles us within His wings, when tests are hard and long,

He knows just when we need Him most, He feels our every pain,

He loves us with a perfect love, He always will remain,

He soars above the lowest points, that life will throw your way,

He carries you to highest heights, into another day,

He never will forsake or leave, He’s always at your side,

Just open up your heart to Him and trust He will abide,

He chose you, you did not choose Him, He loves you just the same,

His Son took on your ugliness, so you could bear His name,

So put your hope in His own Son, the Savior of us all,

Stay steadfast to the Word of God, don’t falter, but stand tall,

Remain in truth and don’t give up, the war has just begun,

Though all the world may fall apart, the battle has been won.

 

 

 

 

Posted in art, Christian Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

THE INNER WORKINGS OF A MOM

Posted on May 9, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Maybe it’s something to do with my past or my fear of failure that’s driven me to be a worrier.  Maybe it’s something common only to women – especially when they become mothers.  Maybe it’s a combination of both these things.  Women seem to have an inborn sense which urges them to worry.  Deep down inside of us, we know that things will work out, but something in there also tells us it’s our job to worry.

When a woman becomes a mother, her entire perspective changes.  As a natural nurturer, she feels a responsibility to the life that’s lived within her for nine months.  She feels an obligation to continue to care for the needs of that new life and is duty-bound to raise an upstanding human being.  No one births a child thinking that he/she will become a career criminal.

Having a baby is like getting a second chance at doing your own life over – by eliminating the mistakes you made, setting the right goals, setting rules and guidelines which will instill honesty, integrity and ethical behavior.  That in itself gives us cause to worry, because we can’t live through our children successfully.  We can only give them tools to enhance their lives.  They’re the ones who make the decisions on how to use them.  Still, as a mother, worry becomes a genuine part of your vocabulary.

Will I be able to give this child enough?  Will I be able to give him what he needs?  Will his educational needs be met?  Will he be healthy?  Will he fit in?  Will he be able to handle himself if bullied.  Will he use your advice or follow his own will?  These are just a few of the questions a mom asks herself.  Talk about being a worry wart!

If she has a husband that’s actively involved in the raising of the child, she has a supporter who will assist, but if she is a single parent, she’ll rely on others for advice or go it alone.  If she’s a mom that’s the sole support of this new life, she’ll have to make huge sacrifices to work at a real job and still uphold her duties as a mother.  Whatever the case, moms have many things to fret over.  Even with a dad in the picture, men prefer to be concerned rather than worried, but they worry too.

When it’s time for them to leave the nest, we still worry.  Will they make enough to support themselves?  Will they make mature decisions?  Will they be wise in their dealings and choices?  If they fail, are you willing to take them back into your home?

I could write a litany of the things we women worry about, but it would take too long.  Instead let’s look at what God has to say about it.

“THE LORD IS NEAR TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND SAVES THE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT.”  PSALM 34:18

“ANXIETY IN A MAN’S HEART WEIGHS HIM DOWN, BUT A GOOD WORD MAKES HIM GLAD.” PROVERBS 12:25

“AND WHICH OF YOU BY BEING ANXIOUS CAN ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO HIS SPAN OF LIFE?”  MATTHEW 6:27

Inner feelings of anxiety, fear and worry are very human characteristics, which left to grow and fester can consume you.  You start reading untruth into things that you are unsure of.  You second guess everything. You fear failing as a parent and more importantly as a member of the human race.

Every child a mother carries, must be loved unconditionally even when the kid isn’t very loveable.  The job description does include worry/concern for that child, but we have a partner in the process if we remind ourselves that this child is a gift from God.  He belongs to Him.  Together, this partnership will make the worries dissipate. It won’t make them disappear, but it will give you the strength you need to deal with

 

Posted in anxiety, Mother's day, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

IT’S GOING TO BE OK …

Posted on May 9, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Ice melts and trickles down mountain streams,

Into the waiting arms of valleys below,

Swiftly it carries needed nourishment,

To anxious, dormant life,

Filling it with animation and growth,

Soon once barren, snow covered land,

Rages with enthusiasm,

No matter how we try to control things,

God’s plan carries on,

No matter how we fret and worry,

God’s plan for life continues,

No matter how we think we can go it alone,

God has already constructed that plan,

And is carrying it out through us,

Trust in Him,

His design is perfect,

His ways are good,

His love is unconditional,

Worry won’t add a day to our life,

Nor will it solve the problems of the world,

Only God can do that.

 

 

Posted in art, Christian Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments