Titus Twosdays: Company Smile

  

I was hanging out with some friends last week after Bible study, and the conversation turned to how frustrated we get with our kids. (I know, that never happens to you.) I shared my mother-in-law's story of the "company smile".  One of my friends said "I feel a Titus Twosday blog comin' on"! It's a great story that may help you put your kids' shenanigans in proper perspective. If you've ever tried to clean up your house in a hurry, and your kids ....ehhh... didn't help you with that, you'll relate to the story.  

One morning, while at home with her two boys, she received a call from her husband.  He would be bringing his boss home for lunch, and could she please have something ready for them? (Let me just stop right here and say Honey, if you ever did that to me, I would have to just go ahead and kill you.) She said "Of course, dear" (this woman is waaayyy nicer than me) and hung up the phone.  She frantically glanced at the clock, then at her less-than-tidy house, then at back at the clock.  It was 10:35 now, company would be there at noon, that gave her....one hour and twenty-five minutes!?!  To clean house, make lunch, and make herself presentable?!  She sprang into action, picking up dishes, wiping counters, putting clean dishes away. She moved into the living room, where her two pajama-clad boys were watching cartoons. "Daddy's coming home with company for lunch, and I need you boys to help me tidy up, ok?" " Please turn off the TV, pick up those toys and take them back to your rooms. And make sure you pick up those socks on the floor and take them to the laundry. And when you're done picking up, go get dressed -Frankie, you help Gene- then wash your faces, brush your teeth, and comb your hair. And don't forgot to pick up the bathroom when you're through."

She ran back to the kitchen and quickly made a nice tuna salad, and set the table. After making a pitcher of iced tea, she glanced into the living room to see how the boys were doing. She was mortified to see they hadn't moved from the couch, and were still watching TV. "I TOLD you to pick up those TOYS!" she barked. "We are running out of time, it's after  eleven, and I'm really counting on you to help me!"  The boys obeyed, taking the toys and the socks to their proper places.  Seeing that they were doing their chores, she hurriedly washed her face, changed her clothes, fixed her hair, and put on some lipstick and a dab of perfume. 

She returned to the kitchen and made a tossed salad, silently thanking Heaven she had lettuce, tomato, and a cucumber in the refrigerator.  She washed some grapes and put them in a bowl on the table. She had make brownies the previous day, that would have to do for dessert, she thought. She looked at the clock-yikes!! Eleven thirty.  She quickly made sandwiches with the tuna she had prepared, and glanced into the living room.  To her horror, there were the boys, watching TV, still in their pajamas and slippers. "WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU TWO??" she bellowed.  "I TOLD YOU TO GET DRESSED AND HERE YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR PAJAMAS!!! HURRY!! GO GET SOME CLOTHES ON, AND DON'T FORGET TO WASH UP AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, COMB YOUR HAIR!!" As the boys hurried off to get dressed, she quickly dusted the living room furniture and sprayed a little air freshener.

Back to the kitchen she hurried, sweeping a few crumbs from the floor and putting the coffee on to brew.  Now, just a quick glance at the bathroom before...."WHOSE TOOTHBRUSH IS THIS?? DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES?? DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING MYSELF?!!" she shouted. She hung up a fresh towel and wiped the bathroom sink. "Okay, ten minutes", she thought to herself, but her thoughts were interrupted by the chime of the doorbell.  "Now why would he ring the bell?", she wondered as she walked toward the door. She took a deep breath, smoothed her dress, pasted on her best smile, and opened the door.  At first, she didn't see anyone, then looked down to see her oldest son standing there. "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?!? she snapped at him. "I'm sorry, Mommy", he said. "I just wanted to see your Company Smile."

Can you relate? Do your chores become more important than the people you do them for? I know I need to remember this story the next time I'm running around, getting ready for small group, barking out orders at my kids.  I need to just slow down, and give the most important people in the world-my family-my Company Smile. 

Today's verse: Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.   Ephesians 6:4 CEV

Prayer for Today: Father, make me ever-mindful that although you call me to welcome people into my home, You call me first to be Your servant, and to love and nurture the family You've given me.  In Jesus name, Amen

Rock Solid

In May of 2010, Gene and I had the privilege of traveling to our home state of Colorado to marry two dear friends.  It was an 1880's-themed wedding held in a beautiful grove of Aspen trees, near a picturesque old barn.  Nearly everyone was dressed in period attire, including my husband, the distinguished gent in the very tall hat.

In between costume fittings and wedding-related activities, we went for a drive in the mountains not far from Denver.  We came upon this beautiful stone chapel (pictured below)  near Estes Park, Colorado.  After a little research, we discovered it was called Saint Malo Chapel on the Rock. Apparently, the little stone church was the dream of one, Monsignor Bosetti, who prayed for twenty years for the funds to build it.  What you can't see very well in the photo above is the foundation of the chapel.  But in the picture below, you can see what I saw that day:  the building is constructed on the rock.  

It's hard to tell where the rock ends and the church begins, one just seems to flow out of the other.  Monsignor Bosetti and two friends, so the story goes, saw a meteorite fall toEarth one night in 1916.  When  Bosetti went to search for the pieces the following day, he came upon this huge rock.  He was reminded of the scripture which says "...upon this rock, I will build My church..." (Matthew 16:18 ESV) and was inspired to build this storied chapel.   

There is another scripture about building on a Rock, and that's the one I had in mind for this post, when I remembered St. Malo's chapel.  In this passage from Matthew's gospel, Jesus is speaking, and He says that obeying His words (the Bible) is like building our house on a rock.  Streams rise.  Winds blow.  Hearts break.  But our house-our life!-stands firm in the worst of times when we are doing the things He asks. 

I just want to encourage you today.  If you're loving your husband, teaching your children, attending church, studying God's word, serving others....whatever obedience to Christ looks like for you...you are building your life on an immovable, unshakable foundation.  Come what may, He is our Rock and Redeemer.

Prayer for today: Father, thank you that You are the firm foundation for my life.  No matter what storms may come, my life and my eternity are secure in You.  Help me to grow in obedience to Your word, and by your grace, strengthen me when I fail. In Jesus name, Amen.

Today's verse:  24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 

Matthew 7:24-25 NIV

Chicken....again???

 All of us are expected to use poultry in new and interesting ways, week after week after week.....It's not uncommon to be OUT of ideas!  Here's one you might not have tried yet.  I made it for a recent staff and leaders dinner, and it got raves! Thanks, allrecipes.com!

Prep Time:
10 Min

Cook Time:
25 Min

Ready In:
35 Min

Servings  (Help)

USMetricCalculate

Original Recipe Yield 8 - 10 servings

White Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
•  
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1 (18.75 ounce) can tomatillos, drained and chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (7 ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 ears fresh corn
• 1 pound diced, cooked chicken meat
• 1 (15 ounce) can white beans
• 1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat oil, and cook onion and garlic until soft.
2. Stir in broth, tomatillos, tomatoes, chilies, and spices. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add corn, chicken, and beans; simmer 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 220 | Total Fat: 6.1g | Cholesterol: 40mg

Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

Can we talk?

It was winter, 1993 and our baby girl, Caitlin, was almost a month old. Our tiny daughter had two big brothers, six year old Max, and thirteen-month-old Samuel. I remember feeling so blessed....and so frazzled. I looked around our small, usually tidy house, and a quiet despair washed over me. Dirty dishes were piled high in the sink, toys were everywhere in the small room that served as our dining/living/playroom, and several baskets of clean clothes graced the dining room table. "How will I ever do this?", I wondered. How will I ever be able to balance home, marriage, children, school, church...?

At church that Sunday, a friend asked how it was going. (She probably didn't need to ask, the dark circles under my eyes told the story pretty well.) I told her I wasn't sleeping more than a couple of hours a night, the house was pretty much upside down, and I couldn't figure out when to take a shower! She looked at me with compassion, and Experienced Mom Wisdom and said "My girls and I would like to come help." "Oh....no, that's not necessary....I'll figure it out" I said, embarrassed at the thought of anyone coming to our house. But she insisted, and a few days later my friend and her girls showed up at my door with buckets, gloves, mops and brooms, and went to work on my much-neglected house. I'll never forget how I felt that day, those precious friends washing my dishes, cleaning my dirty sinks and floors, and folding our laundry. To say I was humbled would be a pretty big understatement. Their gift of a clean, organized house was priceless!

But here's the real "get" from this story: I took a risk, and told my friend what was really going on in my life. What if I had said what women often say to each other when we're too proud to ask for help: "I'm fine"? No help would have been given or received, and we all would have missed a blessing. Are you a young mom struggling to balance all the new demands on your time? Are you hesitant to ask for help? I hope my story lets you know you're not alone. I hope you'll be open with someone-your women's or small group at church, a local MOPS group, a neighbor or friend-about your needs. I hope you won't say "Fine" when someone asks how it's going. Because the moment you admit you can't do it all by yourself, help is on the way. So....can we talk?

Daily Verses:

Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 NLT

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Eccl 4:9-10 NLT

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, help me to be humble rather than proud, and to ask for help when I need it. Help me connect with other moms, my neighbors, a church family so I can experience the joy of a life lived in community with others, a life where burdens are shared. Help me to encourage someone else in the way I have been encouraged. In Jesus name, Amen.

Five Hundred Twenty-five Thousand, Six Hundred Minutes.....

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalms 90:12 KJV

One of my all time favorite songs is "Seasons of Love" from the Broadway musical, Rent. The lyrics of this powerful song speak to my heart as I think about the New Year before us, and about the scripture above. Teach me to number my days, that's the prayer of my heart today. Listen to these words:

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes,

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Moments so dear.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights

In cups of coffee

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure

A year in the life?

How about love?

How about love?

How about love? Measure in love

Seasons of love. Seasons of love

Love. That's how I want to measure this year. I don't want 2011 to be marked only by the passing of time, but by the trading of each precious moment God gives me for something valuable. I want this to be a year God can use me to share hope and faith with the people around me. I pray He will show me how to love more deeply, and be more like Jesus in all my relationships. I pray this year will truly be a Season of Love. That's my prayer for you, too. Let me leave you with a prayer, and a link to this song, if you're interested. Happy New Year!

Father, teach me to number my days, the hours and minutes, too. Help me to be more like You in 2011, sharing Your love and grace with the people who cross my path. Help me to trade the 525,600 minutes you give me for something of value. In Jesus Name, Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp5Eyt7knus