Random Thoughts and Random Things

 These days, using military imagery is a loaded thing. However, I can think of no better image to use when discussing Christian parenting. The most important job any person can do is help children to become good, moral, decent Christian persons. We win some battles and we lose more than we want to admit.  It is so important for us to keep the dialogue about spiritual health going as our children get older. I don't mean we badger them, but we should ask how their spiritual health is just as much as we inquire about their physical, mental, emotional, and intellectual state. I try to do this often with my young adult children.  It is also important to be available and to encourage our children to figure things out on their own. We aren't always going to be there to offer advice, and we shouldn't offer it unsolicited. Some questions have to be wrestled with to form virtues in our lives. I encourage my children to practice virtue and to encourage it in others. They don't alw

The question in the title was asked in a Christian social media forum. The answer I gave, copied here assumes exposure to Christian Tradition. The practice of fasting and prayer has been around for a long time. It is mentioned in the Bible a lot. It is a sign for penance, mourning, focus on prayer for urgent needs, restoration to right relationship with God, and taking up our crosses to follow Christ Jesus. There are many persecuted Christians in the world today. They are strengthened by our prayer and fasting. There are many situations where God is mocked, situations we have little control over. The most powerful thing Christians can do is fast and pray. We have all failed at times to be light in this crooked generation. When we pray, Christ pours out His Mercy and Grace. There are many suffering in the world today. God still heals. God still does miraculous things when we fast and pray. Satan and the other evil spirits prowl the world seeking souls to destroy. By fasting and pray

Something on many of our minds is the question, "How do I move forward in managing my health?" This question seems to be on my mind more and more often as I pass through middle -age. For me, this involves tweaks and all-out changes to the way I do every aspect of my life. Thus far, the changes I have made are helping me to feel better and enjoy life more. More often than I like to admit, I have to talk myself out of succumbing to temptations. Things that weren't even on my radar when I was younger are important now. Had I realized the degree to which the cumulative effect of everyday choices affect us, I probably would have been more mindful sooner. So, what have I done that makes me generally more content, more happy, more healthy overall? It is a combination of disciplines. Discipline felt like a bad word when I was younger, but now I see its importance in every aspect of life. We don't always feel like doing the things we should. I will give you an example: I kn

Reflecting on the 2019, I realize that my family and I have had a year crazily packed with major events. Most of those events were completely out of our control. Many of them were life changing. I was thinking about what I may anticipate in the New year, and thought, "It's got to be better than this year!" Then I thought again.  Looking back, I realize how strong each of us has become, how much stronger mentally each of us has become. The challenges made us more content with our blessings, and more thankful when others bless us. In May, my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. As a result, we are more thoughtful about keeping to a healthy diet, and more aware of each other in even the little things. The Children's Miracle Network paid for all of my son's initial supplies, an expense we had not planned for because the diagnosis happened precipitously. In July, I had my right hip replaced. In the early days back home, I reached my breaking point. The pain was

An organized home feels like a haven It does not have to be completely feng shui ala Marie Kondo. It should not have clutter on every surface. Somewhere between a hoarder's heaven and detached feng shui perfection is a lived-in yet organized place. We spend most of our non-work hours in our home, so making it a place we enjoy being is important. If you look at the condition of things in your house and feel overwhelmed, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to change things. My family has lived in our home for more than 15 years. Without making a conscious choice to do so, we can accumulate a lot of items. The key to bringing sanity to a cluttered home is taking organization one area, one step, at a time. I have found many free helps for this at flylady.net. For this installment of my blog, let's begin with what flylady calls "hot spots". These are those places we tend to drop items "for the moment" as we enter and leave the house and as we go about rou

In recent years, I have noticed a lot of blogs, magazine articles, memes, and advertisements for things that used to be common sense, everyday knowledge. I think that if I could put my finger on a single cause, it would have to be the societal drive towards all adults placing career in the highest priority slot. It has been a long, slow slide in this direction. As early as the late 1970's, self help gurus were telling folks to put family and self care ahead of attaining wealth. They were also, just as early, telling people to moderate their diets and schedules. Human nature, being what it is, sometimes works counter to what we know is truly best. We want to be accepted, successful, wealthy, and well-liked. Something in us keeps whispering that we will be happier if we have more achievements. Unfortunately, the tangible achievements we aim for are exactly counter to what truly makes us happy. Happiness is not a tangible goal to reach for; it is in part contentment and in part hope