flickchic
08-21-2006, 04:29 PM
<TABLE align=left border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=baseline><TD>Love At Home Begins With You
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=baseline><TD>
Love at Home Begins with You By Gerri Stephey Everyone has heard the story of the man who returned home from work one day to find totalmayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing inthe mud with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. He found aneven bigger mess in the house. A lamp knocked over, the TV blaring on a cartoon channeland the family room strewn with toys and clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink,breakfast food was spilled on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a brokenglass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. Hequickly went in search of his wife. He was sure that she lay gravely ill or even worse. Hefound her lounging in the bedroom, still curled in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel.She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered andasked, "What happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every day whenyou come home from work and ask me what in the world I did today?" "Yes," was hisincredulous reply? She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it." How many of us can identify with this story? We take our role of mother and homemaker veryseriously, and we seldom stray far from that task. But what of our own development? Don’twe owe it to ourselves and our families to become all that we can be? Are we on call 24hours a day without a break, or do we feel guilty when we do take a break? We wouldn’tdream of letting our children go hungry, or our homes go to ruin, but do we sacrifice thetime it takes to continue to develop as individuals? “Realize your personal self-worth”. How are we to realize our self worth if we don’t takethe time necessary to grow? We need to grow spiritually, socially, intellectually, andculturally. A well-rounded person is not necessarily the one who has dish pan hands. OurSavior recognized this as is noted in Luke 10:38-42. “Now it came to pass, as they went,that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him intoher house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard hisword. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dostthou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she helpme. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubledabout many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, whichshall not be taken away from her.” Mary was taking a break from the ordinary to enhanceher life. If we are to be helpmates to our husbands, examples to our children, daughtersand sisters who can contribute to the quality of life of those around us, we must see thatwe take the time and make the effort to improve our minds and our abilities. We also musthave some time for our own spiritual growth, our own hobbies and our own interests. Notonly does this release us from the pressures of daily living, but also it helps us tobecome stronger and more well rounded individuals. Love truly does begin at home. It is present deep within the core of our hearts. Just likea plant, we nurture it, cultivate it and watch it grow until it springs forth and takesroot within the hearts of those around us. Taking the time to see to our personal growthis like a gentle rain that nourishes the love within the garden of our hearts. In yourbusy week of seemingly never ending appointments and schedules, don’t forget to schedule alittle time to grow. You will find that it renews your spirit, revitalizes your energies,and makes the sun shine just a little bit brighter.. </PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=baseline><TD>
Love at Home Begins with You By Gerri Stephey Everyone has heard the story of the man who returned home from work one day to find totalmayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing inthe mud with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. He found aneven bigger mess in the house. A lamp knocked over, the TV blaring on a cartoon channeland the family room strewn with toys and clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink,breakfast food was spilled on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a brokenglass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. Hequickly went in search of his wife. He was sure that she lay gravely ill or even worse. Hefound her lounging in the bedroom, still curled in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel.She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered andasked, "What happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every day whenyou come home from work and ask me what in the world I did today?" "Yes," was hisincredulous reply? She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it." How many of us can identify with this story? We take our role of mother and homemaker veryseriously, and we seldom stray far from that task. But what of our own development? Don’twe owe it to ourselves and our families to become all that we can be? Are we on call 24hours a day without a break, or do we feel guilty when we do take a break? We wouldn’tdream of letting our children go hungry, or our homes go to ruin, but do we sacrifice thetime it takes to continue to develop as individuals? “Realize your personal self-worth”. How are we to realize our self worth if we don’t takethe time necessary to grow? We need to grow spiritually, socially, intellectually, andculturally. A well-rounded person is not necessarily the one who has dish pan hands. OurSavior recognized this as is noted in Luke 10:38-42. “Now it came to pass, as they went,that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him intoher house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard hisword. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dostthou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she helpme. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubledabout many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, whichshall not be taken away from her.” Mary was taking a break from the ordinary to enhanceher life. If we are to be helpmates to our husbands, examples to our children, daughtersand sisters who can contribute to the quality of life of those around us, we must see thatwe take the time and make the effort to improve our minds and our abilities. We also musthave some time for our own spiritual growth, our own hobbies and our own interests. Notonly does this release us from the pressures of daily living, but also it helps us tobecome stronger and more well rounded individuals. Love truly does begin at home. It is present deep within the core of our hearts. Just likea plant, we nurture it, cultivate it and watch it grow until it springs forth and takesroot within the hearts of those around us. Taking the time to see to our personal growthis like a gentle rain that nourishes the love within the garden of our hearts. In yourbusy week of seemingly never ending appointments and schedules, don’t forget to schedule alittle time to grow. You will find that it renews your spirit, revitalizes your energies,and makes the sun shine just a little bit brighter.. </PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>