THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

April 14, 2021

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

When I was a little girl there was a song I learned that said, "Oh be careful little mouth (or tongue) what you say......For the Father up above is looking down in love...." Other verses were, "Oh be careful little hands what you do...."; "Oh be careful little feet where you go....."; "Oh be careful little ears what you hear"; and "Oh be careful little eyes what you see...".

The past few weeks of babysitting a 2 and 3 year old makes me aware that this is not only a song for kids, but adults need to pay heed to the words of that song, also.

Over and over again I see and hear these little ones repeat what I say or do. They pick up on so many things and are so impressionable. If I'm not careful with my words and actions, then what they mimic are not going to be beneficial and good.

Recently, Malcolm (age 3) has started shushing me when I tell him to stop doing something or get onto him. I mentioned it to his mom and she said that every day when she tells him something, he shushes her. She thought, "Loretta must be telling him to shush." Honestly, I hadn't put it together until then that he had picked it up from me! During nap time, I will often go up and lay with them until they fall asleep. They are now out of their cribs and have "big kid" beds that they can get out of easily; which they often do. After I finally get them settled, if one of them starts playing or talking or kicking the wall or fighting their sleep and crying, I will go, "Shh... shh... shh." He has picked that up! When me or his mom are telling him to do something that he doesn't want to do, then he will try to shush us.

Mariah (age 2) is talking a lot and putting sentences together very well now. Many times when I am getting onto Malcolm or Owen (age 8 -- whom I have before and after school), I will hear her start repeating what I'm saying. For instance, they may be running in the house and hollering and I'll say, "Malcolm (or Owen), I need you to stop running and not yell!" I will hear this little girl voice then said, "Malcolm (or Owen), you need to stop running and not yell!"

A few days ago, I was playing with them and showed Malcolm how to wink. He watched me, then started trying to mimic me. I told him, one eye open and one eye closed; and he started doing it right.

Over and over again I hear and see them repeating things that they hear and see me say or do. It's made me aware that I need to be cautious of what I say, how I say it and my tone of voice, as well as what they see me do and how I treat them.

I've also noticed that my attitude and how I feel can affect them. When they're being naughty, if I get stressed and start raising my voice, it soon causes them to become stressed. If Mariah is fighting her sleep and throwing a fit by crying and hollering, me becoming upset with her doesn't calm her down. If I can manage to keep a sense of peace and stay calm, then she tends to calm down faster and easier.

This is not just something that we need to put into practice with children, but with anyone of any age that we are around.

Have you ever been with a group that is complaining and being negative? After a while, it's easy to take on that same attitude and join in. Even being around an individual who is stressed or griping or finding fault can have an impact on us. It becomes easy to join in.

Several years ago when I was a supervisor at my job, I noticed that my bookkeeping department and drive-thru tellers had become extremely negative. My office adjoined the bookkeeping department, with a huge open doorway, so I could hear everything that was being said. Day after day, they would complain and find fault and were so very negative. I finally had had enough! I told them that if they didn't have something good and positive to say, then don't say anything at all. I pointed out to them how negative and critical they had become, and it had become a habit with them; and I was tired of listening to it. So I put forth an incentive to them: There was a particular dessert that I made that they all really liked. I told them if they could make it one week without saying anything negative or critical, then I would make that dessert for them. I pointed out that they needed to stop and think before saying anything, because if I heard anything at all that was negative, then no dessert. I remember them telling, "Fine! But then we won't have anything to say and won't be talking!" I thought, "Fine!"

They all worked really hard and for an entire week not one single negative, critical word passed through their mouths; at least not within my hearing. One of the ladies came back after a few days and told me, "I didn't realize how negative I'd become until I had to stop and think about what I was going to say, before saying it." She thanked me. They got their dessert, and I made and incentive for them to go a second week. After a couple days, the entire bank had heard about the deal that I'd made with my bookkeepers and tellers, and they wanted in on it.

After a short time, everyone was laughing and having fun and enjoying themselves. Stopping the negativity changed their attitudes and made it a much more pleasant work atmosphere.

When my sisters and I are together, I've noticed several times that we all tend to stand with our hands on our hips. Several years ago, someone took a picture of us standing in a group and talking to one another, and we all were standing just alike. I think perhaps that our mama stood with her hands on her hips; and we all picked up that same mannerism. We tend to copy and pick up on things that those closest to us do or say.

There have been time when Jon will say things and I'll think or say, "You sound just like Stan Gray (his dad)!" Jon has a lot of the same hand movements and expressions that his dad had.

I've seen pictures of various families, and often the sons will be standing just like their dad; regardless of their age. Many times, if the dad tends to stand with both hands or just one hand in his pocket(s), his sons will be doing the exact same thing.

In Colossians 4:6, Paul writes these words: "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer everyone."

Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it."

Have you ever thought that you absolutely did not like a certain food? Then you eat it at someone's home, not wanting to hurt their feelings by not trying it, and find out that you really do like it. Generally, it's because of how it is seasoned and cooked. I used to think I hated spinach. That's not something we had at home, that I can remember, but occasionally at school had it as a veggie. All I'd ever tasted with the canned spinach with the strong vinegar flavor. I didn't like it! As an adult I've discovered fresh spinach leaves are good in salads. I've also found that I really like creamed spinach, and spinach dip. It's all about the seasonings!

That's like our speech and the impact that it can have on others; whether positive or negative. If it's seasoned right and filled with the grace and love of Jesus, then it will build others up and will give grace to the listener. If it's seasoned with bitterness or negativity or criticism or filled with complaints, then it will cause others to feel uptight and uncomfortable when around us.

I remember as a young girl walking to my grandma's house and she had someone who had stopped by to visit. That particular person sat there and every word that came out of their mouth was so negative and critical and harsh. I left after a short time. When I got home, I told my parents about it and told them, "I don't ever want to go down there again when that person is there, because all they did was complain and I didn't like it." It made me feel uncomfortable and even as a child I knew that it sapped joy and make me feel stressed.

Let's be careful what we say and how we act. Let's not be the individuals that people dread when they see us coming; but let's speak words that are well seasoned. Let's allow the love of Jesus to shine through everything we say and do! When we are in a situation that is negative or stressful, let's not join in in order to try and fit in; but let's be atmosphere changers. We can do that by not getting pulled into griping and complaining, but by speaking with joy and love and seeing the best in situations.

How do we do that? By following what Philippians 4:8 says: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable -- if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise -- dwell (or think) on these things." Fill our minds so full of these kind of thoughts, that there is no room for negativity or complaint!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

This might sound shocking, but God loves us all. And by 'all', I mean everyone. Even that person everyone in the office is talking about, and the one they all think is horrible. God loves that person, and would like them to repent and be saved. It is His will that none would perish.

The next time you hear people talking about how horrible someone is, please try to consider this. No matter how bad people may think they are, God still wants them to be saved.

Maybe they are talking about politicians or some other group instead of one person. But God also wants each of that group to worship Him. They can be saved. And they should be saved. There is hope.

ON THE MENEWE:

Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Chops

In a small bowl combine the brown sugar and all the spices; mix well.

Rub the sugar/spice mixture on both sides of the pork chops and set them aside.

Next heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is nice and hot, place the pork chops in the pan and cook for about 4 minutes on each side until they are cooked all the way through.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

When my nephew, Jared, was small he really enjoyed eating sweets. Several years ago, while visiting his Aunt Joyce, he found that she had a box of fudge ice cream bars in her freezer. After he left to go back home, Joyce found ice cream sticks in one of the bedroom closets. While Jared, his parents and siblings were visiting, he had snuck several of the fudge bars into the bedroom and eaten them, then hid the empty sticks in the closet.

Another time when they were at Joyce's house, she found empty tootsie roll wrappers behind the couch after he left. Jared was once again the culprit!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Ordinary work, which is what most of us do, most of the time,

is ordained by God every bit as much as is the extraordinary. - Elisabeth Elliot

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org