Continue On...

As mothers, grandmothers and even great-grandmothers we all have a job to do. Some have said, "A mothers work is never done", and I believe it.  A mother knows what it's like to get everything clean, turn around and it's dirty again.  They wash endless amounts of clothes, cook meals that are scarfed down in 5 minutes flat and fix boo boo's that are causing no small amounts of pain.  All of this done while trying to be current, cool and calm.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

It's not easy to raise a family. Mothers sacrifice,  skimp, and work hard day and night.  I believe there is no assignment here on earth that needs more skill and compassion than what God requires of  mothers. They are a referee, a psychologist, a theologian, and occasional swat team.  Sometimes they have to wait 45 minutes at the pediatrician's with cranky, leaky nose children only to be told, "It's probably a virus. Take them home and let them rest".

How interesting that most mothers get the job done, and they generally do it well.  God put something on the inside of mothers that allows for all this to happen and they continue on. I believe that's what God wants from us--to continue one. Even when the work gets interrupted. Even when we feel like failures in comparing ourselves to others. Continuing on means allowing God take our shortcomings and turn them around. It means not giving in or giving up. It reminds us that these children we have for a short while were placed with us for a specific reason--to teach them about God and His greatness.

Deuteronomy 4:9-10 says:

"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children, how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, "Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth and that they may teach their children so"  

In other words, do what God has commanded you to do and continue on. Teach them to fear the Lord and all His ways. Teach them that God has worked in their past and He has a plan for their future.

Someone once gave me what is called "A Parable for Mothers". As I read it then, it reminded me of mine and my sister's journey with our mother.

A Parable for Mothers

A young mother put her feet on the path of life and asked, "Is it long?".  Her 

Guide answered, "Yes, and it is hard and you will be old before you reach the end. 

But the last is better than the first."

But the young mother was happy and the sun was shining.  She could not believe any years could be better than these.  So she played with her children along the way and gathered flowers for them and cried, "Nothing can ever be lovelier than this."

Then came the night and the storms.  And the children cried with fear and cold. She gathered them close in her arms and spread her mantle about them and the children said, "We are not afraid Mother, nothing can ever harm us for you are with us."

And that night, the mother said,"This is better than the brightness of day,  for I have taught my children courage."

And the next day there was a steep hill before them.  The children grew weary, and the mother was weary too, but she called to them, " A little patience, and we will be there."

They kept climbing and at last were at the top.  

the children said, "We could never have done it, Mother, without you."

That night the mother looked at the stars and whispered, "This day is better than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardship.  Yesterday I taught them courage, but today I have given them strength."

And the next day there were great clouds covering the earth. Storms of war, hatred, suffering and privation came upon the mother and children, and upon mothers and children all about them.  

then the other gathered her family and said, "we must now rely completely upon God. Only our Lord and Savior will see us through.  

We pray for strength to help all the unfortunate and suffering about us."

They knelt and prayed. Then they put their arms about their aging mother and said, "

we will go. You stay.  You have taught us how to live in the strength of the Lord."

The mother sat alone at last. But not really alone.  She spoke to her Guide through all the years and said, "The last is better than the first for now they have You.  Your love is in their hearts. 

We have , at last, 

THE BEST.

Continue on, Mothers, Grandmothers and Great Grandmothers.  Continue on so God's name will be honored and glorified.  

Happy Mothers Day

Material Girl in a Material World: The True Daisy Buchannon

Starting today, I will have some guest writers on this blog. I am always interested in reading peoples idea's and the way they see things. This guest writer is close to my heart. He has always had a penchant for writing and I believe this proves it. With his gift of opening eyes to the hidden meaning, I expect to read much more of his work in the future.



Material Girl in a Material World:
The True Daisy Buchannon

     After finishing rereading the great Gatsby in anticipation of the movie coming out on May 10th, I've been constantly chasing the proverbial rabbit around in my head about the unique romance inspired through the eyes of Hollywood. When you watch the movie whether old or new you'll get the feeling that Gatsby and Daisy are tragic star-crossed lovers that through fate are not meant to end like the fairy tales of our youth, but more to the etiquette of a Greek tragedy. The question that has cost me several nights of sleep is simple, "Did Daisy really love Gatsby or the security in which he represented?".

     Some would argue back to when Gatsby was a lieutenant in Louisville, that Daisy was indeed in love with Gatsby so much that she waited for him and only when he wasn't coming home did she finally move on to eventually her husband Tom. But we know this to not be to entire truth. Gatsby tells us in chapter 8 that the only way he won her attention was after misrepresenting himself as a person from a well-off family and that he would be able to take care of her in the way she was accustomed. Once Daisy decided she couldn't wait any longer for Gatsby and the start of her adult life, out goes Jay and in come Tom.  Fast forward a couple years, multiple bottles of illegal Rye, and the probable fixed World Series and there's the new Jay Gatsby that's larger than life. 

     Over the years Jay Gatsby, who was of a higher moral value,  begins a downward spiral slowly crumbling his moral intuition to further pursue Daisy by going as far as participating and coordinating bootlegging of illegal alcohol and fixing the biggest sporting event of the era. After convincing Nick to invite Daisy to his house for tea, Gatsby swoops in and goes on the blinding tour of all the material things he's accumulated over time in hopes of prying her away from Tom. The enormous house, the clothes, cars, over abundant flowers, and let's not forget the unreal  parties of the summer that had New York's socialites'  mouths watering for more. All of this for Daisy's approval. When it seemed that Daisy was leaning toward leaving Tom for all the glitz and glamor of the Gatsby lifestyle, it's revealed that most, if not all of Gatsby's earnings have been less than honorable among society. With this in mind the longstanding security of Gatsby's revenue could be at risk due to legality issues later on in life and the presumption of leaving her husband in that time period, however justified it might be, was frowned upon. Even while knowing that Tom is stepping out on Daisy, she still chooses the safe and easy route of remaining with Tom, breaking the entire world that Jay Gatsby had dream would one day exist.

      In the end, she chooses the one who doesn't appreciate her, but gives her security over the one who would give the world his soul for one moment with her. It just goes to show you that in fairy tales, Cinderella may always get her prince, but in the real world JFK doesn't always get a Grace Kelly.

Jonathan Goodwin

A Request For Prayer

Thursday, May 2nd is the National Day of Prayer. On this day we gather together as Americans to pray for our leaders, our country and our people.  And we need to. Like never before.

Many of you know that our children, Clint and Jennifer have been in the process of adopting two children from Haiti. It has been a while since it all began and every day is getting longer. I realize that  God's timing is perfect. I know He has the perfect plan for Betchina and John and their "gotcha day".  I also know that God desires that we are faithful in our prayer life. 

So, on Thursday as we are praying for our country, I am asking family and friends, and maybe friends of friends, to pray. 

*Pray that Betchina and John will continue to grow and be healthy.  They have their wonderful Mrs.Sue who is seeing to all of their needs, both physically and emotionally. 

*Pray that the paperwork will get into the right hands, get signed, move along and anything else that is needed.  

*Pray that the Passports will come in a very short time.

*Pray that anything standing in the way of the adoption being processed will come to light and be able to be fixed.

*Pray that Noah, Ruthe, Isaiah and Moses' hearts are being prepared for their new sister and brother. 

*Pray that Betchina and John will settle in quickly to their new home when the time comes and realize that they have always belonged there. 

*Pray that Clint and Jennifer will have the wisdom to know what is needed and be able to show their great love for these children while they are still far away.

This is my prayer for my children:

"They are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to fear Your name, and give success to Your servant today..."  

Nehemiah 1:10-11

Please join us in praying. God is honored through our prayers. Pray for our country to seek God and His ways, not ours. I also ask you, humbly, to pray for these two children. They have stolen my heart and I wait in anticipation of the day they step foot in our great country.

Thank you for lifting this adoption process to our Father. Thank you for caring enough to take the time and consider these children and their family. I am praying blessings upon blessings on all those who join us in the time of prayer and petition.

On behalf of the Clifton family: Clint, Jennifer, Noah, Ruthe, Isaiah, Betchina, John and Moses-

God Bless You.


p.s.--when they get here I will have to do all the "Nan" things.  I can't wait!  :)