Comfort Breeds Complacent People
July 18, 2010
Everything is always changing, nothing stays the same. I love going to my grandmother’s in Upstate New York, it is where I spent the most of my time growing up and many things there still ‘look’ the same, but things are different.
This old apple tree is a special landmark on Grandma’s farm.
As Jeff, Olivia, Emma and I walked the path back to *the apple tree* I told the girls about Joe, the pony Grandma had while I was a kid (and adult), how I’d ride him out there and he was so eager to get to the tree for the apples but he acted more like a stubborn mule when it came time to leave those apples.
I looked at this rugged tree trunk, twisted and decaying, amazed that it was still standing out there all by itself. This same tree that stood as my mother and her siblings grew up with that tree as a part of their everyday life.
Our home and the people that reside here are constantly changing, which is good; but there are days I wish we were a little more ‘mule-like’ and would just stand still as Joe the pony did under that tree, eating the fruit of it’s branches, in no hurry to go anywhere or do anything. But I know that it is the changes of seasons, the challenges of life that twist and shape us that make us fit to be used for God’s glory; because it is not about us, it’s about Him!!! At my life’s end I want to be like the apple tree. I want to be so used by anyone who comes along. I want to be one that people can count on to be a landmark of faithfulness.
Joshua (22), is in AR working, Olivia (19), is pouring all of her heart and soul into caring for Miss S, and for 3 weeks Emma (16), is serving a family with a bunch of little ones while the Dad is away. I am so thankful that our daughters see the importance of giving of themselves.
Although our daughters are able to come home on the weekends, it is just me and Jeff during the week; it feels so strange! Now don’t think for a moment that we are lonely, because we really enjoy each other and it’s as if we are on a honeymoon most days, but it just feels so strange.
One of our 2010 New Years prayers was that we would see and do some hard stuff, especially our children; comfort breeds complacent people. We’ve been considering some foreign mission opportunities, but right now God has called our daughters to serve the Body of Christ right here locally. They are both learning TONS! They are learning how to die to themselves and give for the sake of others. They are learning how to “give water to the least of these”.
Some of the stuff the girls are doing is really hard and I am so thankful! I can’t think of anything worse than wasting a summer indulging selfishness and encouraging laziness (we all have it in us). There are opportunities all around us, we just have to be willing; we need to be investing in things that are bigger than ourselves.
I am against government education for many reasons; one reason is because it is not realistic! Most adults don’t get 2-3 months off for a vacation every summer. I have seen so many teens just hanging out because it is “summer”; some may find a summer job, but most won’t. Most will veg out in front of the TV or pool side, it’s just not realistic!
Are you encouraging your kids to do the hard stuff? Are they giving of themselves to make someone else’s life better? Are they learning new skills or improving on what they know? Don’t allow them to waste their summer, to waste their youth!
I’d love to hear what your kids are doing, or what you are doing as a family, leave a comment! 
Topics: Diligence, Meeting the Needs of Others, Responsibility | 5 Comments »
Comments (5)
Hey there.:) I left you a message on facebook. This is exactly what I am trying to do but not sure how to do it.:) Thanks for the encouragement.:)
Sharon:)
Thanks Sharon,
Tomorrow I will post about some practical ways to carry this out.
Blessings,
Kathy
Agree!
When we moved from Southern CA to the pacific northwest we took almost 2 months off school to get organized, sell the old house, get up here and get settled in our rental. Our oldest just turned 5, but she was bound and determined to help, so we found ways to make that happen, even though it was not always helpful!
So now we are using July to finish off our preschool studies. (Yes, we did preschool, she was asking to learn to read and do numbers so that she could read the Bible and recipes). We will start Kindergarten in August so we can again take time off when we move again next spring into our own home.
But after the 30-45 minutes of school our oldest is learning jobs around the house and our youngest at 22 months is learning to put toys away and follow basic directions. Today they are helping me set up the sewing room.
Whoo Hoo! Could you include some ideas in your post for little girlies and little men too? We newer parents sometimes have trouble navigating what our children are capable of doing, how to still give them their childhood while teaching them to be hard workers, and what is appropriate at their ages by something other than the world’s current standards (i.e. only being required to make their own bed every day by age 10? Are you kidding me? Isn’t that setting the bar a bit low?)
I adore your site! Please continue sharing. I have six kids under 9 and we have had so much fun weeding the garden on Monday mornings. I try to have a couple fun stories in my head to tell them while we weed and harvest. They look forward to the work and we are together!
You are doing such an important work!