|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Lilly Pond |
|
October
26, 2002 |
|
Greetings and thanks for subscribing to TheLillyPond.com ezine! I'm Lillian Hinds and this ezine is dedicated to all mothers, daughters and the other important women in their families. Because we respect your privacy and value your subscription, we don't share your email address with anyone. If you'd like to be removed from our mailing list, please see instructions at the end of this ezine. ================================= Volume 2 Issue 18: In the Pond This Week ================================= 1. Note to My Readers: Pond Talk 2. SPOMKS at Halloween 3. A Kodak Moment 4. The Commercial 5. Share The Lilly Pond 6. Contact Me ================================= 1. Note to My Readers: Pond Talk ================================= Dear Lilly Ponder: Halloween is already upon us and this year is racing to a close. There never seems to be quite enough time to get everything done. This reminds me of the little poem: Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last. Perhaps the ezine will provide you a little respite from your hectic pace. The story and article this week are about understanding what's really important. My mother seemed to always have her priorities straight. The story about "SPOMKS at Halloween" gives a good example. When missionaries and their families came home from their work, the missionary himself would get lots of attention. Mother looked for the wife and kids and made sure their needs were met as well. Nothing profound. Just basic kindness and attention that was badly needed and, to her, the highest priority. In "A Kodak Moment," I'll share a moment of anger that almost overwhelmed me and pray that it might be a blessing to you. Please note the "commercial" at the end of this ezine. Some special things are happening and you will want to be a part. Thank taking time out of your busy schedule to make reading The Lilly Pond a priority. ;) With all my heart, Lillian ================================= 2. SPOMKS at Halloween ================================= For most of my life, Dad was the pastor of a church, usually in Texas. However, for about ten years he was the Director of Missions for a group of churches headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. Missionaries for these churches would come home on furlough, check in with the home office, and prepare for the next trip overseas. They usually left their children in Springfield to attend school. Missionary kids of any denomination endure so much pressure. Even more than that imposed on preacher's kids. Many people expect them to be holier, more spiritual and of course, to be preparing to be missionaries because they are, after all, missionary's kids. But in fact, they were just regular kids, sometimes continents or oceans away from their families. And my mother worried about them. A lot. So she decided to take action. She started a social group for them called SPOMKs. The Society for the Preservation of Missionary Kids. The "kids" ranged in age from teenagers to young adults. They loved our "club" and the monthly parties. 30 to 40 people would show up at our home. They could come in from the pressure, be themselves and just have fun as kids, knowing that everyone there understood what they were going through. They could also observe and practice American culture. Whatever we did, they participated. There was no shyness or hanging back. At one of Mother's famous Halloween parties, a young man bragged that nobody could ever trick him. So of course Mother seized the challenge because she was the consummate trickster. The highlight of the game-packed evening was a contest to see who could eat their caramel apple the fastest. This young man was so determined to win that he was halfway through his "apple" before he realized it was an onion. He looked at the other contestants and said, "Those dummies are eating onions!" before realizing that he had given himself away as the only one eating an onion. Perhaps for the first time ever, he had been tricked. When he looked at Mother, she gave him her totally innocent look. And then he grinned real big. He fell in love with my mother that day, as others had before him. Mother always looked behind the preacher or missionary and found the family that was waiting in the wings. She seemed to know that they also needed attention; to know that they were special and important, too. And she often went out of her way to befriend those that others might not even notice. Matthew 10:42 - "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." From "Always Wear Clean Underwear" By Lillian Hinds ================================= 3. A Kodak Moment ================================= It was my daughter's high school graduation ceremony. The day was hot and sunny (after all, it was the end of May in Texas!) and we all trooped out to the football stadium, prepared to sit through the long commencement exercise. Like all the other parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, we were going to sit on bleachers for 90 minutes in order to see the 15 seconds when our offspring would walk across the platform. The High School Principal was careful to announce that the program had been timed and as a courtesy to other parents and friends, we should all remain in our seats until the end. Our last name starts with "H" so we had some time to wait. (My maiden name begins with "B" and I was used to being closer to the front of the line!) Finally the moment came. My husband was ready with the camera and I saw my daughter start toward the platform steps. She handed her card to the teacher at the microphone and... Out of the corner of my left eye, I saw something move. On the row in front of us, a rather large man and his wife were standing up and preparing to leave. They were going to pass right in front of me and my family. I put my hand out and asked them to please wait. They ignored me and continued walking. I stood up in hopes of still getting a glimpse of my daughter walking across the platform. It was not to be. Just as she walked across the stage and shook hands with the President of the School Board, this rude couple walked in front of me. I missed it. The culmination of eighteen years of raising this child. The climax of twelve years of education. One of THE most important moments in my child's life. And I missed it. I felt like a balloon with all of the air let out of it. I thought I might be sick and I couldn't take a deep breath. A once-in-a-lifetime moment and I had missed it. Completely. Totally. No instant replays. No overs. No nothing. I could hardly sit at the stadium. There have been few occasions in my life when I have been more frustrated or angry. My first impulse was to follow that man and say something really hateful and sarcastic. And believe me, anything I said then would have been awful. We met our daughter and her friends after the ceremony and took pictures of them in their caps and gowns, and made plans for our family to meet at our home later that day for supper. But I just had to get away. So I went to the grocery store to buy a few more items for our celebration meal. As I started down the aisles of the grocery store, I felt like there was an iron fist clutching at my heart. I kept repeating two thoughts over and over in my mind: I had missed my daughter's graduation. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. As I headed toward the cashier, I looked down at my basket. I'd made a complete trip through the grocery store and only picked up a couple of items. I realized that I had not been paying attention to my shopping and was going to have to repeat some aisles to complete my task. As I went back through the aisles, I began to sense that I was in the middle of a spiritual challenge. A battle was going on in my soul. I knew I wanted God to have the victory over that day, but the anger continued to boil up. But more and more, I felt determined that I was not going to take this horrible attitude home to my excited daughter and my rejoicing family. I began just walking up and down the aisles of that grocery store and asking God to help me have clear thoughts, to help me deal with my heartache and to replace it with His joy. The most amazing thing happened. God answered my prayers. I am not sure exactly how or what exactly happened. But He defeated Satan for me and pushed aside Satan's attempt to occupy my mind and steal my joy. God helped me refocus on Himself, on His Word and on what was truly important. Philippians 4:8 - Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. As I walked up and down those aisles, God reminded me that I could choose what I let my mind dwell on. I could choose to dwell on my bitterness and disappointment. Or I could choose to find a blessing to fix my mind on. In fact, I found several blessings:
These things were more lasting and more important than the momentary disappointment I'd experienced. The burden lifted from my heart and God gave me the peace that passes understanding. After about 4 trips around that store, I finally finished my shopping and went home. |
|
|
|
Special Article |
|
Order
Lillian's Book: |
|
Previous
Feature Series: |
|
What is YOUR bathroom doing for International Relief efforts? |
