"In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good work, and glorify your
Father in Heaven." MATTHEW 5:16
One of the things Aunty Dorothy had the great knack of doing was making people smile.
It was impossible to feel discouraged, afraid or angry when she was around. I guess that's why I miss her so much. She did this, many a time, when we were children, by teaching us little songs to sing. Remember this one:
"Let the sunshine in, face it with a grin
Smilers never lose and frowners never win.
So let the sunshine in, face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sunshine in."
Aunty Dorothy knew well where to find that sunshine. It came from having the Lord Jesus living in her heart. She showed me how to find it too. Yet there are so many adults and children who haven't found it yet, so it's up to us to show them how. How do we do this? Well, it starts with a smile!!
I THINK IF I.
I think if I were Nancy with lessons hard to learn
I'd do the very best I could, the highest marks to learn.
Not throw the hateful book away, and to my play things turn.
I think if I were Maisie with some winsome face and smile,
I wouldn't quarrel with my friends and be not speaking all the while.
I'd be the same to everyone and live up to my smile.
I think if I were Johnnie, playing a game of ball.
I'd drop the bat at once and run, should my Mum chance to call.
The boy who answers to His name is manliest of all.
I think if I were Billie with errands to be done,
I'd finish everyone of them, before the sun was down.
And be the little businessman and brighten work with fun.
I think if I were Betty with a tiny sister Sue
I'd take her for a walk with me, I'd pet her, wouldn't you.
I'd never say, she dragged along, as some big sisters do.
I think, just listen children, if I were a child today,
I'd scatter joy and happiness, and sunshine all the way.
I'd make the very best of life, at home, at school, at play.
Friday, May 8, 2009
CHANGE!!
`Change' is another one of those situations that can effect you positively, or negatively depending on how you face it.
I have had a lot of changes in my life, and most of the time, I have come out on top. In April 1964, my mother died of breast cancer; leaving my father to bring up 3 young children, under the age of 5. My older sister, Mary, was at school, and she wasn't to hard to handle. Miriam was a little baby, and everyone loves a cute baby, so she went to live with an Auntie. But what about a 2 1/2 year old `mischievious' little bundle of joy. Well, I went to live with my grandparents. I don't remember much about that time, except I am sure I must of missed my Dad.
The time line is vague, but I think I must have been about 4 years old when we finally came together as a family, with our first `Nanny'. We had a number of different Nanny's over the years. I guess three rambunctious young girls was difficult for them to handle, but Aunty Dorothy stood the test. When she left, I was about 6 years old, and I felt abandoned again.
At age 11, my Dad re-married, and I thought this was great. Being the child of a single parent, in those days was difficult. I remember, life at school was really tough. Unfortunately (well, it seemed so at the time), along with a mother, came four older sisters. As far as I was concerned, one big sister to `boss me around' was quite enough to handle.
But of course, she wasn't the wicked stepmother, and there were no wicked step-sisters. We were a family of 7 girls, 2 of which were already married. There wasn't a lot of attention, for a little 11 year old; but I got to have my first birthday party, and I learnt how to brush my hair and even wear a dress. (You need to see my previous school photos to see how important that was to a young girl
Guess which ones me? Guess which girls I wanted to be like?
I burnt the Year 4 photo - it was just too bad!!
A couple of years later, as I moved into my teen years, Mum and Dad decided we needed a boy in the family, so they fostered a 4 year old, Gavin. Gavin had a little disability - a curvature of the spine - though you would never had known. When he got a little older he had to have an operation and wear a brace; so a lot of time was spent with him at hospitals etc. You can also imagine the attention he got from 7 sisters. This was a great addition to the family, and to make things more exciting, we decided it was time to move house. Another change; but what I thought was a good one!!
Over the years, married to a soldier, I discovered how much I loved moving house - I enjoyed change, and coped with it quite well. It was not until the death of my first child, and I went into `therapy' that I discovered that these earlier changes had affected me a little more than I'd realized. I still held some bitterness for the times I had felt abandoned, and what they now call my `rejection syndrome'. It is something, that over the years I have continually struggled with.
I have had my bad days (or should I say months/years) and my good days, but thank the Lord, I have always had Him by my side. We can sometimes see change as a negative, but with God's help, we can find the positives, and find our way to VICTORY!!
THE SERENITY PRAYER
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change.
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Author Unknown
I have had a lot of changes in my life, and most of the time, I have come out on top. In April 1964, my mother died of breast cancer; leaving my father to bring up 3 young children, under the age of 5. My older sister, Mary, was at school, and she wasn't to hard to handle. Miriam was a little baby, and everyone loves a cute baby, so she went to live with an Auntie. But what about a 2 1/2 year old `mischievious' little bundle of joy. Well, I went to live with my grandparents. I don't remember much about that time, except I am sure I must of missed my Dad.
The time line is vague, but I think I must have been about 4 years old when we finally came together as a family, with our first `Nanny'. We had a number of different Nanny's over the years. I guess three rambunctious young girls was difficult for them to handle, but Aunty Dorothy stood the test. When she left, I was about 6 years old, and I felt abandoned again.
At age 11, my Dad re-married, and I thought this was great. Being the child of a single parent, in those days was difficult. I remember, life at school was really tough. Unfortunately (well, it seemed so at the time), along with a mother, came four older sisters. As far as I was concerned, one big sister to `boss me around' was quite enough to handle.
But of course, she wasn't the wicked stepmother, and there were no wicked step-sisters. We were a family of 7 girls, 2 of which were already married. There wasn't a lot of attention, for a little 11 year old; but I got to have my first birthday party, and I learnt how to brush my hair and even wear a dress. (You need to see my previous school photos to see how important that was to a young girl
Guess which ones me? Guess which girls I wanted to be like?
I burnt the Year 4 photo - it was just too bad!!
A couple of years later, as I moved into my teen years, Mum and Dad decided we needed a boy in the family, so they fostered a 4 year old, Gavin. Gavin had a little disability - a curvature of the spine - though you would never had known. When he got a little older he had to have an operation and wear a brace; so a lot of time was spent with him at hospitals etc. You can also imagine the attention he got from 7 sisters. This was a great addition to the family, and to make things more exciting, we decided it was time to move house. Another change; but what I thought was a good one!!
Over the years, married to a soldier, I discovered how much I loved moving house - I enjoyed change, and coped with it quite well. It was not until the death of my first child, and I went into `therapy' that I discovered that these earlier changes had affected me a little more than I'd realized. I still held some bitterness for the times I had felt abandoned, and what they now call my `rejection syndrome'. It is something, that over the years I have continually struggled with.
I have had my bad days (or should I say months/years) and my good days, but thank the Lord, I have always had Him by my side. We can sometimes see change as a negative, but with God's help, we can find the positives, and find our way to VICTORY!!
THE SERENITY PRAYER
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change.
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Author Unknown
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