Proverbs 31 Magazine

[{'base': u'', 'type': 'text/html', 'value': u'by Tracie Miles

\u201cOur family is better than cable!\u201d my son exclaimed from the back seat of the car. He laughed hysterically and flopped around in his seat, which made me laugh too!

When my son made this assessment of the comedic value of our family, my three kids and I were riding in the car. We filled our entire trip with laughter, jokes, silly stories and funny faces.

As odd as it may sound, some of our most precious times together are in the car. There\u2019s something special about everyone trapped in that small space, and forced to touch each other. It seems we find ways to get along and spend quality time together. I love those pure, sweet family moments. At times like that, when life seems simple and carefree, my heart is full of happiness. Those are the times I am reminded how much of a blessing they are to me.

However, there also are \u201cthose times\u201d when I have to remind myself of the blessings as I face over-flowing to-do lists, schedules, laundry baskets and mood swings from all said persons living in the Miles household. Those are the times when I feel underappreciated, fatigued and frustrated.

You know what I\u2019m talking about - those days when you find yourself dreaming of escaping to a private island, with nothing more than an icy drink and a lounge chair. That\u2019s when I become acutely aware of my need for God\u2019s help to get through the day with love and patience, and keep my priorities intact.

Regardless of whether our family is having a wonderful or trying time, the most important thing is we are together. I believe time is the most precious gift we can ever give to our children.
Because we live in a society that thrives on busyness and over-commitment, it is harder than ever to make time for family. In fact, some families who love each other dearly spend very little time together, simply because they get occupied with working, doing good things or extra-curricular activities.

In other situations, families may be in the same house at the same time, but still not together. IPods, internet, television, email, Facebook, texting and cell phones are just a few of the distractions that keep us from focusing on meaningful togetherness.

Yet for some, family time seems like a distant memory. Life got busy, priorities shifted, children grew, and the pulls of daily life consumed most waking moments. The sad truth is the traditional American family is in crisis, and in turn, many families get caught up doing life for their families, and forget to do life with their families. Research has proven that dedicated family time, or the lack thereof, can make or break a family unit, and even something as simple as family meals in the evenings can have a huge impact on the security and happiness of a child or teenager.

Recently in my daily Bible reading, I came across Leviticus 23:10, where the Lord said to Moses, \u201c\u2026 Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, \u2018When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest\u2019\u201d (NASB).

God spoke to my heart as I read that verse, gently reminding me of the importance of giving Him our best in everything we do, including our faith, marriages and families.

So I began to ask myself regularly, Am I giving my first fruits to God every day? Often, I hesitantly answered with an honest \u201cno.\u201d I had to admit there were plenty of days when I got busy, distracted or frazzled and fell short of giving Him my best.

Then, I took that same principle and asked myself if I gave my best effort to my family every day. Again, my honest answer was \u201cno.\u201d Although I always intend to make them a priority in my life, admittedly, there have been times when I have put others needs above those of my own family. Sometimes I have given my sweetest attitude to people outside my family, while exhibiting a lack of patience and tolerance with my own husband and children. Other times I have been willing to go out of my way to help someone else, but felt resentful when I had to do the same for my husband or children. There have also been times when I was just too tired from a stressful day to sit down and play a not-so-quick game of Monopoly.

God calls us as Christians and as parents to prioritize both our faith and our families, and not give our leftover energy, love or time to either.

Life is busy, but time is something we can never get back. We need to seize the moments in every season of our lives, and focus on how often we are giving that sweet, priceless gift of our time, ensuring that our best is given to God and the people that matter most.

No matter how busy our lives may be, time devoted to our families, regardless of our children\u2019s ages, is time well spent. By spending time with them on a frequent basis, we are not only teaching them important life lessons about priorities, but we are giving a precious gift they cannot receive from anyone else.

And who knows, as you focus on spending more time together as a family, your kids might even begin to think that your family is better than cable too.

Tracie has been married to her husband Michael for 20 years and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tracie believes motherhood is her highest calling, and her greatest treasures are her three children, Morgan, Kaitlyn and Michael. Tracie is a speaker and author with Proverbs 31 Ministries, and shares God\u2019s love and promises to women\u2019s groups across the country, inspiring women and teens to be passionate about God\u2019s plans for their lives. You can learn more about Tracie and how to book her for an upcoming event at your church or organization at http://www.traciewmiles.com/.', 'language': None}]

[{'base': u'', 'type': 'text/html', 'value': u'by Rachel Olsen

There\u2019s a moment I dread when visiting the doctor for a check-up. It\u2019s not putting on that tissue paper sheath-dress they mistakenly call a \u201cgown.\u201d It\u2019s not having my finger pricked for blood tests \u2013 though I\u2019m really squeamish about that, and have been known to pass out.

It\u2019s the moment right after the nurse finishes her questions, grabs her clip board, and announces the doctor will be in to see me shortly. Pulling the door closed behind her, she leaves me alone with it.

I try to look away. I\u2019ll stare at the clear glass jars of cotton balls and tongue depressors. I\u2019ll flip through their six-month-old copy of \u201cBetter Homes & Gardens\u201d \u2013 but I can feel its presence looming in the room. Like it\u2019s staring at me.

I already know what it\u2019s going to say about me because I\u2019ve read it before. It\u2019s going to say I don\u2019t measure up. I\u2019m not reaching my potential. I don\u2019t equal my ideal. It\u2019s the height/weight chart that defines the perfect weight for your height and gender.

It extends no mercy. It offers no grace. It makes no allowances for how old I am, how many babies I\u2019ve birthed, or the fact that my husband can eat three plates of food every night \u2013 plus dessert \u2013 without gaining a pound. It demands perfection from my 5\u20192\u201d self.

A few years ago I heard someone quote a verse that seemed to be the scriptural equivalent of the height/weight chart. It was a single verse with which to measure my worth and fuel my expectations for perfection. It was Mathew 5:48: \u201cBut you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.\u201d

I figured this verse justified me dressing my family in matching sweaters, in the middle of July, to take the Christmas card photo because I\u2019d just gotten the perfect haircut. I figured it warranted pricey tooth whitening treatments because I drink coffee and tea, and it shows. And I figured it would be my defense when I drove my family nuts about deep-cleaning the entire house because my new friend said she might stop by.

While the verse came in handy when I needed to justify my quest for perfect teeth, perfect photos or a perfectly clean house, it added to my disappointment, guilt and occasional loathing when my life, body or family didn\u2019t match the ideal notions in my head.

In the years since first hearing that verse, I developed a core conviction that goes like this: If God created life, He alone gets to define it. That conviction drove me to discover what Jesus meant by \u201cbe perfect.\u201d

When Matthew wrote this verse, he used a word that translates into English as \u201cperfect.\u201d But the ancient Greek word means something a little different than Mr. Webster\u2019s definition. The Greek word is teleos, meaning \u201ccomplete, full grown, developing.\u201d

The first two pieces of that definition indicate something already accomplished, while the third indicates an ongoing process. So somehow, this perfection Jesus prescribes for us is both already complete and yet still developing. Complete in Him; still at work in us. So we\u2019re allowed to be a work-in-progress.

All parts of this definition, however, refer to maturity of character, rather than a flawless figure, immaculate home or faultless execution of a job. Jesus urges us to bear His perfect image of love.

Truth is, Jesus doesn\u2019t care quite so much if there is dust on our mantle, a stain on our teeth or a scratch on our car. He\u2019s not worried if our children\u2019s clothes don\u2019t match, their toys aren\u2019t organized or even if they get a \u201cC\u201d in calculus.

He is, however, interested in our spiritual maturity. Too often, God\u2019s priorities and ours differ.

Jesus teaches that I will not find my worth in my ability to reach my perfect weight or accomplish my to-do list flawlessly, but in the fact that I am a child of God learning to give and receive love. I can weigh my worth on scales of grace.

That\u2019s good news for a recovering perfectionist. As John writes in 1 John 3:18-19: \u201cMy dear children, let\u2019s not just talk about love; let\u2019s practice real love. This is the only way we\u2019ll know we\u2019re living truly, living in God\u2019s reality. It\u2019s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it\u201d (The Message).

Adapted from the chapter \u201cAdjust Your Scale: Revealing the Secret to Perfection in God\u2019s Eyes\u201d in Rachel\u2019s new book \u201cIt\'s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know.\u201d Proverbs 31 Ministries is pleased to offer Rachel\u2019s book for sale in this issue. Visit with Rachel online at her blog at www.RachelOlsen.com.', 'language': None}]