Well, the Christmas season is officially over at our house. My Mom and Robbie spent all day yesterday packing-up the Christmas tree and taking down the lights and decorations!
I am always a little saddened to see the sparkly tree and beautiful decorations get packed away into a box until the next year... but I do look forward to seeing them all again next Christmas! I am sure the week after New Year's can be a little melancholy for some people. The hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. Visits with family and cherished loved ones have come to an end and loneliness can set in.
I have shared with you all before, how talented my mom is. Not only is my mom an artist who loves to paint with both watercolor and oil mediums, she is a fabulous decorator, seamstress, and overall master of the arts.
Something I might not have shared, is the fact that my mother is also an excellent writer. Years ago, my mom wrote a book. Her book is called, "At Least A Thousand".
I was only a child when she first started writing this book, and by the time I was out of high school she had finished the book. My mother now has a Copyright on her book and all of the stories in it.
One of my goals for the New Year, is to be more positive and encouraging as a wife, mother, daughter and friend.
We live in a world that has corruption, sadness, fear and negativity. As Christians, it could be easy for us to become saddened and discouraged by all the negativity in our world. We have a choice each day when we get out of bed to either focus on the negative or accentuate the positive... oh goodness, I feel myself about to burst into song.... you know the one, "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative."
Back to my story. It is my hope to spread a little positivism into your day or week or whenever you need a little pick-me-up.
I have asked my mom, and she is okay with me sharing some of the stories from her book throughout 2014.
My Mom's stories started out as a personal journal... much like my blog today. A way to express her thoughts, true-life and memorable experiences. Her original purpose in writing this book was to share and to teach my Bible study class of young impressionable girls; how to recognize God in All things!
To quote a passage from the introduction of my mom's book, "My stories may seem cathartic perhaps, but I sincerely pray that they will stimulate others to absorb God's messages and lessons from their own lives. Our lives are like pages that have stories written upon them. Through salvation, God will edit our lives for the next generation to read."
So please join me as we sit back and enjoy some of the stories from my mother's book,
"At Least A Thousand".
At Least A Thousand
By: Robin Sieverling
By: Robin Sieverling
(Copyright)
One particular night, I cold not sleep well. I kept my television on hoping it would bore me to sleep, and it did! I awakened at 2:15 a.m. and I heard a man's voice speaking on a talk show. This man claimed; for instance, that one person could affect at least a thousand people's lives. I could not believe the statistics! The ratio seemed impossible for a person like me! It seems possible for perhaps a professional person to affect the people he or she might be in contact with daily, because circumstances would demand the communication. After figuring it out, I realized that it is possible for an ordinary person to affect about one thousand, eight hundred and ten people in one year; for example: family, friends, neighbors, doctors, dentists, bankers, business associates, grocery store clerks, telephone solicitors, postmen, preachers, teachers, firemen, utility workers, and many more.
Consider the common strangers we meet each day, our eyes meet and our hearts may even feel kindred to theirs. For a passing instant, a smile or a frown can make all the difference in the world to a desperate person who may be in need of love or encouragement. Call it folklore, coincidence, fate, destiny, or God's perfect will. Whatever you attribute the transmission of "affect" to be, it all boils down to people interacting with each other.
When we inherit an heirloom we usually wear it, find a special place for it, or teach our children it's history so that it will be cherished and passed down for posterity. The manner in which we affect each other and the influences we leave behind, can be somewhat of an heirloom in style and legacy.
Most of us would like to think that our existence made the world a little bit better. I personally, need to contemplate over whom I have encouraged or discouraged with my actions or words. Reviewing can be a great exercise in learning to repent and refine, or to renew and rejoice.
When we inherit an heirloom we usually wear it, find a special place for it, or teach our children it's history so that it will be cherished and passed down for posterity. The manner in which we affect each other and the influences we leave behind, can be somewhat of an heirloom in style and legacy.
Most of us would like to think that our existence made the world a little bit better. I personally, need to contemplate over whom I have encouraged or discouraged with my actions or words. Reviewing can be a great exercise in learning to repent and refine, or to renew and rejoice.
There is something, magical about mid-life! I prefer looking at the positive side of hormonal changes, weight gain, unrequited dreams, gray-hair, a touch of arthritis, and my child's wonderful teenage years!
As I find myself growing older, I choose to see an evolved age of truth. The inhibitions are melting away as the years pass. I am learning to sift through, and to choose that which I think is truly important in my life. I have learned so far; that we must teach our children the wealth and rewards of: respect, honor, integrity, humility, and the consequences of their actions! We are all taught lessons through experiences.
As children, we learn through what is familiar. Our parents are the first planters, and they plant our seeds; both the negative and positive ones. If we teach love to our children, hopefully, they will in turn, teach love to their children. The seeds we choose to plant spread quickly! We must be careful what we plant, hoping that the winds of wisdom will scatter good seeds to be planted from one generation to the next; therefore, influencing hundreds of thousands of lives.
I give my stories freely to teach from what I have done, where I have been, and from what I have seen. I want the young people in my life to be well equipped for their challenges and discoveries.
I feel a kinship with King Solomon in regards to wanting young people to explore depth and purpose in their lives. I want them to realize how their existence affects the world. I want them to know that in the "eye" of all Tornadoes, God will show the true "I" of one's self and purpose.
God grants eternal righteousness to everyone who keeps His covenant. How we live not only affects our lives, but the lives of our children's children. From the Bible in the book of (Psalms 103:17-18). There are promises listed for all who obey God:
As children, we learn through what is familiar. Our parents are the first planters, and they plant our seeds; both the negative and positive ones. If we teach love to our children, hopefully, they will in turn, teach love to their children. The seeds we choose to plant spread quickly! We must be careful what we plant, hoping that the winds of wisdom will scatter good seeds to be planted from one generation to the next; therefore, influencing hundreds of thousands of lives.
I give my stories freely to teach from what I have done, where I have been, and from what I have seen. I want the young people in my life to be well equipped for their challenges and discoveries.
I feel a kinship with King Solomon in regards to wanting young people to explore depth and purpose in their lives. I want them to realize how their existence affects the world. I want them to know that in the "eye" of all Tornadoes, God will show the true "I" of one's self and purpose.
God grants eternal righteousness to everyone who keeps His covenant. How we live not only affects our lives, but the lives of our children's children. From the Bible in the book of (Psalms 103:17-18). There are promises listed for all who obey God:
"From everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him, His righteousness is with their children's children-with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts."
In one of his proverbs, King Solomon said, " I want to make the simple-minded wise! I want to warn young men about some problems they will face. I want those already wise, to become the wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth." (Proverbs 1:1-4)
We all have personal proverbs from life's experiences to share. Just like words of advice or spiritual food, if each of us would contribute just one morsel or nugget of wisdom to our children daily, imagine the strength and foundation of the collective wisdom this society could have!
I think our society needs to respect aging more. We want so badly to preserve youth, sometimes even empty youth. Personally, I find fulfillment in knowing my mind better as I age. My opinions and spirituality are much more magnified. My shoes feel better broken into at forty, than they did at twenty. I can't wait to discover what the future decades will bring.
I often think of Moses when I think of aging! He spent the first 40 years of his life learning who he should be. He spent the second forty years of his life learning who he really was, and he spent the last forty years of his life being who God created him to be.
Speaking of forty, both of my parents passed away before I became forty. Both of their deaths taught me who I really was. Sometimes we experiences a rebirth of sorts through familiarity with death.
I considered myself privileged to have been with my parents when each of them received the news that their illnesses were terminal. It was very interesting for me to observe the desires of the terminally ill. When most of us are healthy and thriving in this world, it seems that our minds are mostly on financial security, family, hobbies, recreation, future achievements, and sometimes on God.
On separate and private occasions, both of my parents asked me to arrange for them to visit with loved ones, friends and acquaintances. It was so important for my mother to say thank you and good-bye to certain people. Hence, came the inspiration of sharing stories about the significance of how people affect each other.
The inspiration for me writing this book is my precious daughter, Sarah Ann Sieverling. She is a teenager, and she will be twenty years old next year. Sarah has a much different world to contend with than I did, which is probably the same thing my own mother thought when she was rearing me. I honestly thought that life was just one big and happy, anticipatory adventure when I was Sarah's age. My daughter faces many more challenges, and she has a much more vast spectrum of issues to face in her life than I ever did. Life revolves at a relentless speed.
Sarah has dealt with issues and philosophies that I did not even know existed. How do our children deal with their realities? I feel a touch of sadness for the need to hurry childhood, and for the many pressures our society mantles onto our children's shoulders.
I offer my own child the Bible as her Beacon. When her days get dark, we sit and praise God for all that is good in this world. We soon find ourselves grateful and hopeful.
I wish to challenge anyone who may be interested in journeying through, and examining their own lives; for the purpose of remembering and accentuating the love they will find, to do it!
God's most important command is to love one another as He loves us. "All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end but love goes on forever."
( 1 Corinthians 13:8)
Whatever joys and burdens we are carrying for the various days, weeks, or years; just remember, God uses ALL things for His glory if we allow it. We are constantly affecting everything around us! What a privilege it can be!
As the man was saying on the late night television show, "You affect at least one thousand people a year." Most of us don't even realize our power or influence.
I invite you you to recall your blessings dear reader. Until you do, I'll share some of mine with you.
Recalling can be a healing elixir, an emotional cleanser, or a thank you note to God!
Teach your children!
"Publish His glorious acts throughout the earth.
Tell everyone about the amazing things He does."
Psalms 96:3
We all have personal proverbs from life's experiences to share. Just like words of advice or spiritual food, if each of us would contribute just one morsel or nugget of wisdom to our children daily, imagine the strength and foundation of the collective wisdom this society could have!
I think our society needs to respect aging more. We want so badly to preserve youth, sometimes even empty youth. Personally, I find fulfillment in knowing my mind better as I age. My opinions and spirituality are much more magnified. My shoes feel better broken into at forty, than they did at twenty. I can't wait to discover what the future decades will bring.
I often think of Moses when I think of aging! He spent the first 40 years of his life learning who he should be. He spent the second forty years of his life learning who he really was, and he spent the last forty years of his life being who God created him to be.
Speaking of forty, both of my parents passed away before I became forty. Both of their deaths taught me who I really was. Sometimes we experiences a rebirth of sorts through familiarity with death.
I considered myself privileged to have been with my parents when each of them received the news that their illnesses were terminal. It was very interesting for me to observe the desires of the terminally ill. When most of us are healthy and thriving in this world, it seems that our minds are mostly on financial security, family, hobbies, recreation, future achievements, and sometimes on God.
On separate and private occasions, both of my parents asked me to arrange for them to visit with loved ones, friends and acquaintances. It was so important for my mother to say thank you and good-bye to certain people. Hence, came the inspiration of sharing stories about the significance of how people affect each other.
The inspiration for me writing this book is my precious daughter, Sarah Ann Sieverling. She is a teenager, and she will be twenty years old next year. Sarah has a much different world to contend with than I did, which is probably the same thing my own mother thought when she was rearing me. I honestly thought that life was just one big and happy, anticipatory adventure when I was Sarah's age. My daughter faces many more challenges, and she has a much more vast spectrum of issues to face in her life than I ever did. Life revolves at a relentless speed.
Sarah has dealt with issues and philosophies that I did not even know existed. How do our children deal with their realities? I feel a touch of sadness for the need to hurry childhood, and for the many pressures our society mantles onto our children's shoulders.
I offer my own child the Bible as her Beacon. When her days get dark, we sit and praise God for all that is good in this world. We soon find ourselves grateful and hopeful.
I wish to challenge anyone who may be interested in journeying through, and examining their own lives; for the purpose of remembering and accentuating the love they will find, to do it!
God's most important command is to love one another as He loves us. "All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end but love goes on forever."
( 1 Corinthians 13:8)
Whatever joys and burdens we are carrying for the various days, weeks, or years; just remember, God uses ALL things for His glory if we allow it. We are constantly affecting everything around us! What a privilege it can be!
As the man was saying on the late night television show, "You affect at least one thousand people a year." Most of us don't even realize our power or influence.
I invite you you to recall your blessings dear reader. Until you do, I'll share some of mine with you.
Recalling can be a healing elixir, an emotional cleanser, or a thank you note to God!
Teach your children!
"Publish His glorious acts throughout the earth.
Tell everyone about the amazing things He does."
Psalms 96:3
We are one week into the new year friends. Let's make 2014 really count! Imagine the positive affect we could each have on one thousand people throughout the year. You never know who's life you might touch.
I will end today's post on a bit of a funny note. This morning, Robbie walked-up to me with his Jake and The Neverland Pirate sticker book. He proudly, and with much confidence marched-up to my tummy and kissed it. He said, "this sticker is for Joey and this one is for Jake." Ha! I guess my men like to brand their women. :) lol! Have a great day!!
Blessings,
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1 comment:
I really enjoyed the excerpt from your Mother's book. I hope you continue to share more with your readers. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful mother! I'm sure it has not been easy being on bed rest for your pregnancy and she seems like such a supportive Mom and Grandmother.
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