This is the week that we begin the countdown to our travel to Arkansas and Wisconsin. Not really a lot to prepare, as we leave the electricity on and just need to cook up everything in the refrigerator that could spoil, but a lot can stay until we return - freezers should be OK unless we have a have a power outage - plants are going to be watered ( not too many of them) important mail will be forwarded, otherwise junk mail can stay here!!! A bit of packing to do, last minute ends to tie up.
It was pretty chilly this morning as we went off to church - then met fellow chaplains for lunch in McAllen - wonderful meal of salmon and veggies. Then a trip to the pharmacy to pick up last minute prescriptions, and one last stop today for 50# of 1015 onions. The onions are staying outside to dry a bit and not smell up the house.
Pretty quiet here in the park as there are just a few Winter Texans left - some waiting for the doctor's OK to travel, some just waiting for the weather to warm up there in the North. We very seldom see a out of state license plate now - although we did see a Virginia one this morning - a rare one for this area. Only saw Hawaii once though. I remember when we used to travel with our folks as little kids - they always had a tough time keeping us entertained as we traveled from destination to destination. We played the incense game, the color game (I see something blue - what is it) the alphabet game, etc. Little did we realize that we were learning as we went along - and observing what we saw rather than fighting. Remember these words "You had better behave or I am going to smack you". And then trying to dodge the hand coming from the driver's seat trying to find us while concentrating on the road. Guess we did get a bit out of hand at times (no pun intended). But perhaps you all were little angels on trips, right????
Friday we are going to the colonias for the last time just before we leave - we were not going to go, but the ladies wanted to have sort of a party for us before we took off. It will be so relaxing knowing that Cy will have everything under control until we return in July. I would like to take a video on Friday, but am not sure how that will go. Brenda (the lady whose property the new building is on had her trailer moved to the back of the building so that it would be more convenient to distribute the food - the yard clean-up will take a while though I am afraid. The new building has given the folks there a sense of pride and we have noticed an effort to clean the yards a bit - hopefully it will give them a better sense of community and the desire to improve their area.
It is ironic that as we leave to visit family and friends that this morning's sermon revolved around family. Pastor Robert and his wife had taken a short mini-vacation, so Pastor Ricky delivered the message taken from I Corinthians 13:1-8a. Yep, the love chapter - geared to family. Family is truly gift from God, be it just spouses, children perhaps, siblings, and in some case parents. God developed the family for the building blocks of society. So many do not come from a traditional family group, or perhaps a very dysfunctional family. Families come in all shapes and sizes, all with one parent two parents, blended families, adopted families, surrogate families, etc. There are four practical principles that apply to families. #1 is an enduring commitment to your partner. Family is not a matter of chance but of choice. Families are built on promises - all of which are a part of the commitment and choice. #2 is mutual respect. Family is not about power and control. There is no pecking order in a family or certainly not supposed to be. Family unity depends upon how authority is used. #3 is good effective communication. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. Three things to remember - our communication depends on what we say, what we think we say, and what other think we say. Communication is listening carefully an clearly, We certainly cannot read other people's minds - so clearly speak what you mean, and clearly listen to what others have spoken Use the "I" statement - "I heard you say... .., yes, that's right, I am grumpy, yes, I feel upset, etc."
"Know this my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger". James 1:19. Remember this verse always. #4 is problem solving abilities Conflict has three levels: difference of opinion, which leads to a attack on the other person, which questions the relationship.
Never let problem solving go past the first stage - we all need to practice the ability to solve family problems. Amazing grace holds families together. A family is a fragile thing, handle it with care.
As I write this I thank God for my family - all of my family. Think of your family as a fragile pie of pottery and treat it with care, love and understanding.
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