Just Enough Stress

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="459c9973.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U><IMG SRC="040bf930.gif" border=0 width="191" height="147" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Glance at Reading Readiness"><U>A Glance at Reading Readiness</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Ba"><U>A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Bark</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasing Palette"><U>A Pleasing Palette</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Treasure So Fine!"><U>A Treasure So Fine!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion"><U>Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aunt Bettys BBQ Sauce"><U>Aunt Betty's BBQ Sauce</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back to School"><U>Back to School</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Beginnings of Habit"><U>The Beginnings of Habit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Being Poured Out"><U>Being Poured Out</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Broccoli Chicken Casserole"><U>Broccoli - Chicken Casserole</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Educ"><U>Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Education</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Choosing Curriculum for the new year"><U>Choosing Curriculum for the new year</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives"><U>The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dwelling in Safety"><U>Dwelling in Safety</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fall: The Season of Change"><U>Fall: The Season of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promise"><U>Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For the Love of Ginger"><U>For the Love of Ginger</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Covenant Journey Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Pure Vessel Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!"><U>Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure"><U>The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in t"><U>Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in the Lord</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have You Been Working Out?"><U>Have You Been Working Out?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="His Love"><U>His Love</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home Educators and their Books"><U>Home Educators and their Books</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling... 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Woodis</B></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Just Enough Stress</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hisimage.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hisimage.org"><U><IMG SRC="05193950.jpg" border=0 width="147" height="149" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Just Enough Stress</div> <div> By: Mary E. Woodis</div> <div> August 2003</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hello Dear Friends, </div> <bR> <div>      Praise God the rain has stopped, our log cabin has a roof and all the windows and the doors are installed! It has been a long time coming, but my Dear Friends, it looks so good! God has been faithful to sustain us through the little things and the big. He has taught us the value of a Godly perspective through our own experiences and the experiences of our dearest friends. Everywhere I have looked He seemed to have a new lesson for me on the value of a Godly perspective. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      He has also used something as mundane as routine to help us handle the stressful times. Our family Bible study time has been one activity that helped to keep us centered. Just the sound of Jessie's voice reading Scripture to our family has been a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. It was also a perfect "down time" to help the children get a little bit more balanced in their day. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      God has also used personal activities to minister to me during this time. Prayer and listening quietly for the voice of my Dear Lord has been huge for me this summer. I have seen God's beauty in a passing butterfly. I have smelled His closeness as the wind blew the fragrance of our mimosa tree my way. I have smelled His assurance in the aroma of our Eastern Red Cedar logs. I have witnessed His love in action as our church family ministered to us at the death of Jessie's Grandma McCormack. Oh yes, my Dear Friends, God has ministered to me this summer. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Another activity that has helped to feed my soul this summer is my daily Bible Study. Something as seemingly dry as the Westminster Shorter Catechism has turned into a fascinating study of my Dear Lord. The book that I used was very well written and the commentary and guided Scripture study worked in my heart through this powerful work. {I don't have the book with me right now (because of water damage in our basement, our computer and business have been moved to the home of my parents), but if your are interested I will be happy to give you the title and author's name.} I originally started this study to learn more about the doctrines of my faith, but it has turned into an incredibly interesting walk through my Dear Lord's word. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Lastly, I have found solace in my personal reading time. Never underestimate the power of a good book to minister to your heart and nourish you. Your mind must have something to grind just as your heart and soul must be fed. It is vital that a mother, especially a home educating mother, continue to pour nourishment into her heart and mind. She pours out so much on a daily basis that this can be an important tool in fighting burn out. It may seem odd that I would mention burnout so early in the school year, but my Dear Friends! These are the tools that will prevent you from ever reaching the point that you will need to look for an escape. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      My current book has been so encouraging and convicting! I am reading "For the Family's Sake ~ The Value of Home in Everyone's Life" by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. There is one passage from this book that I would like to share with you today. My purpose is to encourage you to pray daily for each one of your children. There may be days in the future where you feel that this is the only nice thing you have done for your child all day long. That's okay! Because this is the nicest thing that you can do. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Also, I include this passage to encourage you to read and study the works of these great authors, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay and Amy Carmichael. Mrs. Macaulay has written another book that is a must read for all home educating parents. It is entitled, "For the Children's Sake". </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      This poem that I will quote is from *Amy Carmichael's book "Gold Cord" (Ft. Washington, PA; Christian Literature Crusade, 1992), page. 75. It is found in Susan's book ("For the Family's Sake") on pages. 104-105. Miss Carmichael was a missionary to India. Dohnavur was the home that she established, originally for girls, to protect them from the evils that reside in their culture. Many of these children where rescued from becoming temple sacrifices and prostitutes. Later it was street children and orphans that Amy found. Then, as her reputation preceded her, the children were brought to her home. Let's look at this powerful poem that Amy penned. It is surely the heart-cry of a mother, though she never bore a child from her own body. </div> <div> (Amma was the children's name for Amy) </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      " Amma had the gift of writing, including poetry. Poetry often allows us to get close most intimately to the heart of another person. Never let it be said that only a biological mother or father can be a 'real mother' or a 'real father'! These words of a Dohnavur song portray the lifelong yearning parents everywhere have for their children: </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Father, hear us, we are praying,</I> </div> <div> <I>Hear the words our hearts are saying,</I> </div> <div> <I>We are praying for our children.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>Keep them from the powers of evil,</I> </div> <div> <I>From the secret, hidden peril.</I> </div> <div> <I>Father, hear us for our children.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>From the whirlpool that would suck them,</I> </div> <div> <I>From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them,</I> </div> <div> <I>Father, hear us for our children.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>From the worldling's hollow gladness,</I> </div> <div> <I>From the sting of faithless sadness,</I> </div> <div> <I>Father, Father, keep our children.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>Through life's troubled waters steer them,</I> </div> <div> <I>Through life's bitter battle cheer them,</I> </div> <div> <I>Father, Father, be thou near them.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>Read the language of our longing,</I> </div> <div> <I>Read the wordless pleadings thronging,</I> </div> <div> <I>Holy Father, for our children.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>And wherever they may bide,</I> </div> <div> <I>Lead them home at eventide."</I> </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Oh Dear Friends, I know your hearts must be as moved as my own. I can almost hear you crying Yes! Yes! in response to this beautiful piece of work. I challenge you, Dear Friends, to daily bring your children before the throne of God and leave them in His care. Parenting can be such heavy work if we do not let our Dear Lord bear the load. It is simply too difficult a job to expect anyone or couple to practice alone. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      So let me leave you with this thought: Though my summer was overwhelming at times it was the usual and the mundane that helped me keep going. I continually found God in the little things that we often overlook during normal times. Stress has a way of bringing life into sharper focus, and so it is often stress that brings God into sharper focus in our lives. May your life have just enough stress that God will become real to you! </div> <bR> <bR> <div> In Christ's name, </div> <div> Mary E. Woodis</div> <bR> <div> *All of the books listed in this article can be purchased via <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amazon.com"><U>www.amazon.com</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#crooked_pines_publishing___________home" TITLE="Just Enough Stress"><U><B>Back to the top</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>This page last updated July 2004</B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>