written by Sherri » Habits for a Happy Home

‘Tis the Season to Be…

Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for a Happy Wife, Habits for life, Heavenly Habits, Holiday Habits No Responses »

Dec 132012

…Jolly…Ready for fun…Busy…Crazy…Worn out…

Or ’tis it the season to be Blessed…Thankful…Loved…Cherished…?

With the holidays upon us, many of us face crazy days of shopping, maybe a little traveling to see family members, and more than likely church events, musicals and plays to fill our evenings. The month of December can be over and done with before you even have time to get your tree decorated and the wrapped gifts placed under it.

Many families struggle at this time of year because they don’t have the resources to provide their loved ones with presents under the tree or a buffet of seasonal foods. They may not be able to travel to visit family members far away or may be estranged from certain family members. This can be a tough time of year for those who have lost loved ones in recent days or years, as my family has.

For many years, the Holidays have been my most dreaded time of the year for a variety of reasons. But I have recently begun to feel change occurring in me. I’m actually looking forward to the year end happenings.

When we pause and remember the reason for the holidays, we open our hearts and minds to receive the best gift of all. Jesus came so that we would have life and have it abundantly. He is more precious than silver and gold so He is more of a gift than anything that is wrapped under the tree. The bread and wine/juice we partake of in communion is more delicious than any Holiday ham or turkey and more satisfying than Grandma’s apple pie or Aunt Mary’s chocolate cake and more thirst-quenching than the latest trendy hot tea. He is closer than a brother and time spent with Him makes even the best family gathering seem like a day spent in jail.

When you find yourself dreading the next day in this season because you’ve got too much to do to get ready for your next holiday event, remember the babe that was born in Bethlehem so long ago and how He gave His all to others while here on earth.

But don’t forget…even He needed a break every now and then. Even He slipped away from the crowd and had to say “No” to the demands of the people. He took time to rest and to pray. He kept His relationship with His Father first and foremost in His life.

Peace be to you during this holiday season. Keep things simple and remember that you don’t have to do it all and it doesn’t all have to be done.

Sherri Wilson Johnson is an Inspirational Romance novelist, a speaker, social media junkie, and a former homeschooling mom who loves to share God with others, while sharing her life experiences with them. She is a member of the ACFW and a graduate from the Christian Writers Guild writing course. She lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. She loves to dream of romantic places and romance in general–good, clean romance, that is. She is passionate about purity and sexual integrity. Sherri is the author of To Dance Once More (OakTara) and Song of the Meadowlark (OakTara). She is polishing her novels To Laugh Once More and After the Raging Storm. http://sherriwilsonjohnson.com/

Candles and Nativity photos: http://www.kaylajohnsonphotography.com/

Parenting Like the Eagles Do

Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for life 2 Responses »

Nov 062012

Eagles are fascinating birds. They are mentioned in the Bible over thirty times and can teach us a lot about family life. First of all, they mate for life with a bird of the opposite sex and they raise their young together as a couple.

They live to be approximately sixty years old and midway through their lives (probably when they are done with their child-raising) they go through a renewing process which gives them strength to make it through the rest of their lives.

While in the parenting phase of life, when an eagle believes her young are ready to leave the nest, she stirs the nest and basically pushes the babies out of it one at a time. She flies above the babies to show them how to fly.

As parents, we keep our kids in the nest until it’s time for them to fly. Their time will come…although some days it seems it never will. Each child is unique and his or her time may be at a different point in life than another child’s or a friend’s child. Some are ready to head off to college away from home at eighteen and others will thrive by staying home and attending a local college or working for a while and discovering his or her calling.

Letting go is hard but can be manageable as we gradually let our young test the “air” of life to see if readiness has arrived. Little bursts of flying help strengthen the wings but the safety of the nest is always nice to come back to if one has to.

I learned something the other day about eagles that fascinated me and that I found applicable to parenthood. If the baby eagle falls and doesn’t seem to know how to fly, the mother flies underneath it and catches it so that it doesn’t die!

Deuteronomy 32:10-12 says: …He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye,like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft…

Having just had my oldest child fly the nest (no, I did not push her out), I’ve felt a little like the mother eagle. My child is on her own but rarely a day goes by that I don’t talk to her or text with her about the things going on in her life. Sometimes she just needs to bounce an idea off of me. Other times she needs advice. Other times she needs help or just a good cry.

When I read this about the mother eagle, I saw myself. Swooping down. Letting my child fly on her own. Yet being there to catch her if she falls too hard.

I know I will do the same when my second child officially flies the nest. Until then, he tests the air and returns to the nest daily for reinforcement and encouragement.

And is this not exactly what our Lord Most High does for us? He parents us. Guides us. Teaches us. And sometimes when we are lagging behind a bit on the next step in life He pushes us out of the nest. But He is always there flying above us and with us to teach us what to do. If we stumble and begin to fall, He swoops down and lifts us up on His wings just like an eagle.

What comfort we can take in knowing that we have the ultimate example of a parent to guide us as we parent our own.

Photo credits:

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/963547

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1253660

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/615918

~ by Author Sherri Wilson Johnson

The Habit of Seeing People for What They Will Be and Not Necessarily for What They Are

Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for Happy Kids, Heavenly Habits 2 Responses »

Oct 182012

All throughout the Bible, there are people who—well, let’s just be honest—are rougher than a piece of sandpaper. They’ve got a lot of fixin’ up to do in their lives before they’ll ever be what God wants them to be. Have you noticed how God used them anyway? And have you noticed how by the time their story was finished, God had not only done a mighty work in their lives but had used them to do mighty things in the lives of others?

As a homeschool mom, I always tended to look too much into the future. I saw the potential in my kids and before they were ready to meet the challenges that would come with that potential, I was pushing them on to the next thing. In Elementary school, I was talking about Middle school. In Middle school, I was talking about High school and in High school, I was—well, you get the point. I was dreaming of the veterinarian or the lawyer or the rocket scientist or whatever my kids happened to be dreaming of at the time. Any little tidbit of information they gave me about what they wanted to be when they grew up or what subject they wanted to study and I was off to the library or researching on the Internet how to do it or become it.

And on the flip side of that, every little quirk or flaw either of my children had and I was on guard and ready to purge it from their lives. I had a cure, a solution, a punishment or a Band-aid that would mask or do away with that pesky little interruption to the game plan.

The problem with that way of thinking is that often times I missed out on the beauty of the “becoming” that was happening in my home, in my children, in my family. It takes time to grow plants and trees and it takes time to build character, conviction, passion, faith, and perseverance. Through that growth, there will be mistakes, flaws, teachable moments, embarrassment and pain. But out of those moments come humility, strength, wisdom, knowledge, and a calling.

Look at Joseph. He was his father’s favorite. He knew it, too. He strutted around with that coat of many colors and it angered his brothers. They were jealous of him and to be honest, they had a right to be. He was a victim of the jealousy that he caused when his brothers took him out into the desert and put him down into a well, sold him to travelers, and then lied to their father about his death. He was a slave and imprisoned. But through all of the pain, he learned much about himself and about God. He ended up in a powerful position and then had the opportunity to forgive his brothers and later care for his entire family and a nation. And instead of being jealous of him, his brothers respected him. The growth in him brought about growth in others. His full story can be found starting in Genesis 30.

Look at Esther. She was an ordinary gal who was chosen to be the new queen and wife of Xerxes. She had little confidence that she could be chosen as queen let alone do the job that was required of her—approach the king and ask him to save her people. But as God allowed her to gain favor in the house of the king, she learned much information about some pretty evil plotting that was going on behind the scenes and eventually she was able to not only save her people but to save the king, as well. Read the Book of Esther for her story.

The disciples all started out as simple fishermen and other ordinary men in society and Paul started out as Saul, a persecutor of the Jews. But they all became something useful to the Lord. They all were instrumental in leading others toward the right path. Even Judas, who betrayed Jesus and Peter, who denied Him—their stories guide us and teach us what happens when we don’t let God completely consume our lives. The New Testament is full of stories of these men.

There are many more stories in the Bible of people who started out as ordinary folks with seemingly little to offer but who allowed themselves to be used by God and who went on to be memorable world-changers. Ruth, Rahab, Daniel, David, Timothy…the list is endless. When we see people for who they will be and not just for who they are right now and when we pray for them, encourage them, and resist the urge to push them when they are not ready, we’ll be there to cheer them on when they reach their full potential and finally BECOME what it is God has called them to be.

Oak tree photo courtesy of Kayla Johnson. Copyright protected.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/927178

A Day in the Life of a Mediocre Housewife

Housekeeping Habits 7 Responses »

Aug 222012

I hear my friends talk about the joys of housekeeping, organizing their pantries, doling out chores to their kids, looking at the home with a regimented eye. I’m sorry, that’s just not me.

On a daily basis (or as needed), I do the household tasks but it doesn’t give me a sense of pride. Most of the time, I do them simply because they have to be done. I mean, I guess deep down I do them because I love my family. But that’s not really how I show my love for them.

Proverbs 31:27 says: She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. I’ve said it before. I’m not June Cleaver. But don’t get me wrong. I do keep a clean house. I do the dishes and the pots and pans. I wash the clothes. I clean, dust, organize, clean the bathrooms and vacuum. But I do it so I can move on to other things.

In the morning I grab the dirty clothes hamper out of the bathroom and go to the kitchen to turn on my coffee water. While waiting on it to boil, I go downstairs and start a load of laundry. I unload and load the dishwasher and then fix my coffee. I read my Bible and check my emails and start my writing tasks for the day. After lunch I put the clothes in the dryer and then get back to my writing or working my part-time bookkeeping job. Soon it’s time for dinner. Afterwards I wash the dishes and pots and pans and settle down for an evening with my hubby and son (if he’s home) and daughter (when she visits). The other biggie household things get done when company is coming or on a semi-annual or annual schedule.

I think it’s kind of easy to keep a house in order. Or maybe I’m just not doing it right. Perhaps I just have a small home. I certainly don’t have an army to help me keep it clean. Of course, I don’t have an army living here either to mess it up. There are no toys or other clutter or homeschool books stacking up around the place anymore.

The conclusion I have come to in my twenty-four years of marriage is that there are some things that are more important than a clean house. If I have the choice between visiting with my daughter or doing the dishes or folding clothes, you better bet I’m going to choose the visit. If my husband wants to watch a movie, I may fold clothes while doing it but I certainly will make time for him. If my son wants me to listen to his latest song he’s written, I’m going to put the tasks aside and do it.

They say “cleanliness is next to godliness” but I’m not so sure that’s true. However, having a clean and orderly environment for your family does honor the Lord. It’s part of being the Proverbs 31 woman. But when I feel guilty for not doing everything the way my friends do them or feel terrible because I don’t take joy in the menial tasks of housekeeping, I remind myself that “home is where the heart is” and it’s all about what you make it. It’s the love that flows throughout the walls of the house. It’s the feelings your kids get when you bake brownies. It’s the joy that occurs when you sit and watch a favorite show on TV together and laugh until you cry.

It’s the comfy feeling that takes over when everyone is in their beds at night and you close your eyes to thank the Lord for the day.

I am a mediocre housewife.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/734842

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1394979

Stepping Away From the Habit of the Internet

Habits for a Happy Dad, Habits for a Happy Husband, Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for a Happy Wife, Habits for life 5 Responses »

Jul 122012

During the first week of June, my husband and I went on our first vacation in four years and we went without the kids—except for Posey, the Chihuahua. We went to a remote place called Cedar Key, Florida, which has only 1,000 year-round residents. It’s a clamming and fishing town which makes half of its income on tourism.

One of the first things I asked the realtor was if the condo had Internet. I already knew I would not have phone service except texting because MetroPCS does not go all the way to the tip of this tiny place. Since my in-laws were going to be in New England on their 50^th anniversary trip, our daughter lives out on her own now, and our son was going to be away playing bass guitar for a youth camp, I wanted to make sure that we at least had Internet reception so someone could contact us in the event of an emergency. She assured us there was Internet.

We arrived at our secluded condo with the gorgeous view of Daughtry Bayou, a fisherman’s dream. We were just in time for the beautiful sunset, which Cedar Key is known for. After dinner, we went back to the condo and crashed. Having resisted the urge long enough, I turned on my laptop to check emails and Facebook—only to find that there was no Internet connection!

At first, I panicked. What if someone needed us? What if we needed to upload a photo of a giant fish Dan caught? What if, what if, what if?

We went to town the following morning and discovered that there were several places with WIFI. Even the library had free Internet. The lady at the visitor’s center told me she’d be closed the next day but I was welcome to sit on her porch and use the Internet.

As tempting as all of that was, there was a little voice inside me telling me it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I didn’t connect to the Internet for a week. I had a stack of books to read and a manuscript to edit and a husband to watch from the patio as he fished on our private pier. However, I still couldn’t help trying one more time to get connected. I tried different spots around the condo and finally discovered a network while sitting on the narrow front porch in the doorway with my laptop plugged up to the wall outlet beside the sink (my battery is dead). After an hour of trying to connect, I gave up.

By the next day, I didn’t even want to know what was going on in cyberspace. I was enjoying kicking back on the patio, watching Dan blow away in the wind, and trying to edit (it was hard to do because I kept staring at the ocean and drooling). Seriously, Dan lost his favorite hat because it was so windy that day.

I got very little accomplished that week—except for a lot of ice cream eating and resting. And watching dolphins and birds. And laughing and reconnecting with Dan. And letting my cares blow out to sea. Man, it was a great week that probably wouldn’t have happened if I had been able to stay connected. God forced allowed that to happen to bring my thoughts back into focus.

Now that I am home and glad to have my 1,300 emails and umpteen Facebook and Twitter notifications read, I’m going to make a new habit. A habit of breaking the habit of the Internet. I don’t know if I’ll completely refrain for an entire day but I have already begun to close the email and the webpage and focus on more productive things. I encourage you to try it too!

~Written by Sherri

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