Another Year Gone

As the last day of 2008 draws to a close, I am reminded that time passes whether I want it to or not. Small children get bigger, until one day they are a Man or Woman. What happened?

I enjoy the time with my kids. I wonder how long they will think I am cool, funny, worth spending time with. I am sure that their teenage years will pull us apart some, but I pray that they come back.

2008 was a fine year. My kids are at a great age. They can take care of themselves, for the most part, but still need me. I love them each more than I ever thought I could love someone. They are a piece of my, outside of my body. My heart with it's own little arms and legs.

I pray that 2009 will bring us more of what we need and a little of what we want. And I pray that my children still like me at the end of it.

You Choose Your Reaction

I had a heart to hear with Jonah this week. He has been having troubles at school that have been causing him to "have a terrible day". Sometimes, his reactions to what happens to him are inappropriate for the situation. At school, if he doesn't get time on the computer or if he misses an assignment and has to make it up, he becomes depressed. He views it as a horrible thing, and it takes him completely negative. The remainder of the day is shot.

I explained to him that he can not completely control what happens to him, but he chooses his reaction. Nobody can make him feel anything. He chooses it. This is something that took me a long time to understand. It is what victims do. They are not in control of their lives.

He says he understands, and I think he does. He has to choose to have a positive outlook. He has to choose to see the good and let the bad go. He has to choose to have the appropriate response in public. He can talk out his emotions at home. He does not have to fall apart in front of everyone. He chooses that.

It might sound harsh, but everyone has to live by this principle. We control what we can control. The only thing that we can control is our self and our reactions to life. Things happen, but our reaction is our own. We have to choose to be positive and let God handle what comes our way. We can't play the victim and be happy. It doesn't work that way.