Y & Z are for Missions...? {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Y and Z are for missions... Think "Yiddish" and "Zimbabwe" {or any other words with those letters that bring to mind stepping out of one's comfort zone to bring the Gospel to others; those are all I could come up with!}

October 9-12, 2014, there was a Missions Conference at our church {Mayfield Village Baptist Church}, when we had two speakers from deaf ministry. Admittedly, they don't speak Yiddish {that I am aware} and are not missionaries to Zimbabwe, but they definitely stepped out to bring the Gospel to all the world. 

It was a great conference. I wish more people had of attended. Can you imagine the first words a deaf person hearing to be "Depart from me, I never knew you..."? How heartbreaking! 

Jim Bracelin was quite the funny guy- he talked about Jesus providing tuna sandwiches to feed the 5000. And there was something about grilled cheese, too {when directed to give bread and cheese...and it's hot in the Middle East! get it: grilled cheese... Eh, anyway *wink*}. He was made aware of the need for ministry to the deaf back in 1978*, I think, by Mr. Camp {of Silent Word Ministries}. Before that, he hadn't thought about the deaf. The Bracelins have been in this ministry since 1980.  *I might be getting the Schwalbes mixed up here.

Daniel Schwalbe, born and raised in India until he was 12, has a father who became deaf at two years old; and his father didn't even know sign language until he was much older {if I have my facts right}. Daniel didn't learn it that well until he was in his 20s. He met Hannah at Pensacola, and after they were married, they went to India to be missionaries to the deaf. Hannah didn't even know sign language before going!

At the conference were also Mary Amesbury, of Campus Ministry in Cleveland, OH, and Brian and Diana Starre, of HEART Ministry out of Broadview Heights Baptist Church in Ohio. They talked about the praises and prayer requests for their missions. I don't have a link for Mary's ministry but the Starre's can be found at HEART Ministry.

We had something called a Faith Promise challenge- if challenge is the right word- presented during the conference. We were to prayerfully considered what God would have us give to missions, and make a promise to do just that. On a slip of paper those who accepted the 'challenge' wrote down the amount they pledged to give for the year, October 2014- October 2015. No names were put on the papers; just the amount and when it was going to be given. The 'when' was so that the church could make a budget for missions giving based on the promised amounts. Previously our church had a 'budget' of about $9000. After the Faith Promise, that has risen to almost $24,000! 

Brother Bracelin said there are three types of missionaries: Go, Co-, and Oh... The first is obvious: They go and are active in the missionary field. The second may not be in a position to go but they want to be a part of it. They pray, first and foremost. Many also give monetarily or in other ways to help. The third is "Oh, I've given my set amount for the time I feel is good...I don't need to do anything else." And it's out of their minds until the next time to give comes around. 

We can't all go. But we can all pray, and many can give. Too many just are "Oh..." 'missionaries'. 

It was a really good conference that touched many hearts for missions. Perhaps you have considered going into missions? There is never a better time. 

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. ~Matthew 9:37-38

This is my last entry in the Blogging through the Alphabet. I think it may be a week early but it is what it is. See other 'y' and 'z' entries by searching 'abcblogging'. 

V, W, & X are things in nature {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Venus' Slipper, Wolves, Xenia

Running way behind in the Blogging through the Alphabet. I choose a theme of sorts this times, since I put them all together. The theme is "found in nature."

Venus Slipper (Paphiopedilum appletonianum)

Attribution: www.larsen-twins.dk

The Venus Slipper is an orchid found in Cambodia, China Southeast, Hainan, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam. There are roughly 200 different species of orchids in North America (not the Venus Slipper). 

Wolves (Canus lupus signatus)

By Juan José González Vega (handed over by the author to the Project) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Iberian wolf in Spain. Many taxonomists do not recognize the species. The wolves have a vulnerable rating and are rarely sighted in the wild. 

Xenia coral

"Xenia coral" by Original uploader was Dawson at en.wikipedia - Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here.. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xenia_coral.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Xenia_coral.jpg

The coral pulse their "fingers" to move water. They feed themselves via photosynthesis.  According to a supplier of aquarium fish and such, they have been known to live 5-10 years in the wild.

That is the V, W, & X entry for Blogging through the Alphabet. 

U is for Unrealistic {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Unrealistic

~not realistic (*wink*); not sensible or appropriate; not able to see things as they really are

A kindergarten will read War and Peace within the first week of the school year.

One individual, with no weapon, can take down an entire Army squadron.

Standardized tests can definitely determine the educational well-being of the nation's schools. 

Those are ones that came to me when this post was started. I asked on Facebook what others thought of 'unrealistic'. Here are their answers:

• Physically/technically possible but very unlikely.
• Not based on facts. Not researched.
• Not real. Trying to think when I have said it or heard it, it is usually paired to goals. As a caution. Making goals or plans that can be achieved, even far fetched, challenging or on the edge, but not unrealistic. (not sure if that's supposed to say "realistic" on the end there...)
• The thought I might ever run a marathon.
• My to-do / responsibilities list.
• Doing the same thing over and over again the same way and expecting a different result when it didn't work the first time.
• Cleaning out my office while actually typing on Facebook.
• Naïve hopes and dreams. Like cleaning and organizing all the nooks and crannies in my house.
• Closing my eyes and opening them to find my to do list is accomplished?
• A world where no one makes assumptions.
• Our expectations of ourselves and others.
• When you shouldn't keep on hoping for change and yet you still do.

And my two favorite FB replies:

• A rested mama.
• Dinosaurs living in the present time.

That's the "U is for..." entry in the Blogging through the Alphabet, curtesy of my Facebook friends :D Check out Ben and Me for more U entries or search abcblogging. 

T is for Technology {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Technology

~knowledge used to create tools, including machinery, and modifications, arrangements and procedures used by humans.

Gutenberg's press was technology. The printed word is technology. The screen that these words come to you through is technology. Language is technology. A pencil is technology.

It's amazing to think of all the different kinds of technology that humans have access. Many if not most people take these for granted. It is easy to forget that the primitive technologies are still technology. Personally, technology elicits thought of digital or electronic gizmos and gadgets; social media; handheld devices that allow connections between different hemispheres almost instantly. 

It is shallow thinking on my part to only consider those advancements as technology. A wooden spoon is technology. How would we live without technology as we know it today? I wonder often but honestly would not be quick to try to live without these conveniences. 

Below are images that have to do with technology in one way or another that I found in my 'photo album' on this blog. I am sure there are many more that could be included. 

This is the T is for...entry in the Blogging through the Alphabet blog series. You can find other "T" entries at Ben and Me or simply search abcblogging. 

What are some of your favorite technologies?

S is for Self {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Self

~The individual as an object to his own reflective consciousness.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. ~ Proverbs 3:5-7 (KJV)

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. ~Proverbs 27:2 (KJV)

Self is the thing. It is all about self. Somewhat recently a photo challenge went out over FB, and probably other social media avenues, to have people photo themselves with the words "I am enough." For who are they enough? 

There is perpetuate the belief in counseling and psychology that a person needs to improve their self-esteem. They need to see themselves in a better light. It is suggested that the individual put sticky-notes around their house to remind themselves of how much they are worth. "I am worthy of..." "I deserve..."

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ~2 Timothy 3:2-5 (KJV)

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy...Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will free from you. Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. ~ James 3:17, 4:7-8 (KJV)

This is the S is for...entry in the Blogging through the Alphabet. See more at Ben and Me or search abcblogging.

Q & R are for Quality vs Quantity & (W)riting {Blogging through the Alphabet}

I have included some outside links that I found to be helpful in this 'quality vs quantity' post. I don't necessarily endorse these external sites, unless stated. Visit/view at your own risk.

Quality vs Quantity & Writing

~age-old (?) debate of which is better: to produce good works, at the risk of only producing a few; to produce many, at the risk of only producing a few good works. 

That's probably not the best 'definition' up there but I'm not going for exact here. And I just didn't want it to get too technical. Since this post is two-in-one, covering "Q" and "R" (uh, don't mind that it isn't truly an 'r' word; it sounds like it and it goes with my purpose here), I thought I'd try to make a point. Whether it's good or not is to be seen.

I'd recently read a book about the writing habits of one particular author (Robert Benson) in which he says to write, everyday, 600 words. There are others who are of the same mindset, whether in writing or other activities (Why Quantity Should be Your Priority). 

Perhaps it depends on what you're going for: practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. In that sense, quality trumps quantity, don't you think? (Quality over quantity..., and ACT Writing Tips)

Think how many blogs and websites at our disposal. Does that mean that quantity equals quality? No, definitely not. It is my opinion that it is better to focus on quality over quantity in writing. (Now, to take my own advice may mean I write no more!)

Here are some quality blogs (with quality writing) that I personally enjoy and would recommend:

Afterthoughts

The Good Life

A Peaceful Day

Silvia Cachia

There are doubtless many more that I don't even know about. 

Would you like to recommend some quality over quantity writing resources? It would be most appreciated.

This is the "Q & R is for" entry in the Blogging through the Alphabet. I'll admit that this slipped my mind but I am determined to make it through these 26 posts. Find others' entries by visiting Ben and Me, or simply searching abcblogging. 

P is for Picture Study {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Picture study

~"putting the children in touch with the great artist minds of all ages;" studying art of great artists

Don't let the 'children' portion put you off; picture study is for all ages. This is another aspect of our homeschool but really, it is a part of our living. Art is not just on a canvas. God is the master artist. His creation surpasses anything that has ever been put on canvas, sculpted in clay, cast in bronze, etc. Picture study helps us see through the eyes of others God's greatness.

Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself. Picture study is just that: studying a picture. How do we do this? We use quality replications of great pieces and we observe what is in the picture until we have it in our minds really well. We have to be very attentive, for if when our time is up and we are asked to recall the picture, we miss details. 

Once we have the details, and the whole image, in our minds, we turn over the print and tell back what we saw. It's a narration, not of what was read in words, but indeed what was learned. 

In the world today things move so incredibly fast! Commercials are aired for just a few seconds and therefore require a lot of visual information to be transmitted to the viewer. We cannot really catch all of the details of a commercial unless it is very toned down. Even hours long movies are incredibly fast paced, with little time to see all that is taking place in a scene. Move, move, move! That's the sense we get from these mediums.

With picture study, Charlotte Mason explained like this:

"It is of the spirit, and in ways of the spirit must we make our attempt...But there must be knowledge and, in the first place, not the technical knowledge of how to produce, but some reverent knowledge of what has been produced; that is, children should learn pictures, line by line, group by group, by reading, not books, but pictures themselves." ~Volume 6, p. 214

And great pictures, not mediocre or one's made 'for children':

"It is scarcely possible to begin these lessons too early. The first stage is attentive looking at pictures which have been carefully chosen, not for mere bright colouring, but for real artistic merit. To withhold good pictures from children because we thoughtlessly conclude them to be incapable of noticing anything but gaudiness of colour, is to despise them, to value them too lightly." ~Miss R. K. Hammond, Parents' Review Archives, Volume 12, no. 7, pp. 501-509 -emphasis mine

Another Parents' Review article talks about picture study and children love great art, even if adults may think they wouldn't:

"To give an example of the kind of picture a child appreciates, I asked some small children of 8 and 9 which of the Durer pictures they had been studying that term they liked best. All, with one accord said: "The Praying Hands"... Would the casual person consider that such a drawing would interest a child? Here Miss Mason again shows her wonderful insight into the child's mind." ~Marjorie F. Ransom, Parents' Review Archives, Volume 34, pp. 75-84

It really is no different today! Give the children great artists to study, without telling them they are to appreciate these, and they enjoy them on their own. Give them bright flashy colors and tell them, whether in words or actions, that is what they are supposed to like, and they will not appreciate art.

Fra Angelico, The Annunciation, 1450

This term we are studying Fra Angelico. Next term it will be Diego Valezquez, followed by Jacques-Louis David. As an adult I am seeing many of these great pieces of art for the first time. And by that I don't mean that I've never seen them. I may have, in passing. But I didn't appreciate them; I didn't learn anything about them; I didn't understand anything about them. They didn't mean anything to me.

Diego Valezquez, Las Meninas, 1656

I want my kids to have an art gallery in their minds. It will be all their own! We may not have great expensive works in our house. We may not be able to go to a physical art gallery that has these on display. But they will know these works. And they will have an appreciation. 

Jacques-Louis David, Portrait of Levoisier and His Wife, 1788

I may have gotten a little carried away here. Picture study is not the same as art instruction. After picture study, then comes the instruction. But not even over the same picture necessarily, lest the student try to reproduce what has been done by the artist being studied and come to despise the painting when their own attempts are not perfect.

P is for Picture Study. Another entry for the Blogging through the Alphabet. You might have been able to tell that I have Charlotte Mason on the brain a bit lately *wink*. Guilty! 

Find more P is for...entries at Ben and Me, or simply search abcblogging.

O is for Opinion {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Opinion

~a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge (according to Google search)

Mind speaks to mind, that is how opinions are formed. The definition above is, in my opinion, incorrect. What makes it incorrect is the last part that opinions may not be based on knowledge. If one has no knowledge of something, one cannot make an opinion. Perhaps that is a little technical, but knowledge is knowing about something however briefly, which means that one can form an opinion. Google search agrees with me even if it doesn't realize it (emphasis is my own):

• facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject
• awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation

Either of those suggests that there is a basis for an opinion to be made.

"There is another form in which the magnanimous citizen of the future must be taught in the sense of justice. Our opinions show our integrity of thought. Every person has many opinions whether his own honestly thought out, or notions picked up from his pet newspaper or his companions. The person who thinks out opinions modestly and carefully is doing his duty as truly as if he saved a life because there is no more or less about duty." ~Charlotte Mason, "A Philosophy of Education," pp. 61-62 

Later in the same section Charlotte talks about 'catch-words floating in the air' that the mind catches and uses to form opinions. Perhaps we'd call them 'buzzwords' now. Even when a person has no idea truly what a word means,  what situation it conveys, they can form an opinion about it just from hearing the word. That doesn't however mean that they have formed a valid opinion and are not just talking to talk.

"We have seen the value of habit in mind and morals, religion and physical development. It is as we have seen disastrous when child or man learns to think in a groove, and shivers like an unaccustomed bather on the steps of a new notion. This danger is perhaps averted by giving children as their daily diet the wise thoughts of great minds, and of many great minds; so that they may gradually and unconsciously get the courage of their opinions. If we fail in this duty, so soon as the young people get their 'liberty' they will run after the first fad that presents itself; try it for awhile and then take up another to be discarded in its turn, and remain uncertain and ill-guided for the rest of their days." ~Charlotte Mason, "A Philosophy of Education," p. 104

Opinions are important to have, yet they need to be well-founded. The way to be able to do this is to have a 'daily diet the wise thoughts of great minds, and of many great minds.'

"Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction." ~Proverbs 10:14

"The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness [perversity]." ~Proverbs 10:32

 O is for Opinion in this entry for Blogging through the Alphabet. See others' entries at Ben and Me or search abcblogging. 

N is for Narration {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Narration

~ the act of telling back what has been read; the act or process of telling a story or describing what happens

This isn't a new topic on my blog, but it hasn't been really talked about as much as perhaps it should. Narration is essential to the way that we do 'school'. Essential is not too strong a word either. 

What is narration? It is what people, especially children, do all the time! When there is something that really catches the attention in an article, a blog post, or even on television or the internet, who doesn't turn to another person and recap the bit of information. Sometimes people even talk to themselves about what it was that caught them so. That is narration.

It is showing what is known. There is a quote that Charlotte Mason uses in her books: "the mind can know nothing but what it can produce in the form of an answer to a question put by the mind to itself" (copied from AO). Narration is the way of answering those questions put to the mind by the mind. It is not simply memorizing and regurgitation.

You cannot narrate what you do not know.

In a Charlotte Mason school, narration is required of every subject. That's a lot of talking, you might think. But really narrations are not limited to talking, or writing. Recently at a Charlotte Mason gathering, there were at least three forms of narration: silent narration, drawn narration, and verbal narration. There were probably more. 

The point is that if one can retell, in any of many different forms, what they have assimilated, it is possible to gauge their understanding; what they know.

Here are a few links to help with understanding what narration is:

The Art of Narrating (Charlotte Mason herself!)

Narration Discussion (Ambleside Online)

Some Thoughts on Narration (Ambleside Online)

Narration for the Newbie (Carroll Smith of Charlotte Mason Institute, formerly ChildLight USA)

Narration sounds very simple. Before judging the simplicity as an indicator of its worth, try it for yourself. Read a passage from a book (a textbook isn't recommended for this exercise but it can be done), once, then close the book and either tell someone what it was that you read, or write it down. 

Not so simple, is it? Narration requires the complete attention of the reader. It requires one to focus, knowing there will be a narration afterward, and only one reading is granted. But that's another topic, perhaps, for another post.

After attending the Charlotte Mason gathering in Peoria, IL, this past week, I've found a renewed focus on our 'school'. It is for the children's sake that we use Charlotte Mason's philosophy and methods. It is for their lives, now and to come. This is my N is for...entry in the Blogging through the Alphabet. You can see others' entries at Ben and Me or search abcblogging. 

M is for More {Blogging through the Alphabet}

MORE

~in greater quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number; additional or further.

This whole blogging through the alphabet sure has a way of making me think about things more deeply than usual {the pun wasn't intended but I wholly endorse it!}. While I'm not doing word studies like Marcy is at Ben and Me, I still find myself studying the word I choose, and trying to put it into my life.

Our family went camping last week at a wonderful camping spot. It's the exact same one that we went to the year before- on the same dates. This year was a bit chillier than last year; okay, fine a lot more so. We still enjoyed our time immensely. We want more time there next year. 

As a family, and individually, we are so blessed with all that we need and so much that we want. Very rarely do we find that we need something, and only occasionally do we want more than what we have. {I am referring to myself and my husband; our kids still have many wants, I'm sure.} We don't however have so much that we can just dish out things to others on a consistent basis- unless of course we were to give up our own things. That's what the 'more' of this post got me thinking about.

We don't have a lot of money, but we are not in poverty. But we have more than others in some cases. Personally, I don't see the benefit of giving to others to the point that a person is in need themselves. That is radical, that's for sure, and I'm not a proponent of that. Don't get me wrong; I won't not help someone just because I wouldn't have something as a result. But I won't give someone else all of something we have that we need, so that they will no longer be in need. We would then be in need and not able to help others. Does that make sense? 

We are to be good stewards of all that God has given us. If He leads us to give it away, then that is what He meant for it in the first place. 

I do have time and enough resources to help a person or two here and there. My first thought was that I want to help a family, most likely a single-parent, with childcare. How wonderful would it be for them to be able to take their children to a safe and decent home that would provide warmth and good food for their children while they worked? And at the same time be able to put the money that would normally go to the sitter towards their bills; towards a better place to live or for more groceries, or clothes if needed? 

I thought about this while we were camping. I thought about it a lot. I didn't think about the possible kinks in my plan. Would I need insurance? What if they were to take advantage of the situation and leave their kids with me while they went off for the day, not working? How long would I agree to watch their children for so that they could get their feet under them? A lot of questions I really didn't think about. 

I'm still thinking about it, though. I recall being in a similar situation when my kids were very young. I was very fortunate that my mother was there to help me. If not for her, I'm not sure how things would have gone. There are scary people out there who 'care' for kids just for the money; disregard for the child as a person. 

Anyway, my point is- I can do more than just give money to someone. I can give my time and resources. I had a friend point out the points I'd not thought of in terms of the hazards of providing care for someone else's child. She also suggested other ways to give: Helping others to learn to garden; helping others to make healthy economical meals; or tutoring others who are studying for GED.  Another friend suggested driving people to medical appointments or grocery shopping.

All great ideas! And I am going to look into them more. 

I will say though, that it is out of my comfort zone. Majorly. It would be so much easier to give a person some money than to take the time and effort to do any of the other things listed. I am an introvert. I like people but I have a difficult time around people. If that makes enough sense. 

But I want to help. And so I am going to be searching out more ways that I can be of help to others with my time and resources. The first step, though, is to pray.

This is my M is for M... blogging through the alphabet post. See others at Ben and Me, or simply search abcblogging on the web. 

L is for Love {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Love

~a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection to pleasure; virtue representing human kindness, compassion, affection

~or charity

~or as Pam Forster says, "not a sentimental or romantic feel-good love, but a practical, where-the-rubber-meets-the-road, but impossible-to-accomplish perfect love- the kind of love only Jesus has fully accomplished"

To think I was going to do the word "lazy" because that is how I was feeling. But then I thought it was quite selfish to choose that simply because I didn't want to really focus on something. Just wanted to put the post up and call it done. Love goes along with Kindness that I posted last week. That's another word that snuck up on me last minute. 

Interestingly, I don't know much about the word love. It's almost as if it is so overused {I love my husband, I love my house, love my car, love that song, etc) that it has lost meaning. I can just hear teenage girls {and guys, I guess} squealing how much they love some rock band/song. It's hard to distinguish what it really means; what sort of value is truly put on things that are loved.

It's also interesting that in languages other than English, there are different words that denote the level of care and affection one places on a person, thing, idea, etc. In English we have love. Oh, and like. As I think on it more, I suppose adore, admire, covet, and lust-after are words that could be used in place of love to denote the difference. But a lot of the time love is the word that's chosen. 

How many times is love in the Bible? There are a lot. But there are also loved, love's, loves, loves, liveth, loving, loving-kindness, and lovedst. When I chose the word, I was specifically thinking along the lines of what's in 1 Corinthians 13; which isn't love at all, per se; it's charity.

I'd always understood there to be three kinds of love in the Bible: Agape, philos, and eros. Agape is the love that Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians. Charity.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

And this is the agape love that doesn't mean the love we feel towards our family members. Not the deep-seated, in our bones and heart kind of love. No this is the love we have to humankind as a rule. Er, the love we are supposed to have. That explains why Pam calls it "not a sentimental or romantic feel-good love." That's why it's a perfect love that only God can show us through the sacrifice of his son. Can we say we love something so much that we would die for that thing, or person? Perhaps we can. But how many of us would actually follow through with that claim?

Other than my loved ones, my family and close friends, I cannot honestly say that I'd give my life for another person. And absolutely never would I give my life for an object. 

So I wouldn't give my life for another, but would I at least suffer for them; would I endure for them; would I look to their fulfillment over my own; would I think no evil of them? All very very good points for me to have a look at. These are things that I am to do for others, and not necessarily those I love with my heart. 

And if I am to treat others who are just a stranger to me, or even an enemy {I don't have any specifically that I know of, but if I did...}, how much better should I be treating my loved ones? 

These last two words have really touched me. Even now, my ds is playing a game that he is excited about. He shares with me. I really am not interested in his game, but when I ignore or avoid his enthusiasm, how am I presenting what I think of his pursuits and interests? I'm showing that I don't care. It's selfish of me to wish he would just silently play his game. {And yes, I did have that thought.} Because I love him I should be interested in things that he is interested in, simply for the reason that he is interested. 

Of course, there is much more to charity than what I've put here. There are many who have written on this topic, and much better than I. This is my submission for L is for ... for the Blogging through the Alphabet series. See more L entries at Ben and Me. Or search abcblogging in your browser.

K is for Kindness {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Kindness

~the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

Looking in my KJV Bible for instances of 'kindness', the concordance only lists thirteen verses, but adding in 'kind' and 'kindly' the total goes to twenty-four. That seems like a small amount for such an important word. Then I realized, that is only in the back of the specific print edition of my Bible. Looking in the Strong's Concordance reveals at least forty-eight just for 'kindness'! That's more like it. That doesn't even take into account 'kind' or 'kindly'. 

Although the verse quoted at the start of this post does not contain 'kindness', 'pleasant' and 'sweet' came to my mind when I thought of 'kindness'. It took me a long time to come up with a word for 'k'. I have a feeling when I check others' abcblogging posts, kindness will be one of the top words chosen. I just didn't think of it first.

We want others to be kind to us. We go to the store and we'd like a smile from the friendly cashier or store personnel. When we go to a restaurant we expect kindness from our waiter/waitress. Driving through town, we expect kindness of other drivers. It's something that is taken for granted; we want to be shown kindness.

But how often do we fail to show it ourselves? How often do we snap at others when they do something trivial that annoys us or causes inconvenience? How often do we let our pet peeves zap our kindness? 

Lately, in particular one member of our family has been less kind than usual. It's a little strange to see and be on the receiving end but it's made me stop and think. First, I think what is going on in their life that is zapping their kindness. Second, since I cannot affect what happens outside of the home, what happens when I am not around, I had to evaluate how I am treating others. Am I being unkind and it is causing others to be unkind? 

We all have moments that we do something that we would like to erase or take back. We can never take back the unkind word or deed. We can realize our fault, recognize what we did was not right, and ask for forgiveness. We can make a more diligent effort to be kind. Especially when it would be much easier, and perhaps at the moment more satisfying, to be cruel with our words or actions. 

I cannot recall any point when Jesus was unkind. He was just in all situations, and exhibited extreme love and kindness. I am thinking now of the case against the adulterous woman; Jesus kept his eyes from looking at her shameful state, and then he said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). What kindness! 

"Kindness"- a much better word for this K is for... entry than "kale" {smile}. See my other Blogging through the Alphabet entries, and read more of others' at Ben and Me.