Random musings

Sometimes, I catch tidbits of the struggles of children growing up in America. The hard day to day choices they make, the pressure to conform, living under the baggage of being good kids. It wasn't as if living in India was easy. In fact, most kids there don't experience a sheltered environment. They have to grow up becoming independent sooner than later.  Yet, the more I hear about the struggles of kids here, the more I worry. I don't think there is anything that my kids would be exempt from, that they somehow would be superior or not struggle with the poor choices that some of the other children seem to make. I also fear for how the parents are usually the last ones to know about the kid's struggles.  But, in the middle of all this turmoil, one hears stories of hope. We heard about a young girl, who might have made poor choices in the past, but through  it all, emerged as a person growing in truth, faith and wisdom.  What was unique about her understan...

Sometimes, I wonder if God is this huge, giant, teddy bear. Constantly loving, holding us close, forgiving our mistakes and giving us His abundant grace.  But, as surely as I have experienced his grace, I have also experienced His discipline. Sometimes, a gentle correction, sometimes a subtle warning, sometimes a slap in the hand. But, always constant in its presence. His restraint, His love, His discipline.  Heb 12: (NIV) My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our s...

Our lives are shaped as profoundly by personality as by gender or race. And, the single most important aspect of personality is where we fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. It influences our choice of friends, our mates, how we make conversation, resolve differences or show love. It affects the careers we choose and whether or not, we succeed at them.  It seems as if our society is geared towards being more understanding and accepting of certain personality traits - and that is projected as an ideal. It is not uncommon to see an introvert who wishes that they were extroverted. It is not uncommon for an introvert to despair about their personality, to view their introversion in a negative light.  Growing up, I would hear comments from people about being quiet, or shy or introverted. Fortunately, my parents never placed those labels on me, but the ones who did, left a deep enough impression for me to think that there was something wrong about being quiet. My husba...