Full Time Sister

I know...it's been a while...like a LONG while! But we've been busy! A very good busy, and I'll post about that next. But right now...I have brothers on my mind...

N. Pl. Brothers:

1. A male having the same parents as another or one parent in common with another.

Well, I have 4 brothers. Ranging from 5 years older than myself to 14 years younger than myself! And I have a good and unique relationship with each one. I've been a full time sister for 25 years. And I love it! It's been an wonderful experience and I intend to keep it up, God spare life, for as many years as I'm granted. Oh, I know that time will change the face of each relationship, but the foundation will remain. Here are some thoughts....

One: Cook their favorite foods. I'm not saying the only way to man's heart is through his stomach. I am saying you should know and cook their favorites just because you love them and it's a way to show it. :) Yesterday I made egg drop soup for lunch because Silas loves that stuff. And last night for supper I made meatballs. Because Miles loves that meal! And you should have seen their faces! :)

Two: Listen to them. Sometimes that means listening about subjects that you may know little and understand less! Sometimes it's about silly stuff. But listen to them. You'll come to understand them and see things from their perspective.

Three: Sit with them (without expecting them to talk or pay much attention to you, it's about them!) Sometimes they don't want to talk. Sometimes they don't want you to talk! They just want to sit and let their minds be completely blank. If you ask them what they're thinking and they say "nothing", believe them! And just sit quietly with them.

Four: Be honest and never back down from the truth. They may get mad at you if their head is briefly messed up, but they will come around and see the light and hold on to the solidness of the truth you are standing for.

Five: Always love them. Even if it means tough love at times. They will never forget that love. Tell them you love them. They will love you back, even if they don't say it. Because boys love differently than girls.

Six: Cheer them on. Cheer for them when they do 10 dead hang chin ups, just as much as you cheer them on when they graduate from school. Just because you don't think something is your priority doesn't mean its not cheer-worthy!

Seven: Be happy with them. Be goofy, tell jokes and laugh at their jokes. Laugh for no reason...with them. :)

Eight: Help them stay focused on Heaven. Pray for them, encourage them, and most importantly, be faithful yourself. And practice agape love on them.

So...if you have brothers, start working or maintaining your relationship with them. It's vital to both of your lives. It's never to late to start.

I am so thankful for my brothers! <3

That they may train the young women...

For the last 6 to 7 weeks, Dad has been doing a class on church leadership at one of the congregations in south. While Dad spoke to the men, Mom did a class for the ladies.

She focused her class on what woman can do to be better elders, and deacons wives. She looked at the examples of Eve, Sarah, Rebekah and Abigail. Also several ladies from Acts. With every example she asked "What can we learn to be a better elder's wife or deacon's wife?"

Things like:

*Submissiveness is very simple. It's Satan and self that make it difficult. (I love my Mom so much! She has a whole pocket full of old sayings and phrases...she raised us on them! But she pulled a new one on me! She said in summing up submission- "There gotta be chiefs, and there gotta be indians." And she is so right. If we follow God's instruction and rely fully on Him, so many issues would be cleared up!)

*Women are vital to the church. Without faithful women, there can be no elders or deacons.

*Mothers should be training their sons to be elders and deacons.

*Mothers should be training their daughters to be elder's wives and deacon's wives!

*God's role for women must be maintained, the results are less than God's standard when the boundaries are crossed.

*Being a wife and mother is the highest "job" a woman can have. God designed the woman for that precise purpose.

*Satan is going to try to get at Christian ladies however he can. We must be standing strong!

The conclusion Mom made was taken from Titus 2:5 "to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:"

When we are living our lives as Christian ladies, loving our husbands, children, teaching, being sober, responsible, etc. We cause the Word of God to work and not be put to shame! And to put that in reverse, when we aren't living with in our God given roles, we are blaspheming the Word of God!

Let's each help each other as we walk the path to heaven in our beautiful role as women for God. :)