A challenge

Mr. Elder told us a story/analogy…it’s been rolling around in my brain for a few weeks now and I wanted to share it with you. Let this be a challenge to all of us as we walk our walk. To God be the glory for the outcome and may we be ever humble as he loves and forgives us every day!

Have you ever heard of the water, egg, carrot and coffee?

What happens to an egg when you boil it? It gets harder.

What happens to a carrot when you boil it? It gets softer.

What happens to coffee when you boil it? It changes the water.

Mr. Elder said that having our family come to Elder ranch has changed the water or changed the ranch and everyone there. Wow! Praise the Lord!! To think about how you handle a situation and how you respond sure makes you think twice about having the wrong attitude. When we walk through every day life, what is our response to the situations that arise? To get harder (or angry or bitter) like the egg? To get softer (or compromise) like the carrot? Or to change the water like the coffee? It’s a choice you have the ability to make. It’s up to us as to how we will respond.

You know, Being a stay at home mama, I’ve often wondered how I could make a difference. And I’ve come to realize that I have the biggest potential to make a huge difference! It’s in how I execute the daily life/ routine/activities and influence our children. If I’m constantly critical and upset and angry, what do you think the kids will learn? Yep-to be critical, upset and angry. If I’m loving and patient and a hard worker, what do you think the kids will learn? Yep-to be loving patient and hard workers. Realizing we are being watched as parents by our children is quite convicting. There is a saying, “he that rocks the cradle rules the world”. It’s so true!

So as I’m evaluating myself and my response to things, I’m reminding myself of the necessity for right attitudes, joyful smile, loving hugs, patient responses, taking initiative, and having fun as I live my life with these precious children. I want to do my best as a mama to have sharp arrows in our quiver that will be launched into this world and do great damage to satans agenda. One quote Stephen heard often from an officer in the HFD was “habits and routines”. We all make them. We all do them. What are your habits and routines? Is it something sustainable? Something worth while? Something intentional? Or do we go through life just hoping things will turn out well? The Lord gave us the ability to make choices. Let us make the choice to have an eternal perspective and realize we are here on this earth for a very short time in the realm of eternity. What are you spending your time on? How are you influencing those around you? What kind of habits and routines are you living out? Are you the egg, carrot or coffee? I’m asking myself these questions too.

This is a video of the past few weeks. Unfortunately it loaded the entire thing backwards and some of the videos are sideways and some are even upside down! Almost feels like our life at times-haha! But, nonetheless, hope you enjoy! Love to all, Christina