As some of you know from keeping up with my blog, I am in the midst of a get fit challenge to myself. Prior to getting pregnant with Delilah, I was in size 7 / 8 jeans depending on the brand. As the years have passed I had two more children and due to a really bad fall, I never made it back to that size. In the end, I gave away all of that wardrobe minus one pair of size 7 Red Tag Levi Jeans.
As I was moving things around recently due to the season's shifting, I had come across the above mentioned jeans. As I looked at them, I decided it was time. No more excuses so instead of shoving them back into a box to be hidden, I set them to the side to hang up in sight so that I had a visible goal I wanted to reach . . . kind of like setting up a dream board. I never managed to find the perfect spot for the jeans before they disappeared from my shelf. I figured one of the twins had seen them and swiped them to wear. Confident that I would get them from the wash after they were worn, I never bothered to search for them. This brings me to yesterday's events.....
You know how you get older and some of your most embarrassing moments in life turn into memories that you and your family laugh deeply over? I am most certain that this will be one of them. I say that because as everything unfolded, I found myself laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
Imagine, here I am, sitting at the kitchen table with Zechariah and another little boy that I watch during the day as they were consuming their afternoon snack. Travis was the first one through the door as normal, followed by Marissa and Marie. By the time Michael arrived, Marissa was sharing the events of the day.
"Boys can be so mean mom. These two dudes were making fun of Michael's jeans. They were saying stuff like, "You look like a dork in those jeans." and the other one asked if Michael was wearing his mom's jeans. This is the moment that Michael walked in. Travis was at the fridge and Michael walked up next to him to grab something to eat as well. As he stared in the fridge, he stated how they wouldn't stop calling him a nerd and asking if he was gay.
Now, I must agree that this entire conversation is a form of bullying. That being stated, sadly we live in a world where less and less children are being taught manners, let alone morals. It is good to have a house that openly discusses how cruel others are and how we need not buy into it, but rather forgive those who don't seem to think there is anything indecent about picking on others. It has been going on since I was a kid and from what my grandmother has shared with me, cruel kids were around in her day as well.
As Travis and Michael exited the kitchen, I heard Travis asking Michael about the jeans thinking maybe they were a little to big and actually belonged to him. Next thing I know, Michael has changed out of the jeans and gave them to Travis. This is when I hear Travis ask him, "Ummm, Michael, these aren't mine, where did you get them?" Michael shrugged that he didn't know which is extremely believable more often then not, someone else puts the clothes they think belong to him in his room as Michael is always last to grab his clothes out of the basket and I don't allow clean clothes to just sit around in baskets. This is when Travis brings the jeans to me and asks, "Mom, whose jeans are these?" I took them, and looked for the tag to see what size they were. As my eyes focused on the 'size 7' written on the tag, I began to speak, "Ugh," and as I flipped the jeans so that I was looking at the back pockets, I couldn't stifle back the rumbling laughter that was bubbling up. All but choking back my laughter I managed to say, "These are mine."
"NOOOOOOO" belted Marissa, "How did those boys know?"
At this point I caught the horror on Michael's face and I fell back in my chair laughing till tears were literally streaming down my face. Travis was bent over due to laughing so hard. Michael, not finding any of it funny, stated, I am never wearing jeans again. To which I had to hold onto my stomach because it was beginning to hurt to laugh so hard. Today, as the memory has come back to me, I have found myself bursting into several bouts of laughter.
With that being stated, I feel bad that Michael was made fun of once again. The day before, several boys taunted him with remarks about how they heard from others at basketball tryouts that Michael wasn't any good. I guess the tormenting was so bad, he decided to not continue trying out the last two days. When he had come home with that I told him he shouldn't have let them have that power over him, after all, those making fun of him hadn't even tried out themselves. Alas, it was too late since tryouts began right after school and he had elected to ride the bus home.
This brings me to the truth that our children are surrounded by bullies who find enjoyment at the expense of others feelings. We must equip our children with a sense of identity so that when the attacks begin, our kids can withstand the assault. Michael has enough self esteem and confidence that these boys have not destroyed him. I thank God for that. There are certain truths that come from God that stick and it is those strongholds that keep the evil one's lies from having the impact they were meant to.
Today I'd like us to join in prayer for all the children in the world who do not know of God let alone those who don't know God. May a friend step into their lives who is able to introduce them to him. After all, as we read in the Gospel of Matthew 19:26: All things are possible with God.
My children have witnessed crazy unbelievable deeds done in the name of God, so their faith in Him is solid. In this way they are truly blessed, faith is a major cornerstone in your relationship with God. Those of us who know him have certainly fallen short of sharing His love and His truths with others. We have not been good students nor good servants for how many of us are openly talking about our faith verses how many of us hold back in fear of being viewed as some kind of 'Jesus Freak'?
Not speaking of Him, is as close as a believer can get to denying Him without verbally denying Him. That truth should cause any believer to reflect upon this verse:
"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in Heaven." (Matthew 10:33, NASB)
Recently a song has begun replaying in my mind and in my heart. It comes with the reminder that we believers need to get to work. That simply hanging out inside our homes and our places of worship is not our calling." The song is sung by Rick Stump and it's called "Calling All People".
He is a major reason I first felt convicted to share what I was learning about Christ with others. I couldn't help but thinking how different my life might have turned out had someone who believed stepped out of their comfort zone to share their faith with me.
This Saturday, the church I now attend, Westfield Friends, is hosting an event focused on sharing Jesus with others. This is just another reason I know I am right where I am supposed to be. If you are local and love Christ, it would be great to see you there!
Father, I cannot thank you enough for all the amazing things you have done for me in front of my children so that their faith has been strengthened throughout the years. How blessed we all are. Thank you for allowing me the time to write about my walk with you and thank you for bringing an actual audience forth to read and share what you put on my heart. Your ways will forever amaze me. I look forward to all the things you are going to do through me! Thank you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Wendy, girl who walks with God, Mom of Many
(c) Wendy Glidden 2018
As I was moving things around recently due to the season's shifting, I had come across the above mentioned jeans. As I looked at them, I decided it was time. No more excuses so instead of shoving them back into a box to be hidden, I set them to the side to hang up in sight so that I had a visible goal I wanted to reach . . . kind of like setting up a dream board. I never managed to find the perfect spot for the jeans before they disappeared from my shelf. I figured one of the twins had seen them and swiped them to wear. Confident that I would get them from the wash after they were worn, I never bothered to search for them. This brings me to yesterday's events.....
You know how you get older and some of your most embarrassing moments in life turn into memories that you and your family laugh deeply over? I am most certain that this will be one of them. I say that because as everything unfolded, I found myself laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
Imagine, here I am, sitting at the kitchen table with Zechariah and another little boy that I watch during the day as they were consuming their afternoon snack. Travis was the first one through the door as normal, followed by Marissa and Marie. By the time Michael arrived, Marissa was sharing the events of the day.
"Boys can be so mean mom. These two dudes were making fun of Michael's jeans. They were saying stuff like, "You look like a dork in those jeans." and the other one asked if Michael was wearing his mom's jeans. This is the moment that Michael walked in. Travis was at the fridge and Michael walked up next to him to grab something to eat as well. As he stared in the fridge, he stated how they wouldn't stop calling him a nerd and asking if he was gay.
Now, I must agree that this entire conversation is a form of bullying. That being stated, sadly we live in a world where less and less children are being taught manners, let alone morals. It is good to have a house that openly discusses how cruel others are and how we need not buy into it, but rather forgive those who don't seem to think there is anything indecent about picking on others. It has been going on since I was a kid and from what my grandmother has shared with me, cruel kids were around in her day as well.
As Travis and Michael exited the kitchen, I heard Travis asking Michael about the jeans thinking maybe they were a little to big and actually belonged to him. Next thing I know, Michael has changed out of the jeans and gave them to Travis. This is when I hear Travis ask him, "Ummm, Michael, these aren't mine, where did you get them?" Michael shrugged that he didn't know which is extremely believable more often then not, someone else puts the clothes they think belong to him in his room as Michael is always last to grab his clothes out of the basket and I don't allow clean clothes to just sit around in baskets. This is when Travis brings the jeans to me and asks, "Mom, whose jeans are these?" I took them, and looked for the tag to see what size they were. As my eyes focused on the 'size 7' written on the tag, I began to speak, "Ugh," and as I flipped the jeans so that I was looking at the back pockets, I couldn't stifle back the rumbling laughter that was bubbling up. All but choking back my laughter I managed to say, "These are mine."
"NOOOOOOO" belted Marissa, "How did those boys know?"
At this point I caught the horror on Michael's face and I fell back in my chair laughing till tears were literally streaming down my face. Travis was bent over due to laughing so hard. Michael, not finding any of it funny, stated, I am never wearing jeans again. To which I had to hold onto my stomach because it was beginning to hurt to laugh so hard. Today, as the memory has come back to me, I have found myself bursting into several bouts of laughter.
With that being stated, I feel bad that Michael was made fun of once again. The day before, several boys taunted him with remarks about how they heard from others at basketball tryouts that Michael wasn't any good. I guess the tormenting was so bad, he decided to not continue trying out the last two days. When he had come home with that I told him he shouldn't have let them have that power over him, after all, those making fun of him hadn't even tried out themselves. Alas, it was too late since tryouts began right after school and he had elected to ride the bus home.
This brings me to the truth that our children are surrounded by bullies who find enjoyment at the expense of others feelings. We must equip our children with a sense of identity so that when the attacks begin, our kids can withstand the assault. Michael has enough self esteem and confidence that these boys have not destroyed him. I thank God for that. There are certain truths that come from God that stick and it is those strongholds that keep the evil one's lies from having the impact they were meant to.
Today I'd like us to join in prayer for all the children in the world who do not know of God let alone those who don't know God. May a friend step into their lives who is able to introduce them to him. After all, as we read in the Gospel of Matthew 19:26: All things are possible with God.
My children have witnessed crazy unbelievable deeds done in the name of God, so their faith in Him is solid. In this way they are truly blessed, faith is a major cornerstone in your relationship with God. Those of us who know him have certainly fallen short of sharing His love and His truths with others. We have not been good students nor good servants for how many of us are openly talking about our faith verses how many of us hold back in fear of being viewed as some kind of 'Jesus Freak'?
Not speaking of Him, is as close as a believer can get to denying Him without verbally denying Him. That truth should cause any believer to reflect upon this verse:
"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in Heaven." (Matthew 10:33, NASB)
Recently a song has begun replaying in my mind and in my heart. It comes with the reminder that we believers need to get to work. That simply hanging out inside our homes and our places of worship is not our calling." The song is sung by Rick Stump and it's called "Calling All People".
He is a major reason I first felt convicted to share what I was learning about Christ with others. I couldn't help but thinking how different my life might have turned out had someone who believed stepped out of their comfort zone to share their faith with me.
This Saturday, the church I now attend, Westfield Friends, is hosting an event focused on sharing Jesus with others. This is just another reason I know I am right where I am supposed to be. If you are local and love Christ, it would be great to see you there!
Father, I cannot thank you enough for all the amazing things you have done for me in front of my children so that their faith has been strengthened throughout the years. How blessed we all are. Thank you for allowing me the time to write about my walk with you and thank you for bringing an actual audience forth to read and share what you put on my heart. Your ways will forever amaze me. I look forward to all the things you are going to do through me! Thank you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Wendy, girl who walks with God, Mom of Many
(c) Wendy Glidden 2018
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