Wash the Dishes

Living in the moment is the only way to live. Zen Buddhist. Thich Nhat Hanh put it like this…

“In the United States, I have a close friend named Jim Forest. When I first met him eight years ago, he was working with a Peace Fellowship. Last winter, Jim came to visit. I usually wash the dishes after we’ve finished the evening meal, before sitting down and drinking tea with everyone else. One night, Jim asked if he might do the dishes. I said, “Go ahead, but if you wash the dishes you must know the way to wash them.” Jim replied, “Come on, you think I don’t know how to wash the dishes?” I answered, “There are two ways to wash the dishes. The first is to wash the dishes in order to have clean dishes and the second is to wash the dishes to wash the dishes.” Jim was delighted and said, “I choose the second way – to wash the dishes to wash the dishes.” From then on, Jim knew how to wash the dishes. I transferred the “responsibility” to him for an entire week.

If while washing dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as if they were a nuisance, then we are not “washing the dishes to wash the dishes.” What’s more, we are not alive during the time we are washing the dishes. In fact, we are completely incapable of realizing the miracle of life while standing at the sink. If we can’t wash the dishes, the chances are we won’t be able to drink our tea either. While drinking the cup of tea, we will only be thinking of other things, barely aware of the cup in our hands. Thus we are sucked away into the future and we are incapable of actually living one minute of life.”

Live your life.

Control Your Tongue

sunnies: Rayban Wayfarers | top: Norton McNaughton | skinnies: Union Bay | wedges: Divided | ring: Target

I feel like I talk about this subject a lot, but honestly I believe that when the Lord drops hints you’d be best to pick them up.  As you may know, I subscribe to Girlfriends in God‘s daily devotional.  This website offers support to women across the world in an attempt to strengthen their relationships with God.  The email I got this morning was one about family and the importance of speaking positivity.  I couldn’t keep to myself.  I had to share.  Not that any of you are horses, but I’m leading you to water in hopes that you’ll drink.  This horse’s thirst has been quenched, I can tell you that much!  

The power of the spoken word is great. Words are like seeds. What we plant will grow.  If we plant negative, critical words, we will reap a family that is negative and critical.  Look for the good in your family then speak it. Be a cheerleader for your family because everyone needs a cheerleader.

A little girl was eating breakfast with her Daddy. They were on a “date,” spending special time together. He was telling her how wonderful she was and how proud he was to have her as a daughter. When he had done what he thought was a sufficient job, he picked up his fork and began to eat. His daughter put her hand on his arm and stopped him with these words, “Longer, Daddy, longer.” He didn’t eat much food that day but a little girl’s hungry heart was fed. Do have any hearts like that in your family?

CBS released a movie about Karen Carpenter, the great singer who rose to stardom singing with her brother, Richard. At the age of 32, she died unexpectedly of heart failure due to many years of abuse caused by Anorexia. What brought on Karen’s fatal obsession with weight control? It seems that a reporter once called her “Richard’s chubby sister.”

Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD: keep watch over the door of my lips.”

Before speaking, ask yourself the following questions:

T       is it true
H      Is it helpful
I       is it inspiring
N      is it necessary
K       is it kind

Think before you speak. Use the five to one ratio when correcting – five positive remarks to one negative comment. The harder the truth, the more love we should use in saying it. It is our responsibility to use our words to train and instruct our family about the daily things in life, but more importantly, to instruct them about the eternal things. We are very concerned about providing for our children when we need to be more concerned about caring for our children. The greatest care we can give is to disciple them by speaking words of truth. Guard your tongue.

I hope this is encouraging to you and helps you to remember that your family, especially your children, look up to you.  Cherish them!

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