Embrace Yourself Today

Confusing Hospitality and Entertaining Be hospitable to one another without grumbling- 1 Peter 4:9 We are officially in the high holiday season, the hustle and bustle of Christmas time is upon us, along with the weight of expectations. Expectations for ourselves, for others and for how things should play out in this busy season. There are expectations that children will behave and be grateful, that the food will be amazing, that family will get along, that we will get exactly what we have been hinting at all year long, and the list goes on.   The problem is, expectations often kill, be it death to joy or to relationships, expectations kill, especially the ones we place on ourselves . So, as we enter this time of opening our homes, our hearts and our lives to friends and family it is vital that we remember what the Lord’s expectation of us is- that we will “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” There are some people who are amazing at this, and then there ...

I was driving home, with my children, after a long day of Bible study, a lunch date and a play date. Knowing it was a bad idea to stay out as long as we did, and skip naps, I was ready for the whining and crying on the way home. And just as I expected, that is what I got before I could even buckle my own belt. Once the children calmed down and gained composure I decided I would ask them if they wanted a sucker, they both shouted yes please with excitement. Both my husband and I have a “twin” child...one that acts and looks just like us, that being said, they also enjoy desert like us; one enjoys their dessert slowly, savoring every bit...even choosing to save some for later. The other child feverishly tears into the desert and inhales it without breathing, never leaving so much as a morsel for later.  On this particular day, my 5 year old chose to offer a lick of her lollipop to her 2 year old sister, who generally inhales her dessert, this day was no different only it wouldn'...