(Faithfulness) Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This.. But the Fruit of the Spirit is Faithfulness

What do you mean I am out of Ipecac?

“If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?”

~ Milton Berle

God is faithful. That is one thing I say just about everyday I am alive. He is loyal, constant and steadfast. Though we do things awry, he is faithful to forgive us if we ask him to. My heart always melted when my children would ask for forgiveness for some silly little thing they had done or said.

Ms. Chatty was 3 years old. She was a climber. She could scale an entertainment center in 3 seconds flat and be perched at the top; hovering over you, ready to pounce on you from above at any given moment. She also did not like to nap. My other 2 were very good nappers. Ms. Chatty would have none of that! We had to come to an understanding. Mommy needed downtime or she could become very cranky. Ms. Chatty understood this and normally would look at her books and play quietly in bed with her babies until nap time was over. My rule was, you must stay in bed and not awaken your sister. Most days she complied. Today was not one of those days.

I had been preparing all week for a singing performance with a group of ladies. We traveled around the Pacific Northwest singing at different Christian venues. There were certain things I had to get accomplished that particular afternoon while the cherubs napped. Laundry was the main task.

As I put Ms. Chatty to bed, I reminded her that she was not allowed to get out of bed and could not wake up her sister. Ms. Bunny was already fast asleep. Ms. Chatty assured me she would be a good girl. I remember seeing a glint in her eye, but dashed that from my mind because I had too much to do.

I headed downstairs to work on the laundry. With three small children, there was always a plethora of dirty laundry and I would be gone for several days and did not want to leave Himself with that task along with the kids and cooking too. While folding, I paused; I thought I heard something fall. I headed upstairs and checked on Mr. Rational and he was asleep. I walked into the girls’ room and Ms. Chatty had piled up every stuffed animal on top of her sleeping sister. Ms. Chatty was pretending to be asleep as I moved all of the stuffed animals back to the shelves. Upon leaving the room I whispered loud enough to be heard, ‘If you get out of bed one more time during nap time, you will be in time-out after nap and going to bed early without dessert.’ I heard an audible gasp because she knew I was true to my word, and I headed back downstairs.

About 20 minutes later I kept feeling like I should go upstairs. I kept telling myself that everything was fine, and I was being silly. Finally I hear that ‘still small voice’ rather loudly and headed up the steps. There was Ms. Chatty with orange all down the front of her! I just knew that she had gone into the fridge and took a swig from the orange flavored drink that was in the pitcher. She hauled it down the hall when she saw me and jumped back into bed. I told her I would deal with her after nap and she could just wear that messy shirt for the next 40 minutes while the others slept. With that I headed back downstairs smugly thinking to myself that she would not get up one more time today during nap time!  

Then it dawned on me mid-shirt folding. I had made green bug juice and not orange! I flew up the steps into the kitchen. While I had been downstairs the first time, Ms. Chatty had drug the chair over to the far counter and got onto the counter, pulled down a big bowl and had perched on that to grab a brand new bottle of Triaminic antihistamine syrup. This bottle had still had the plastic shrink wrap on it the day before. She was able to get the shrink wrap off, open the childproof bottle and swig down half of the bottle. She must have heard me coming up the steps and spilled and all I saw was her shirt and her hauling herself quickly down the hall.

 

I tried not to panic. I went calmly and got her out of bed and brought her to the kitchen and I called the Poison Control Center. I gave my name and address. They told me to give her Ipecac and then water and put her in the bathtub because she would start to bring it up. I had gone through my medicine cabinets 2 weeks prior and threw out the out-dated ipecac and had not replaced it yet. Now What?!!  They told me that they were calling the Albertson’s by me and they would have the Ipecac at the pharmacy counter, open and ready to go. I was to bring a bottle of water, a bucket and a towel, and of course Ms. Chatty.

I called my neighbor and she had her teenaged son come to watch the other two kids while she drove us to Albertson’s.  I grabbed up Ms. Chatty in one arm and had the rest in the bucket in the other arm. We hopped into her van and dashed off to the store. They had the ipecac awaiting us. (Some people would ask why we didn’t call for an ambulance. We lived ¼ mile past the Buffalo farm, in rural Snohomish county, and we could make it to the store faster than an ambulance could make it to us.)

I talked Ms. Chatty into drinking the sweet ipecac. I think she was thinking about how exciting all of this drama was and that it was all revolving around her! All of this special attention just for this sweet lil cherub! She downed the water and a little more ipecac and then more water. I was trying to get her outside, but then the ipecac kicked in. I saw her face wince, and just as we got to the doors, she started the projectile vomiting. It was amazing to me how much this little one could throw up! She kept at it for quite awhile too. By this time I had her outdoors. She never once made it into the bucket either. Amazing. I called our pediatrician and he said that we did everything correctly, and he did not have to see her. He did say to keep her hydrated, and she might not be able to blink or make spit for a little bit after ingesting all of that antihistamine.. (Laughing here now)

For the next 2 days, the Poison Control Center would call us to check on Ms. Chatty to see how she was doing. I was impressed as to how faithful they were to call every 4-6 hours.  Ms. Chatty took her naps quite well after that.

Psalm 91:4

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure.

His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.

Prayer

Thank you for that ‘still small voice’ of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that you don’t let go, but keep speaking to me even when I am not listening. Thank you for your Faithfulness, Lord. Thank you for loving my children even more than I do. Thank you for surrounding my family with people who are eager to help in any season. Help me to listen for your call the first time. Thank you for your faithfulness with me.

(Goodness) Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This... But the Fruit of the Spirit is.. Goodness

Oh Goodness… Now What?!

  

“There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

As the Holy Spirit works in our lives, our character transforms. Where we once had selfish and rebellious tendencies, we now have goodness and kindness. Goodness reflects the character of God, and goodness is one fruit of the spirit that relates directly to morality. Now try to explain this to a four, five and six year old.

I had the Roto-Rooter man on speed dial. He knew me by name. He knew my children by name. Many the times he came over to dislodge things from the toilet downstairs. What is it with kids and flushing things?  Mr. Weeble fit so perfectly that it created a vacuum that only Mr. Roto-Rooter could dislodge.

One winter day I had the full-blown flu. I was so sick that my hair hurt. I did the maintenance type of care for the kids that day. Everyone was dressed, had meals and snacks at the proper times and in between there were many videos that day.  While videos were playing, I would lay down on the couch and attempt to nap with one eye open. This actually did work. I was really looking forward to Himself coming home from work to take over for me. I had a mental countdown going on all day.

Himself called me in the late afternoon from the office. He said that Mr. Kilt had tickets for

the city’s hockey team season opener and that he really wanted to go. I reminded Himself how sick I was.  He told me he would only be gone a few hours. I was too tired to emote so I said the next best thing, “do what you think is right.” He obviously did not know this was more of a challenge than a permission. He went to the season opener.

After baths for the 3 amigos, I let them watch Gospel Bill on the TV downstairs in the playroom while eating their bedtime snacks. I layed down on the couch upstairs right by the stairway. In my fevered state I heard giggling and water slurping and a flushing noise. I was having the most incredibly confusing dream. I heard this for awhile and then I came to myself. THE KIDS!!!!

I jumped up from the couch, and fell flat on the floor from the blood rush. I finally gained use of my legs and headed downstairs. (We lived in a split level.) As I entered the basement I saw the kids dash from the laundry room/bathroom and into the playroom. I turned the corner to the laundry room; OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

 

Water was pouring out of the toilet. I looked into the commode. I looked at my empty laundry basket. I put two and two together. Earlier that day, I had washed white clothes which included socks. I had folded all of the clothing and put them into the correct bins, but I had just tossed all of the socks into the laundry basket to sort tomorrow.

My sweet cherubs had flushed EVERY single sock down the commode and it was now plugged up. I stuck my hand into the abyss and started yanking wet socks out. It finally dawned on me to shut off the water. When I did as much as I could, I called Mr.

Roto-Rooter. He came right over and snaked out as much as he could. The commode worked again! Hurray!

The cherubs had put themselves to bed while I was paying Mr. Roto-Rooter. I went in and prayed with each child. They all repented and promised to do better tomorrow.  At Christmas as family asked what to get the kids, I told them, “Socks and please don’t ask why!”

Fast forward 5 months. I am driving with the kids down the street. There are city workers seven houses down tearing up the middle of the street. There was a water main break. Next to the hole that was dug was a pile of wet goopy grey…. Socks! I told the kids to look down and stay low and not to say a word!  I was thankful that I did not put names or initials in the socks!

Psalm 25:7

Common English Bible (CEB)

"But don’t remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoing.

Remember me only according to your faithful love

For the sake of your goodness, Lord."

Prayer Time

Thank you Lord for teaching me as well as my children, how to build our character and not just be one.

Copyright © 2015 Christine Osberghaus

(Kindness) Momma Said There’d Be Days Like This… But the Fruit of the Spirit is …Kindness

Our Holidays in Seattle.

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

― Mark Twain

While the children were young, our finances were extremely tight. Himself and I have ‘giver’s hearts.’ We always want to bless people, but didn't have the funds to do this. We were (are still to this day) very creative in giving things besides money. We wanted to instill this into our children as well.

When we were first married, we wanted to be able to give a full Thanksgiving Dinner to a family in need. It was our hearts desire. Two nights after we prayed for this, we had a knock at the door. One of the local churches that we were not affiliated with brought us a Thanksgiving box complete with a smoked turkey and all of the trimmings for a complete holiday dinner, down to the apple and pumpkin pies!  We told the people that we did not need this box, because we were well taken care of, but they insisted we take it because our name was given in to them. So, we accepted the gift and were in turn able to bless a family that Himself knew from work. They were spending their first Thanksgiving in the USA. They had just moved from Vietnam.  God is so faithful. They had prayed to be able to celebrate like true Americans. We were merely God’s hands.

Some people really would talk judgmentally of how we spent our holiday mornings while we lived in Seattle; especially Christmas. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, our children

were instructed to pull out 3 of their toys to give away. Our rules were that the toys selected needed to be in complete working order with no broken or loose or missing parts. The toys also had to be cherished by the child.  It would take our children a long time to select, and we were always proud of their selections. Then we would take them to the toy store to select 1 brand new toy to give away as well. We prayed for the people who would be on the receiving end. We took the kids to the appropriate places to donate the gifts and allowed them to put the treasures into the bins or boxes. The smiles on their faces were an awesome sight. You could see their hearts beaming through their eyes.

Himself and I loved working the street ministries in Seattle and Everett. As our children grew older, we brought them with us. They were required to stay under our feet and in our eyesight at all times. They would help to pass out sandwiches and hot coffee. I remember explaining to Ms. Bunny why some would put so much sugar into one little cup of coffee. She gave me a knowing look with tears in her eyes. My children truly interceded for these people.

On Holiday mornings we would rise at 3:30am and get dressed into our work clothes. All five of us would pile into the car and Himself would drive us to the Seattle mission. We worked in the kitchen to prepare feasts for the less fortunate. Our kids were assigned tasks as well. They usually had unending boxes of produce to sort through. Our kids were appalled that stores would send such trash to the Mission, but they trudged through the task until completed. One year there were boxes of tomatoes that were mostly rotten. My children have very strong gag reflexes. Needless to say, there were unique sounds as they performed their task, but nevertheless, they completed it!

We would leave around 11:00am when the ‘Serving Food’ people would arrive. These people were dressed in beautiful holiday clothes and served the people who came through the lines. Our kids always wanted to be the ‘Servers,’ and not so much the ‘Preparers.’  We told them that if and when God communicated to us, we would ‘Serve Food’ too, but for now we were called to be the back kitchen help and do it with pride for these people, because we loved them and because they deserved to be treated well. We would then slip out the back and head home to our own traditions of breakfast and opening presents, and then we napped for hours! Sometimes we even went straight back to bed after eating and opened presents later.

Himself and I wanted our children to understand that the sweetest and best gifts were in the giving… not the receiving.  Our children learned this lesson well, and also taught it to others.

Finally one year at Christmas, the Mission Director called a few days ahead and asked if we could also stay to serve after helping to prepare the feast. Himself and I accepted and said that as long as our children could assist, we would be there. So the night before, without telling the kids, I packed up the trunk of the car with some new Christmas clothes for them to wear for their first ‘Serving Food’ at the Mission.

After a long hard morning of us cooking and sorting and washing pans, Himself went to the car and brought all of our clothes in. The kids’ eyes lit up, and we explained that we would also be staying to serve. Everyone dressed in their bests, and donned the serving aprons. We were stationed on the line ready for our honored guests.  At the end of the serving line, the Director told us now to get a plate for ourselves and to mingle with the guests.

Ms. Bunny (age 6) pulled me aside and told me that we needed to go sit with this one family that she saw sleeping in their station wagon under the bridge when we came in early that morning. So the five of us descended on their table and made introductions. We learned that they were new to Seattle and the father had lost his job and they had nowhere to live now. We talked to the Director and he took care of this wonderful family. A year later, they were helping to prepare and serve with us at the Mission.

1 Peter 4:10-11

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

 ¹⁰ Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. ¹¹ If you have the gift of speaking, preach God’s message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.

Prayer Time

Thank you for the opportunity to give. Thank you for supplying the means to be able to give. Thank you for giving us wisdom. Thank for my children’s sweet spirits and soft hearts towards you. Thank you for taking what meager things we have and turning them into bountiful blessings to all. Help us to always see when someone is in need and we thank you in advance for providing the provisions to be able to assist.

Copyright © 2015 Christine Osberghaus