Kidding Eating Veggies

By Jackie Morgan MacDougall
Jan. 9, 2009

Sit down for dinner with my kids, and the table will be covered with foods you can only get off a kids’ menu at an overpriced chain restaurant. I know, it’s totally my fault and I beat myself up constantly.

So after five years of kicking, screaming, crying and moping — all by me — I finally had enough and decided that the food issues in this house were going to be addressed — once and for all.

Ask any mom, doctor or pretty much anyone who consumes food, and everyone has their own opinion.

Pediatrician Dr. Christine Wood, author of How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It [Griffin Publishing Group 15.95], suggests the one-bite rule, recommending, with preschoolers especially, that after trying the food, they do not need to actually finish it.

Others swear that if you include kids in the shopping and preparation process, they’ll be thrilled to throw back the healthy stuff.

Instead of following one school of thought, I incorporated tiny bites of advice from various sources (along with my own stubborn need to win) to create a little experiment I like to call, “Operation Eat Your Veggies.”

 

Day 1: Broccoli. I put a tiny piece of the green veggie on the kids’ plates along with small bites of other foods they like.

Suggested by a former babysitter and longtime kindergarten teacher, she said it was the best way to introduce yet not overwhelm with mounds of strange-looking vegetables.

My three kids (2, 4, and 5) ate the other two foods quickly and the broccoli sat there.
 
“Eat your broccoli and you’ll get more,” I enlightened them.
 
My almost 3-year-old daughter gobbles it up. My 4- and 5-year-old boys’ plates remain on the table. I just happened to have a sitter that night so I could get some errands done, so I instructed the sitter (also a mom) that they were to eat nothing else.

Before I even got out of the car at errand #1, I had a text that my preschool boy had eaten his broccoli.
 
I swear I cried.
 
The next morning, the kindergartner came skipping down for breakfast.
 
“Do you want your breakfast warm or cold,” I asked. He looked up to see the broccoli sitting on the plate from the night before and looked completely dejected.
 
“Warm,” he muttered.
 
After dousing it in syrup and squishing his face up until he was unrecognizable, he ate it.
 
Sweet victory.
 

Day 2: Apple Slices. I know. You’re probably scratching your head wondering why my boys won’t even eat apples.

They love apple sauce and Jacob ate three juicy red apples while apple picking in New England over the fall, but apples have sat night after night in my house, turning brown as adamant cries of refusal pierce my ears.
 
This time, I tried a new technique. “Just put it on your tongue,” I instructed. (It is the gateway to eating, ya know.)
 
With a small amount of discussion and the threat of never eating anything they like ever again, apples were eaten.
 

Day 3: Green Beans. We were invited to dinner at a friend’s house, something that normally sends me into the fetal position, thinking about how my kids will react to actual food. But I was determined to use the experience as a teachable moment.

Grilled chicken, Mac and cheese and green beans were served. Grilled chicken, Mac and cheese and green beans came home with us that night. Grilled chicken, Mac and cheese and green beans were served for breakfast the next day.

That’s when one child was smart enough to know that a fight was pointless and eventually was satisfied that I covered his green beans in peanut butter (don’t judge) and ate it. The other pulled out a 3-part trick of his own…
 
Eat… swallow… throw up.
 
He sings “I threw up… ha ha!”
 
Doha. I can’t compete with that.                                
 

Days 4-7: The tortured veggie-eating life got easier and easier with each passing day. We enjoyed pancakes with blended blueberries and flaxseed, pureed spinach in homemade pizza, watermelon slices, carrots, even tried Chinese food.

The trick there was telling my kindergartner’s friend that they could play video games once he ate it. Suddenly, I had a 5-year-old powerhouse trying to get my kid to eat – SCORE.
 

Week 2: I made their favorite box of crap macaroni and cheese, mixed with a substantial amount of cauliflower.

It was devoured in seconds. Speaking of seconds, they even wanted more. Could they actually be acquiring a taste for the good stuff?
 
Week 3: Can you say grilled chicken parmesan and carrots? I actually made a meal that required no boxes or ingredients with a shelf life of seven decades. Life around here is changing for the better.

And while I know we’re just at the beginning of a very long road, with determination, consistency, and a massive amount of patience on my part, my kids might actually eat like normal little human beings.
 
How do you get your kids to eat their vegetables?

 

Source: Family

 

Editor’s Note: Jackie Morgan MacDougall, on the never-ending quest for balance, enjoys life in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeff, and their three small kids. Read more of her take on parenting, kids and everything else on The Silver Whining.

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

We Need Each Other

by Mike DeVries
Jan. 6, 2010

The LORD God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will
make a helper suitable for him.” -Genesis 2:18

The book of Genesis is a book about beginnings. It tells of how our world came into being and why it is the way it is. Genesis 1-3 is a painting, an epic story, a beautifully crafted piece of oetry.

And like all good poetry, its use of words and phrases are important to the overall message.

If you read Genesis 1-2, there’s this phrase that is repeated over and over again in the creation story. God speaks something into existence, and it appears. God surveys His work of creation, while the following phrase is repeated over and over again: “And God saw that it was good.”

This is the image that we are given of creation at the very beginning. Whatever God created, He saw as good. Everything was good. Everything was right. Everything was as it should be.

Except one thing.

Genesis 2:18 captures an astounding statement. In a world where everything God has created is “good,” one thing in the garden isn’t – “It is not good for man to be alone.”

Now what makes this statement so astounding is that it comes before Genesis 3. We have this image that everything before mankind’s fall into sin was perfect and the way that God wanted it to be, but apparently there was one thing that was not working so good. Aloneness is the only thing wrong in the garden.

Humanity was never meant to live life alone.

From the very beginning of creation, the portrait we see is that humanity is wired for relationship. People crave relationships.

The account of Genesis 1-2 tells us why. God is a relational being, and when He created humanity in His own image, He created us as relational beings as well. A human being, out of relationship with the rest of humanity, is… well… un-human.

According to Genesis 2:18, we have a need for others. Just consider how many times God has used others in your own life, through a friend or loved one, who was “there” for you at the right moment.

46 times the New Testament reminds us of what we should be doing for “one another” – loving one another, serving one another, forgiving one another, meeting one another’s needs, bearing one another’s burdens… to mention just a few.

The Scriptures from beginning to end proclaim this one fact – humanity was not meant to live life alone. We really do need each other.

 

Source: Home Word      APU

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Do More than Nothing

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Jan. 4, 2010

Do you know what “Joylogy” means? It is the study of caring, sharing, and listening and Sacrifice.

This was written by Mr. Jeineke in 1975

We would like to know what you think: dan@youngchronicle.com

What is a Joyologist? A joyologist then would be one who studies joy logy. Frankly our world could use a great many joyologists whose mission in life is to actively research the effects of discussing and sharing joy.

The research could branch out into how joy affects our careers, family lives, and friendships. The very act of doing the active research should spread jubilation throughout the world and bring about positive results. What a fun job!

All one needs to start with is to share the words joyism, joy logy, and joyologis with others. Use the words daily and make them a part of the world’s vocabulary.

The upcoming year is going to challenge us all. Here is something we need to think, this is from an unknown reader. It is called: Do More than Nothing

 

By Mother Theresa

 Do more than exist–love.
Do more than hear–listen.
Do more than agree–cooperate.
Do more than talk–communicate.
Do more than spend–invest.
Do more than think–create.
Do more than work–excel.
Do more than share–give.
Do more than decide–discern.
Do more than consider–commit.
Do more than help–serve.
Do more than coexist–reconcile.
Do more than see–perceive.
Do more than read–apply.
Do more than receive–reciprocate.
Do more than advise–help.
Do more than encourage–inspire.
Do more than add–multiply.
Do more than change–improve.
Do more than reach–stretch.
Do more than ponder–pray.
Do more than forgive–forget.
Do more than wish–believe.
Do more than grow–bloom.
Do more than dream–DO!

Source: Joyology

The Important Call

By Elizabeth Cole
Jan. 3, 2009

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? 

And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? –Romans 10:13-14

 

My 17-year-old was on her way to go sledding with friends on a Sunday afternoon. Before she left, I heard her in the garage rummaging around. Silence. Then a call, “Mom, I need help!”

There she was on the stepladder, reaching as high as she could into the rafters trying to get her flexible flyer down…but to no avail.

“I’m trying to get the sled down, but I can’t reach it. Will you help me?” Hallelujah… It’s was not often that I got that kind of request from my daughter!

“Here, hop off; I’ll do it for you.” I grinned as I easily did for her what she couldn’t do for herself, sending her on her way with sled in tow!

What a precious picture God gave me that day of the last part of His salvation process:  Someone obeys Him and tells the Good News of salvation to another; that person hears the very words of God through the speaker and believes…and then, that person CALLS on the name of the Lord.

Scripture makes it clear that just intellectually agreeing Jesus is the Savior isn’t enough — “even the demons believe…” Certainly, my daughter could have stood all day on that stepladder believing that I was tall enough to help her.

But it was only when she ACTED on what she knew to be true, calling out for my help that she received what she needed, what she couldn’t do on her own.

Real life begins with a personal dependence on Jesus, with calling out to Him to give us what we can never attain ourselves: a right relationship with the God of the Universe through faith in what He did for us on the Cross.

Source: Home Word      Azusa Pacific University

 

Editor’s Note: You can comment on today’s devotional contactus@homeword.com or dan@youngchronicle.com

Special Happy New Year

by Margaret Sangster
Dec. 31, 2009

Coming, coming, coming!
Listen! perhaps you’ll hear
Over the snow the bugles blow
To welcome the glad new year.
In the steeple tongues are swinging,
There are merry sleigh bells ringing,
And the people for joy are singing,
It’s coming, coming near.

Flying, sighing, dying,
Going away tonight,
Weary and old, its story told,
The year that was full and bright.
Oh, we are half sorry it’s leaving
Good-by has a sound of grieving;
But its work is done and its weaving;
God speed its parting flight!

Tripping, slipping, skipping,
Like a child in its wooing grace,
With never a tear and never a fear,
And a light in its laughing face;
With hands held out to greet us,
With gay little steps to meet us,
With sweet eyes that entreat us,
The new year comes to its place.

Coming, coming, coming!
Promising lovely things –
The gold and the gray of the summer day,
The winter with fleecy-wings;
Promising swift birds glancing,
And the patter of raindrops dancing,
And the sunbeam’s arrowy lancing,
Dear gifts the new year brings.

Coming, coming, coming!
The world is a vision of white;
From the powdered eaves to the sere-brown leaves
That are hidden out of sight.
In the steeple tongues are swinging,
The bells are merrily ringing,
And “Happy New Year” we’re singing,
For the old year goes tonight.

Source: Apples 4 the Teacher

Editor’s Note; We would like to know what you thing dan@youngchronicle.com

A Dog Name Lucky

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Dec. 28, 2009

Do you know what “Joylogy” means? It is the study of caring, sharing, and listening and Sacrifice.

This was written by Mr. Jeineke in 1975

We would like to know what you think: dan@youngchronicle.com

What is a Joyologist? A joyologist then would be one who studies joy logy. Frankly our world could use a great many joyologists whose mission in life is to actively research the effects of discussing and sharing joy.

The research could branch out into how joy affects our careers, family lives, and friendships. The very act of doing the active research should spread jubilation throughout the world and bring about positive results. What a fun job!

All one needs to start with is to share the words joyism, joy logy, and joyologis with others. Use the words daily and make them a part of the world’s vocabulary.

The upcoming year is going to challenge us all. Here is something we need to think, this is from an unknown reader. It is called: A Dog Name Lucky

 

 

By Unknown

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog, Lucky. Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.

Inevitably someone would forget and something would come up missing Mary or Jim would go to Lucky’s toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky’s favorite toys.

Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease…she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.

The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her…what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim he was Mary’s dog through and through.

If I die Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won’t understand that I didn’t want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully but the dog just drooped, whining and miserable. But finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital.

When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn’t even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.

Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn’t come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.

When Mary woke for a second she couldn’t understand what was wrong. She couldn’t move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.

Panic soon gave way to laughter though when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, in every treasure Lucky owned!

While she had slept the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement and back bringing his beloved mistress his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love.

Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every night.

It’s been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

Live everyday to the fullest…because every day is a blessing from God!

 

Source: Joyology

For America and the World

By Jeffery S. Colter
GCC/Staff
Dec. 25, 2009

Greetings to all of you, and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I hope in some way your lives are blessed during this festive time we all partake as Americans.

I want to first thank every one of you for your prayers and encouraging messages concerning the prayer request I sent out almost two weeks ago. 

Because of God’s mercies and faithfulness that request was answered.  The bank notified us a few days ago that they are willing to refinance our home so we can stay.  Again, on behalf of my wife and I, our many thanks.

As you know many have come upon hard financial times; unemployment, the loss of earnings and savings, perhaps even the loss of a home or the threat of losing a home.  Some have even had the recent loss of loved ones. 

After my last weekly FOOD FOR THOUGHT message I received an email from a friend telling me that because of the loss of their spouse due to cancer they did not know if they could believe in God the same way I do. 

This person said they have become more cynical, and believes God does turn a blind eye to suffering and hardship; that God does give us more than we can bear contrary to what Scripture says.

My heart sank.  I had no words.  No advice.  My mind wandered for two days seeking God’s guidance in how to answer my friend’s email.  After much thought and prayer I finally was able to sit down and write to this person. 

 

This is what I wrote back:

 

Dear (anonymous)

First of all, I want to give you my sincere, heartfelt condolences for the loss of your spouse. That is something that no one can understand unless one has gone through it themselves. You will be in my prayers.

From what you say I sense a great deal of hurt and perhaps anger towards God which is legitimate and proper.

I will not offer any platitudes, clichés, or try to preach to you, I promise. But I do want you to consider just a couple points which I want to say as words of encouragement and “food for thought”.

It is easy and natural to be cynical about God and not understand the relationship God has with us when something of this magnitude happens in our lives.

So I hope I am able to explain myself in such a way that will not be offensive or preachy.

There is a difference between God allowing things to happen and causing things to happen. This dichotomy is confusing because if God is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, why would He not stop tragedies from happening?

Why would He not intervene when asked to do so? If He knows something is going to happen before it happens why does He stand back and allow it? These questions, my friend, have been asked through the ages by great theological scholars and people like you and I.

The answer simply is, I don’t know. And if anyone does claim to know the answers they are fooling themselves. To know the mind of God is impossible.

We can catch glimpses of it and understand His relationship to man by reading Scripture, but there are always going to be more questions than answers.

Even as a Christian, which I am, I ask these questions often. I ask the questions you ask, “What possible good can come from this?”; “Plan?

What the hell kind of plan is this you promised me, God?”; “Why would You hurt me like this?” Often times there is simply no answer. But this doesn’t mean God doesn’t hear us.

It doesn’t mean God turns a blind eye to man’s suffering. What it means is we live in a fallen world as a fallen race. Because of man’s fall there will always be sorrow, suffering, hardship, pain, and yes, even disease and death.

Life simply sucks at times with no explanation why.

I want you to know this, my friend. It is okay to be angry towards God. He can take it, and He won’t love you any less. I don’t know your religious background, but if you have a Bible read the book of Job.

This is a man who was wealthy and blessed with a family. Yet, God allowed it all to be taken away and Job was not only angry towards God but he cursed God for his loss.

At the end Job was blessed more than he had before. Job asked the same questions I mentioned. The same questions you may be asking now.

It is okay to be a cynic. You can even give up on believing in God. But God will never give up on you. God has never given up on any of us.

That is why we celebrate Christmas. Next to Easter it is the greatest example of God’s love for us and how He wants us to come to Him just as we are, cynic or not.

God bless you, and I hope somehow these were words of encouragement and I hope we can continue to correspond. 

May God give you peace and strength during these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Jeff

 

What is amazing about Christmas to me is that God Himself actually came to us.  God in the flesh as the Son of Man, the Prince of Peace, the Alpha and Omega, the Great I Am. 

We all search and desire peace, especially in hard times such as these we face in our nation.  I am here to tell you that there will never be true peace until we understand our relationship with the Almighty and His divine plan for each of our lives.

You see, peace is really an abstract and subjective term.  True peace comes from the Prince of Peace, the baby born in a manger, and that is how God desires us to come to Him, just as He came to us, as a baby. 

When we are open and humble, realizing the magnificent gifts He has given us at birth as described in Scripture and the Declaration of Independence then we can begin the journey to know and understand Him who created us.

First, life; formed in our mother’s womb by God’s very hand, He laid out the days of our lives even before our birth. We are made in God’s image and are His most precious and awesome creation. 

Second, liberty; the gift God has given us as free agents with free will to decide our own destinies. 

As we do not want man or government to force their will upon us, we can choose to live our lives as God intended or go our own way. God does not force His will upon us. 

Third and last, pursuit of happiness; the fact that each of us is unique and have been blessed by God with certain gifts, talents and abilities to be productive and creative for the good of our communities, nation, and most of all, for His Kingdom.

My friends, do not ever think that God does not hear your cry or think you do not matter to Him. 

He hears the cries of all.  That is why on this day that we call Christmas we can celebrate the answer to all of mankind’s cries.

Thank you.  God bless you all this Christmas. 

May God give you and your families that special peace that is eternal and life changing.

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Won’t Cost You Thing

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Dec. 25, 2009

Do you know what “Joy logy” means? It is the study of caring, sharing, and listening and Sacrifice.

This was written by Mr. Jeineke in 1975

We would like to know what you think: dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

What is a Joyologist? A joyologist then would be one who studies joy logy. Frankly our world could use a great many joyologists whose mission in life is to actively research the effects of discussing and sharing joy.

The research could branch out into how joy affects our careers, family lives, and friendships. The very act of doing the active research should spread jubilation throughout the world and bring about positive results. What a fun job!

All one needs to start with is to share the words joyism, joy logy, and joyologis with others. Use the words daily and make them a part of the world’s vocabulary.

The upcoming year is going to challenge us all. Here is something we need to think, this is from an unknown reader. It is called: Gifts That Won’t Cost You Thing

 

By Unknown

THE GIFT OF LISTENING…

But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

 

THE GIFT OF AFFECTION…

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds.
Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

 

THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER…

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories.
Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

 

THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE…

It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

 

THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT…

A simple and sincere,
“You look great in red,” “You did a super job” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

 

THE GIFT OF A FAVOR…

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

 

THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE…

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone.
Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

 

THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION…

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it’s not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You.

 

 

Source: Joyology

Meaning of Christmas Day

By Anna Morrison|
Dec. 24, 2009

“Boys,” said Mrs. Howard one morning, looking up from a letter she was reading, “I have had a letter from your grandmamma. She writes that she is returning to England shortly.”

The boys went on with their breakfast without showing any great amount of interest in this piece of news, for they had never seen their grandmother, and therefore could not very well be expected to show any affection for her.

Now Mrs. Howard, the mother of two of the boys and aunt to the third little fellow, was a widow and very poor, and often found it a hard task to provide for her “three boys,” as she called them, for, having adopted her little orphan nephew, she always treated him as her own son.

She had sometimes thought it strange that old Mrs. Howard should not have offered to provide for Leslie herself but she had never done so, and at last Mrs. Howard had ceased to expect it. But now, right at the end of her letter, Grandmamma Howard wrote:—

“I have been thinking that perhaps it would come a little hard on you to support not only your own two boys, but poor Alice’s son, and so, on my return to England, I propose, if you are willing, to adopt one of them, for I am a lonely old woman and shall be glad of a young face about me again.”

After thinking the matter over, Mrs. Howard decided she would say nothing about their grandmother’s intention to the boys, as she thought that it was just possible she might change her mind again.

Time passed on, and winter set in, and full of the delights of skating, the boys forgot all about the expected arrival of their grandmother.

During the Christmas holidays the boys one morning started off to Broome Meadow for a good day’s skating on the pond there. They

Carried their dinner with them, and were told to be sure and be home before dark.

As they ran along the frosty road they came suddenly upon a poor old woman, so suddenly that Leslie ran right up against her before he could stop himself.

The old woman grumbled about “lazy, selfish boys, only thinking of their own pleasure, and not caring what happened to a poor old woman!”

But Leslie stopped at once and apologized, in his polite little way, for his carelessness.

“I am sorry,” he said. “I hope I did not hurt you; and you have such heavy parcels to carry too. Won’t you let me help you?”

“Oh! Come on, Leslie,” said his cousins; “we shall never get to the pond at this rate!”

“Yes, go on,” said the old woman sharply; “your skating is of a great deal more importance than an old woman, eh?”

But Leslie’s only answer was to take the parcels and trudge merrily along beside his companion.

On the way to her cottage the old woman asked him all sorts of questions about himself and his cousins, and then, having reached her cottage, dismissed him with scarcely a “thank you” for the trouble he had taken. But Leslie did not take it much to heart.

He raced along, trying his hardest to overtake his cousins before they reached the pond, and was soon skimming about with the rest of them.

Squire Leaholme, in whose grounds the boys were skating, afterwards came down to the pond to watch the fun, and, being a kind-hearted old gentleman, offered to give a prize of a new pair of skates to the boy who should win the greatest number of races.

As it was getting late, it was arranged that the racing should come off on the following day, and the Squire invited all the boys who took part in it, to come up to his house to a substantial tea, after the fun was over.

How delighted Leslie was, for he was a first-rate skater, and he did so want a new pair of skates!

But the Squire’s skates were not to be won by him, for on the following day as he and his cousins were on their way to the pond, they came across the queer old woman whom they had met on the previous day.

She was sitting on the ground, and seemed to be in great pain. The boys stopped to ask what ailed her, and she told them that she had slipped and twisted her foot, and was afraid that her ankle was sprained, for she could not bear to put it to the ground.

“You mustn’t sit here in the cold,” said Leslie; “come, try and get up, and I will help you home.”

“Oh! Leslie,” cried both his cousins, “don’t go. You will be late for the races, and lose your chance of the prize.”

Poor Leslie! He turned first red, then white, and then said, in a husky tone of voice.

“Never mind…you go on without me.”

“You’re a good laddie,” said the old woman. “Will you be very sorry to miss the fun?”

Leslie muttered something about not minding much, and then the brave little fellow set himself to help the poor old woman home, as gently and tenderly as he could.

She would not let him come in with her, but told him to run off as quickly as he could, and perhaps after all, he would not be too late for the skating.

But Leslie could not bear to leave her alone and in pain, so he decided to run home and fetch his Aunt.

When Mrs. Howard arrived at the cottage, you can think how surprised she was to find that Leslie’s “poor old woman” was none other than Grandmamma Howard herself, who wishing to find out the

Real characters of her grandsons had chosen to come in this disguise to the little village where they lived.

You will easily guess which of the three boys Grandmamma chose to be her little companion. And oh! What a lovely Grandmamma she was, as not only Leslie, but his cousins too, found out.

She always seemed to know exactly what a boy wanted, and still better, to give it to him.

Walter and Stanley often felt terribly ashamed of the selfish manner in which they had behaved, and wished they were more like Leslie.

But Grandmamma told them that it was “never too late to mend,” and they took her advice, and I am quite sure that at the present moment if they were to meet a poor old woman in distress by the roadside, they would not pass her by, as they once did Grandmamma Howard.

Source: Apples 4 the Teacher

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Take a Special Dance With God

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Dec. 19, 2009

Do you know what “Joy logy” means? It is the study of caring, sharing, and listening and Sacrifice.

This was written by Mr. Jeineke in 1975

We would like to know what you think: dan@youngchronicle.com

What is a Joyologist? A joyologist then would be one who studies joy logy. Frankly our world could use a great many joyologists whose mission in life is to actively research the effects of discussing and sharing joy.

The research could branch out into how joy affects our careers, family lives, and friendships. The very act of doing the active research should spread jubilation throughout the world and bring about positive results. What a fun job!

All one needs to start with is to share the words joyism, joy logy, and joyologis with others. Use the words daily and make them a part of the world’s vocabulary.

The upcoming year is going to challenge us all. Here is something we need to think, this is from an unknown reader. It is called: Take a Special dance With God

 

 By Unknown

When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.  I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.  When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.  The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.  When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.  It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE.

When I saw “G,” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i.” “God, “u” and “i” dance.  God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let’s continue to pray for one another.

AND I HOPE YOU DANCE !

Source: Joyolgy

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