Wednesday 5 March 2014

Ash Wednesday Words

I was excused teaching duty this morning as Benedict was with Shein.  Dave and I sat with a cup of tea and watched some recorded antics of his side of the family on  New Year's Eve 2010 at Birkrigg Common, Ulverston.  We laughed until we cried!  Dave's Dad forgot to apply the handbrake and the car ended in a ditch and Andy's Chinese Lantern would not inflate, all accompanied to some very funny music; Uncle Bernard had some fun in the editing suite.

After lunch Benedict worked from a short lesson in "Responsibility for Boys."  I first came across the series when Eva blogged about the lessons for girls, which I also bought for Pip.  Today's lesson was about caring for a sibling in particular a younger sister.  Benedict read the commentary and then shared with me his thoughts.  With some encouragement on my part he drew a picture of Pip wearing her rainbow uniform and some of the ways in which he can help Pip during these next six weeks in Lent:






We are beginning our Lentern journey with an extra burden of sickness in the house, not really a surprise!  Since January I have been unwell with predominantly chronic back pain but at the weekend another unwelcome set of symptoms appeared and I am once more back to the GP surgery for investigations.

  I have had pain like this before and the end result was major surgery when Sara was just two, not great!  So my conversation with The Lord these past few days has ran along the lines of " Gee, Lord I can't afford to be this sick, please don't let it be a hospital job, how will Dave manage with the kids?"  I even made Dave promise that he would call Emma in Spain and ask her to come home and help! Mind running on over drive at this point, methinks.

Then I remembered the Gospel passage from last Sunday:

" That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it.  Surely life means more than food and the body more than clothing.  So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I had been wondering what to give up for Lent and also what to add and the answer is right here in the text!  Give up Worrying  and start Trusting.  My dear friend Pen is giving up opinions for Lent, should be an interesting journey! 

6 comments:

Eva said...

Poor San! Having to have back surgery again does not sound good. I do hope there will be a different solution. Are there any neighbors that could help? I will say special prayers for you during Lent.

Benedict's picture and writing are so sweet (except the big teeth, Pip looks dangerous). Kind of late here, I need to sleep.

Sandra Ann said...

Not back surgery but abdominal! Pain has eased so I am hoping things will settle.

Love the comment about Pip, yep she can be dangerous at times :-)

Thank you for your prayers they are appreciated x

sustainablemum said...

Oh San I am so sorry to hear that your health has taken a turn for the worse. If there is anything I can do to help please give me a shout, you know where I am :)

Sandra Ann said...

Thank you for such a loving and kind offer, but Praise God I spoke with our homeopath this morning and after taking a history she recommended a remedy and within an hour the abdominal pain had ceased and I was actually able to get off the couch! I will still keep the GP appointment but it is such a relief to be pain free, long may it remain that way!

Xx

Eva said...

Sorry, I misunderstood, it was already very late when I read your post and replied to it. Must have been very tired. Abdominal surgery sounds even worse. I once had a spectroscopy. That was awful. Afterwards the doctor told me there was a small hernia, I should only wear loose fitting clothes and put cream into my tea and coffee.

doe said...

Dearest San, I'm relieved to read that the abdominal pain has subsided. I pray that it stays this way. I love your Lenten ideas: giving up worrying and begin trusting. I may suggest similar ones for Morgana, Chanda and I. Giving up worrying is good for me, and giving up bickering, arguing with one's sister, or telling one's sister what to do, would be good for M and C. Though it would be better to create a Responsibility lesson out of it like Benedict did. Then they can find their own words for taking care of each other. That was very nice to do with them, and I like his picture ;)

Keep laughing! Laughter is such good medicine too. Dave's family's movie was good for you.