When we watch a movie as a family our children often check to see what our reaction is before they react. Is Mommy laughing? Then it’s funny. Is Daddy laughing? Then it’s really funny. If something shocks them they check Mommy’s face to see if she’s scowling or smiling.

No one told them to do that. They started it on their own, and it’s almost a habit now. They do it because they trust us to teach them what is right. They want to be like us – to please us.

This is what I want to do with my Lord – weigh every reaction in the light of what He would do.

“A good example has twice the value of good advice.” ~Unknown

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: I Peter 20:21

Did your parents sleep with the door closed? Mine did. And somehow I knew that I shouldn’t just knock whenever I wanted. I don’t remember anyone telling me I shouldn’t knock on the door, but I remember knowing that I should wait until they came out. How did I learn that? Did my older sisters tell me? I wish I could remember because I wish my kids would learn that.

My children got into the habit of just knocking whenever they had a question. Time of day or seriousness of question did not matter. “Should I wear long or short sleeves?” is not the greatest way to be woke up – in my opinion. I think that questions like, “Are we going anywhere today?” could wait another 30 – 60 minutes until I come out of the bedroom! Just so you don’t panic – my children are 6, 8, 10 at this time. They can get a drink and a bowl of cereal all on their own; they can dress themselves completely, and find something to do until Mommy emerges from her room!

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There are so many things I want to write about. They come zooming into my head; and sometimes they zoom right back out again. I often end up bemoaning the fact that I didn’t make time to sit and write; or when I finally do have some time my brain is tired and fuzzy.

Writing isn’t the only area of life this happens in. There’s always more housework that could have been done; more that could be done with homeschooling; more crafts, more exercise, more music to be made, etc., etc., etc. I have a tough time keeping my to-do lists short.

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My 6 year old didn’t remember that we just throw the Christmas tree away when we are done with it. Last year we had a live tree that we kept on the porch and planted in the yard. [It's still alive!] She almost cried when I announced this year that Daddy would take the tree out to the trash. Then I felt bad.

Sometimes life throws you for a loop.

We prettied it up. The kids plugged the tree in every day. It was the biggest Christmas decoration in the house. In my mind it was always temporary, but in her mind it had taken up residence in our living room.

The same day they asked me how long they could listen to Christmas music. [Now there's a loaded question!] I said, “I guess you can listen as long as you want.” That made their day. But now, they aren’t listening to the Christmas songs anymore.

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It’s Trivia Day today in the USA! I like trivia – not that I know a ton of it, but I think it’s fun. Speaking of trivia – Jan. 4 is also Louis Braille and Jane Wyman’s birthday. And now that I just got sidetracked with pages of trivia online I’d like to ask, “Have you ever played Trivial Pursuit?”

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