12/9/04 THE GIMMIES, TEACHING CHILDREN, CALENDARS, A SMILE FOR MOMS
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman
A CURE FOR THE GIMMIES
By Mrs. Lorrie Flem ~ © 2002 TEACH Magazine, All rights reserved ~ Used by permission
I'm sure you don't need me to tell you what the Gimmies are. We have all seen them at one time or another. This ailment seems to get worse at as children's birthdays (or adults!) and Christmas approach. There is an easy cure for this problem we call the Gimmes. Since it is nearing Christmas time we will focus on that holiday here even though this can be a year-round affliction. The most effective cure for the Gimmies is to simply involve the children or better yet, absolutely saturate them in doing things for and giving things to others.
Families make wonderful volunteers. While you are busy blessing others you will also be a ministry in and of yourself. Families working together are a rare sight these days! Children are naturally energetic and enthusiastic. Most people cannot resist returning their beautifully contagious smiles.
Remember that old song with the line about love being something when you give it away? The benefits of giving the gift of our time is not limited to what we give. We will receive more by giving than we gave. As we have volunteered in different capacities over the years we have seen our children gain confidence in themselves and their ability to make a difference in the world. They begin to realize that what choices they make has an effect on others.
In order to enlist your children's willing help you need to find a ministry they want to be a part of. Things like working in a soup kitchen, food baskets, and the Angel Tree Ministry are the activities that immediately come to my mind as being appropriate for families of younger children. I would like to share some less common yet just as valuable ideas that the entire family is able to participate in. As you read these suggestions ask the Holy Spirit to put a burden on
your heart for what He would like your family to do.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Here's a suggestion that you can duplicate in your own community. We have heard of a town that has set up a Food Cooperative. In this plan you perform two hours of any type of community service and in exchange you are able to purchase a very large food basket for $25. The retail value of the basket and its contents is about $100 so this is an excellent value and a great way for towns to encourage much needed help in various programs. You can earn as many baskets as you donate hours and give them away to those who need them or use them yourself.
What about volunteering to put on a Christmas Party for children in need? This could be a great project for a family or a Boy or Girl Scout troop. Our local food bank is always in need of help and I am willing to guess yours is too.
Nursing homes are usually places desperately in need of children's smiles and joy. It is very easy to set up an afternoon to go Christmas caroling there. If your children are older another idea is to go in and bring a few items for them to make some crafts to give as gifts. With your help the older people will delight in this. One favorite is to take an instant camera, take their photo and help them make frame for it. What a fun gift for them to give someone.
Here in Maple Valley there is a toy "store" stocked with donations from community businesses. Parents who may otherwise be unable to give their children gifts can come "shop" here while the children eat some snacks and watch a video or play with a couple of volunteers. Our children and I have volunteered here and really enjoy this time.
My good friend Jodi and her children participate in "Meals On Wheels" each week. Just as the name implies, they pick up meals and deliver them to those who need them. Call your county's Department of Aging to participate.
Deliver Christmas greeting cards to the neighbors and save on postage. At the same time collect food and offer to deliver it to the local food bank. You can sing a carol for them too.
You can help the Salvation Army with its' ministry in more than one way. You can be a bell ringer for only an hour or two. Pick an indoor or outdoor location. The children love to ring the bell and their sweet smiles bring in more donations too! Or go through your closets for clothes and toys to donate. You have the added benefit of making way for the new gifts you will get this year.
There are so many opportunities for community service. Here are some others we have explored: roadside litter clean up, blood banks and voting booths, feeding the homeless in a food line, a letter or card for a serviceman (especially appropriate this year), bake and deliver baked goodies to the local fire/ambulance department, make Christmas cards or ornaments and deliver them to nursing homes, or prisoners in the local jail, scoop snow from an elderly person's driveway. We also heard of one family who works at a local Good Samaritan House where professionals provide medical/dental services at no charge. Once you begin looking you will be amazed at the possibilities and need!
AT CHURCH
You may prefer to serve within your own body of believers. I am pretty sure there is not a church that will turn an offer of help away. The secretary will usually know which direction to point you to. From helping in the office to general maintenance or cleaning, there is always a need. My friend Jennifer wanted to donate to our church one year so she volunteered to be the weekly cleaner. Once a week she joined with the sweet old gentleman who is the Maintenance man at our church and cleaned the church in preparation for Sundays. Toys and clothes are other areas that you may not have thought of. What about a church run "Toy Store" as described above? Then the children whose parents are shopping can listen to a Bible story while they wait. Donations can be made by the members to stock your shelves and then invite the people that you know would be blessed to come shop there. My sister Carisa's old church had a small room that was like a children's clothing resale shop. You could donate to it and shop in it as you desired. One lady took the sacks of donations and hung the clothes in the appropriate areas, made sure things were cleaned, and I am sure she also weeded out some things too!
Remember the Christmas Party idea? What about a Sunday School class putting on one of these? Again, done from the church it has the added value of an opportunity to share Jesus' love.
Another thing that is fun to do and is easy to involve other families in battling the Gimmies is to offer to make baskets for the deacons of your church. Make it a family project to shop for things to include from dollar stores, thrift shops, and donations you acquire from friends. Sell the baskets at cost or donate them …even offer to deliver them.
Here are a few more service ideas for you to consider: the Angel Tree project through Chuck Colson's Prison Ministries (http://www.angeltree.org), sending bears to Russia with Josh McDowell Ministries, making a gift box for Samaritan's Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.org), or distributing Bibles with the Gideon's (http://www.Gideons.org). You can also check into http://www.compassion.org, http://www.habitat.org, and http://www.amor.org. A local Christian rescue mission is a great place to show others you care too.
What about adopting a family? Pray that God will lay a family on your hearts. When you have identified what family you would like to help, begin looking for age appropriate gifts. Make a box, basket or bag to hold the gifts and pray for them daily. On Christmas Eve (or shortly before Christmas) make it a special project to go out late with the children and deliver the surprise. If you get caught just say you are God's helpers. More likely you will be able to slip away unnoticed with your hearts full of joy.
BLESS AND BE BLESSED
We have always told the children that, "Christmas is Jesus' birthday, but since He is in heaven we can't give Him concrete birthday presents so we give these gifts or our time to others." In Matthew 25 Jesus tells us that we give Him gifts when we feed the hungry, give drinks to the thirsty, take stranger in, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those imprisoned.
"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me." Matthew 25:40.
For some gift ideas we can give to Jesus see our website. These birthday present ideas for Jesus should spark your interest. http://www.TEACHmagazine.com
Most years, there is an activity that touches our hearts so much that we continue our involvement in it throughout the year. Food baskets and visiting nursing homes are great ones for this. Each of these ideas plus many that I have not thought of, teach the value of servant hood, and helps to provide a cure for the Gimmies. I bet you will find that each of them has a very good success rate. Our children are in the church play again this year. One of the songs they are singing sums it up nicely, "We're blessed to bless again." So true.
Lorrie Flem and her husband Randy, homeschool their eight children in Western Washington, the evergreen and often wet side of the state. She is the publisher of TEACH Magazine, a quarterly publication for Christian moms, convention speaker, and the author of two books, What's For Dinner, Mom? and Welcome Home, Daddy! She can be reached through [email protected] or seen on the web at http://www.TEACHmagazine.com.
By Christine Louise Hohlbaum, Germany ~ http://www.DiaryofaMother.com ~ Used by permission
Jesus' birthday is the most widely celebrated one in the world, and yet many people seem so busy at this time of year. With budgets tighter than usual this year, you still want to make this celebratory season a special one. Children can be involved in preparing for this season of light with a few simple tips.
1. Create a book of thanks with your children. Ask your children what they are grateful for. Have the kids clip out magazine photos, paste photographs of themselves, their friends, family, pets, etc. onto several sheets of paper. Staple the paper together in the middle.
2. Integrate the message of giving into your craft activities. Free printables and coloring pages can be found at these sites:
http://coloringbookfun.com
http://www.free-printables.com/archive/Coloring/Holiday
3. Make a loaf of bread together and give it to a neighbor.
4. Go through your children's closet together and donate items to a nearby homeless shelter.
5. The National Database of Nonprofit organizations has a web site which features over 850,000 non-profits and their respective ratings. Check out http://www.guidestar.org to find your favorite organization. Donate a sum in someone's name.
6. Create your own Twelve Days of Christmas song and act it out.
7. Make a calendar with old photos and write captions under them.
8. Decorate holiday cookies with your kids, place them in colorful bags, and give them to friends as gifts.
9. Start a new family tradition (for example, lighting the same candle every year, going for a hike, sledding, or making your own Christmas ornament for the tree…).
10. Create your own crèche and read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible as you set it up.
11. Reuse the tops of old holiday cards and send them as postcards. Have your children write cards to relatives and friends with you.
12. Instead of making a wish list, ask your children to make a list of things that they wished someone else had. The list may not be long, but it will make them think.
Have a happy, healthy, and loving holiday!
Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff, has been published in hundreds of publications. Her popular parenting ezine inspires thousands of parents looking for laughter and a good dose of inspiration. When she isn't teaching her eCourses "The Journaling Parent" or "How to Market Your Book", she prefers to frolic in the Bavarian countryside near Munich where she lives with her husband and two children. Visit her Web site: http://www.DiaryofaMother.com.
Personalized Calendars ~ One year, my husband and I were searching for a nice present for our children, but we had very little money. I came up with an idea that went over well. I went to a dollar store and bought a child oriented calendar for each one of them. One day each month, I wrote something special down. Some examples included favorite meal night, bake your favorite cookies with mom day, and movie of your choice (at the $1 movie theater of course!). Each child had a different day of the month. It made it very special to them. They anticipated the day all month.
In December, to end the year, we allowed them each to pick an extremely small Christmas tree ($5 at a local tree farm) to put in their rooms. They absolutely loved it. That was the most we paid for any of the monthly gifts. It made Christmas last all year, it was extremely inexpensive, the kids loved having their special days, and most importantly, we did not lose site of the most important things about Christmas. ~ Laura
tops. ~ Steffie
Turkey Tips! http://www.butterball.com/index.jsp
Great Site for Getting COMPLETELY Organized for a Great Holiday Season! Forms, links to other websites, articles, countdown for the holidays, email list for reminders and even more tips! http://www.organizedchristmas.com
Easy Recipes for Children to Try… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02may13f.cfm
Make Memories… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010416g.cfm
35 Ways to Use a Cookie Cutter… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010205h.cfm
Gifts for Little Ones… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec16b.cfm
Gifts for Teens… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec16g.cfm
Easy Kid's Crafts… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02nov11g.cfm
Ideas for Keeping Kids Busy on Those Winter Days…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010212g.cfm
Easy and Affordable Homemade Recipes for 'Easy Bake' Ovens…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000110d.cfm
Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991206e.cfm
Homemade Bubble Bath… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/990607b.cfm
Get a Head Start on the Holidays… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/03/03oct27e.cfm
Shippable Presents… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/03/03sep01a.cfm
Opening Your Home for the Holidays… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec23a.cfm
Cashing In on After-Christmas Sales… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec23c.cfm
Special Gifts for Little People - Handmade treasures for children…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec16b.cfm
Freezer Gifts for the Holidays… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec16f.cfm
Unique Gifts for Teens… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec16g.cfm
Holiday Mix and Gift Recipes… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02dec16h.cfm
Christmas Gift Baskets for Teens… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02nov25d.cfm
Simple Family Holiday Ideas… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/011203g.cfm
Wrap It for Less! http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218e.cfm
Christmas Gifts and Memories… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218f.cfm
Let's Bake a Tradition… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218g.cfm
Holiday Decorating for Pennypinchers… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218k.cfm
Ask Miserly Moms: Inexpensive Holiday Gifts… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218n.cfm
Holiday Stress Busters… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001211d.cfm
Give "Timely" Gifts… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001211e.cfm
Christmas Gifts and Traditions… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001211g.cfm
Easy Christmas Home Style… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001211j.cfm
Making Christmas Memories… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001204g.cfm
Real Recipes for Real People: Homemade Bubble Bath Gifts…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001030g.cfm
Creative Children's Gift Giving… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001009h.cfm
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Easy Homemade Candies…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991220c.cfm
Inexpensive and Fun Homemade Gifts… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991220g.cfm
Frugal Gift Wrap… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991213d.cfm
Christmas Fun Foods and Recipes…
(Sure to be hits with your kids!) http://www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991213e.cfm
The 12 Days of a RoMANtic Christmas… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991213g.cfm
A Tasty Holiday Tradition… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/99/991206g.cfm
Inexpensive Food Gifts for the Holidays… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981207a.cfm
Holiday Crafts… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981207i.cfm
Holiday Time Savers… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/981130f.cfm
A Jumpstart on Christmas… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980518a.cfm
Inexpensive Christmas Gifts, Memories and Decorations…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971210a.cfm
Inexpensive Christmas and Hanukkah Gifts…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971203b.cfm
Natural Decorations for Fall and Winter the Frugal Way…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971103b.cfm
Inexpensive Centerpieces Just in Time for the Holidays…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971009f.cfm
Frugal Christmas Decorations… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/961118a.cfm
This Old Schoolhouse: Inexpensive Holiday Decorating…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/961223a.cfm
The Krafty Kitchen Korner… http://www.stretcher.com/stories/961216c.cfm
Homemade Christmas and Hanukkah Gifts…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971030a.cfm
Advice from Mom: Traditional Christmas Crafts Pomanders and Herb Balls…
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971024a.cfm
Author unknown ~ Contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping all snug in their beds, while
Visions of Nintendo and Barbie flipped through their heads.
The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
With a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee.
So only Mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"
With the toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug,
"Oh, great," muttered Mom, "now I have to clean the rug."
"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake,
Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "So, I've made you a clone."
"A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"
"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."
Then out walked the clone - the mother's twin;
Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.
"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young and The Restless."
"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!"
"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"
From the room above, the youngest did fret.
"Mommy? Come quickly, I'm scared and I'm wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the Mom smiled, "she sure knows her part."
The clone changed the small one and hummed her a tune,
As she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon.
"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "And I love you, too."
The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal.
That's my child's love she is trying to steal."
Smiling wisely, Santa said, "To me it is clear,
Only one loving mother is needed here."
The Mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed.
"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,
when they'll be too old for my cradle and song."
The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side, Santa said, "Good night.
Merry Christmas, dear Mom, you will be all right."
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