Monday, July 11, 2005

A quilt for our mum!

Our mum is going to Thailand for Christmas and New Year. She has some important stuff to do there so she is busy getting ready for her trip. Anyhow I chanced to find out that some people are having a fund-raising auction for her and another lady to raise the money they need to go and do this very important stuff.
Now here is me, just look at me for a moment. I am a stay at home mum with three children, I don't produce anything that Helen Clark would regard as helping the economy (except maybe Ezibuy's turnover) so what important stuff can I do??
Well I am going to make a wall-hanging type quilt to sell at the auction. I've planned it, and found the fabrics, I've cut it all out and I'm going to sew it carefully together. Then i'll back it and quilt it all over and then I will put a binding on it. It will look ok I think and maybe it will raise $50 for mum.
Now officially I'm not going to Thailand to work with the children there or help the helpers in the special work that they do, but just for tonight I am part of that work in Thailand even though I haven't left my house.
What do you think about that?
Jesus said, "If you give a glass of water to a little child because of Me, you will be rewarded." I think He'll like the quilt I'm making Him tonight.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

About my boys...

It's Tuesday night, I spent a few hours in bed today and took a few cold'n'flu tablets so that I could go to boys brigade, and now I feel great. It seems that no matter how crap I feel before I go I always come away energised! I think this means that Boys Brigade pushes all my buttons. I never would have thought that I would like it, to me the name summons up a picture of fuzty old men in tweed jackets teaching boys about tying knots.

But no, it is about 8-16 little boys. Real boys, boys with snotty noses and filthy hands, boys with torn trousers and not enough clothes. Boys who haven't had enough to eat all day, that devour the tea I give them and come back for seconds. These self same boys who still have room for two bits of home baking for supper. They are full of energy, they literally bounce of the walls. They are so spiky and defensive, but they have hearts that are longing to be loved.

These boys of mine just want me to watch what they do, they want me to hug them and tell them they are great. They want to eat up all the food (of course) but it's more than that. They just want me to be there. Sometimes on Tuesday nights it is hard work, we are setting boundries left right and centre. Boys get sent home, boys get told off again and again. They fight against our rules every step of the way.

But.. if we chance upon one of our boys at the fish'n chip shop, or PakNSave, or the movies, or if we drive past their house and hoot our horn at them, they love it. They are always so thrilled to see us. They go to school and tell their teachers about us, they go home and tell their mums (only two of our boys have dads that live with them). We are one of the highlights of their week. They even invite their skinny little friends to come.

It is such an honour to be involved with Boys Brigade at Opawa, I feel like I've waited all my life to find a spot that fits me so well. Tonight and last tuesday we taught them to use the sewing machine. Give a boy a machine with an accelerator and he's happy. They have all taken home bags they made themselves. They are filled with pride and achievement. They have eaten sausage rolls and chocolate chip cookies. I have told them that I love them all. What a priviledge to make these grimey little boys so happy.

Now isn't that a worthwhile thing to do?? Roll on next tuesday.

Friday, July 01, 2005

No pressure!

Today we dumped our old windows. Nobody wants them, not even the recycle depo at the dump so we had to throw them out. It seemed such a shame, years ago someone carefully made them and was pleased with their days work. They've kept the cold, wind and rain away from our family for 30 odd years. I kind of felt sentimental. But why keep them just because I've gazed out the glass for hours??? They have rotten bits (lots of) and they need painting (regularly), they have been home to many little borers who have flowen out into the big wide world to find new homes. Yes it's time to move on. Our new windows are snug and weather tight, and after Arthur has cleaned them (if i ring up mum and ask her) they will be clean and shining.

And the men who were satisfied with their day's work years ago?? Well they did their job well. They can be proud. It was not wasted. The windows were fantastic. But now we have moved on.

Often and often I find myself straining to achieve something that will last forever, but actually all that God requires is for us to do what lays to our hand and do it well. And as long as it lasts as long as it is needed, that is all that counts. No pressure! just a sense of achievement.

Hurray, what a relief. I'm just off to do some important jobs, cuddle my sick boy (that will be recorded forever), make my husband and friend a coffee (that also) and cook some tea for my family. All things that if done well are things that count.