OK. So I have been a little on edge as of late. Some stress. Some work issues. Some personal issues. You know...life stuff. And I think I may have been a little short with the kids here and there. I knew I needed to take a chill pill when Levi said two things:
1. One night when we were doing something fun (I can't remember what it was), Levi says, "Dad you're the best dad ever! EXCEPT for...you know...THE CANDY NIGHT."
Oh, yeah...maybe one night when the kids had snuck one too many pieces of candy, I might have...I don't know...possibly...rummaged through the house and thrown every last morsel of candy in the house away. And maybe the velocity of the candy leaving my hand and plummeting into the bottom of the trash can may or may not have been somewhat speedy and forceful. And the children may or may not have been a wee bit upset when this happened, or you know, didn't happen. Whichever the case may be.
Either way, CANDY NIGHT shall live in Cottrell house infamy.
2. Levi and I were riding in the car together...just the two of us. Out of the blue, he says, "Dad, you don't look madder without your glasses."
I didn't realize I looked mad WITH my sunglasses on.
Oh well. Point duly noted, Levi. Point duly noted.
Let the CHILLING OUT BEGIN.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:3-8
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I wrote about the "A" word on Monday because it was beginning to take over my life.
Hope you have a day full of peace. Peace. Peace. Peace.
Hugs,
Fran
Thanks for the reminder that (a) I'm not alone and (b) "chilling out" is a biblical concept :)
Blessings,
Todd
As parents, I think, no...I know we all have our moments. My girls have said things to me over the years about the way that I reacted to things that just made my heart cringe. It is so wonderful that we have verses such as these to fall back on and renew our strength.
I don't think you look mad in your sunglasses either.
Have a Blessed week!
Cindy in Weaverville
"Let the Chilling Out Begin."
They should paint that on signs at Hobby Lobby. :)
Great words for this momma today!
I shudder to think of how very many of those "testy" moments live on in infamy in my own kids' minds!
Thank God I'm REDEEMED, and, hopefully, their memories are, too! :o)
Have a great day chillin' with Jesus,
Melinda
Sounds like a scene from this household. :( I think it's the summer slump...around here we are fixing to gear up for school. I think a little more routine will help us all!! (Plus we'll take all of December off this year.)
Praying that God gives you all a peace filled day!!!
blessings,
stephanie
Oh, have I had MY days!
Each time that I do, I am reminded that doing things my way just doesn't work so well!
Thank goodness for the Word! I am so thankful that this life came with instructions, even though they are sometimes hard to understand!
Oh thank you Jesus..Thank you Travis I needed this. God is so Good!!
Great lesson for the day...
I read this and think of the day recently that I swore that I would never buy my kids Apple Jacks EVER AGAIN. Hmm... really?
Thanks for your honesty, or at least your honesty about a situation which may or may not have happened.
Oh, I am lovin this!! I am a teacher, thoroughly enjoying my time to "chill and recoup" before school starts. It is a time where all parents sooooo appreciate us more... :-)
Man something must be in the air
I got so mad at my boys yesterday I yelled (and I am not a yeller)
The funny part is I guess I look goofy when I yell b/c both boys started laughing - great!
It did help relieve the tension b/c I started to crack up laughing too :)
I will pray for peace for you and your family
Do we need to send those kids some candy to redeem you :)
God bless
Kim
I'm in the same boat. Trying to learn a little better the fine art of chilling.
Thanks for being real. :) I'm workin' on chillin' out, too. :)
Thanks Travis! I have been struggling lately as well with some ministry issues. The other night the Lord led me to John 13:21 which starts out "Now, Jesus was deeply troubled..." as I have been lately. This verse is when He was predicting His betrayal and then shortly thereafter He predicted Peter's denial. Then as you pointed out in the next chapter is John 14:1 where Jesus says "Don't let your hearts be troubled..." How "testy" do you think we would be if we knew that those closest to us would betray and deny us? Yet Jesus knew His purpose and trusted in the Father and so should we. Thanks for sharing and reminding me of this.
I think we all have been there - done that! Like threatening to give away all of Power Ranger toys because they always seem to be in the middle of the floor where we can step on them! I hate those moments when I step back and look at myself - ashamed of how I acted. That's when I run in and cuddle up with my boy - tell him I love him - and then go buy another Power Ranger toy!!!! (I know, you can't buy love, right? - but it makes me feel better).
Praying that God brings us all to that "Chill Zone"!
Christi
Me, too!
Amen to the Word. I need it.
Prayin' for your family...for the things and stuff of life.
And just to underline the point, I just broke up another fussing fight, by fussing myself. Ug.
Maybe it's what you said in the sunglasses...JK. My son jokingly says I was perfect except the time I knocked him down---I went for his arm and he dramatically fell down. Oh goodness, our kids see the real thing, don't they. And they see a dad who will never give up on God or on their mom or on them. Yes, they see the battle that ensues in our soul every day---and that battle is won so they see a whole lot in you that they'll never get over---the Christ in you!
I'm SOOooooo there :(
But may have fought you in your frenzy fight FOR that candy you were taking away :)
we've all been there, Trav...as parents, it's tough but thank the Lord we get TONS of do=overs...my latest "testy sign"? My 8 year old asked me if he was too much trouble...ughh, my heart ached...
I feel your pain on the candy thing. My husband bought each of my children a gumball/Runts vending machine for their first birthdays, and we've place the machines in local businesses as a small business opportunity for our kids to earn a little extra income and have a way to learn about earning/managing money...we keep the quarters we collect in the machines in a big bowl in my husband's office. Recently, my husband brought one of the machines home because the business it was in closed down. So, it's been sitting in the home office for a while now, and my three year old has begun this naughty habit of sneaking into my husband's office pulling a quarter out of the big bowl, and buying himself a handfull of Runts...which he crams down his throat as quickly as possible (the red drool down his chin is a deal giveaway every time, though). After catching him multiple times in one day, I sat both children down and PLAINLY explained that this much sugar is REALLY not good for us, and we are NOT ALLOWED in Daddy's office anymore, unless he is in there working and invites us to come in with him...I began spanking for breaking that rule because my kids were living on a massive sugar high...but my "buns of steel" boy has "counted the cost" and feels that the candy is worth the spanking! I WISH I knew how do disassemble the vending machine and forcefully throw the runts away! I'd do it in a heartbeat!
In our household, the "Legend of Shawn being Booted out of the Car" is my most retold mom-totally-lost-it story. Let's just say...I DID pull over (don't make me pull this car over) and I DID make him walk home (it was only 2 or 3 blocks...and I snuck back 'round the block and followed at a discreet distance because I was so worried). He was 7 or 8 at the time. Oy.
Chances are, they'll forget all about the candy incident. Until you are meeting the President of the United States or offering up the toast at one of their weddings or some other most inopportune time!
Deep breaths...lots of prayer.
I am still trying to picture Travis "upset/throwing-candy/rummaging-mad" Cottrell, or should I say NOT doing all that?! LOL
I know, we all have tempers, and we are all human too, it just proves that EVERYONE has their days. That's when we use the Bible as our guide to calm us down and cheer us up. (As Pastor Rod calls it, Bible = Our Guidebook for Living) :)
Thanks for the great verses Travis.
take care bro! and have an UNupset/UNthrowing-candy/UNrummaging-mad week!! ;) lol
I may or may not can relate with your experience. I may have "had it" with some backseat fighting that went on TOO LONG today after the pool, grocery store, and errands. They looked at me like I was a maniac when I may have reminded them a little too loudly that "I am not a referee... work it out or else". Yep, I pulled out the old "or else".
Oh well, tomorrow is another day.
I really think they need to make vans with sound proof glass around the driver's seat. Seriously.
Out of the mouth of babes and conviction falls like a sledge hammer. Aren't you grateful for it? Hangest thou in there. AND you're not alone!
Okay...
When we were visiting TSBC a few Sundays ago, Lily Kate told me all about "Candy Night". She was waiting with me and my girls in the lobby while you were off doing something and here's how the conversation went:
Lily Kate - "Do Ava and Greta like candy?"
Me - "They sure do."
Lily Kate - "We don't have any candy in our house. My dad threw it all away. He says we eat too much candy."
And scene.
Apparently, you had a big impact on sweet little Lily Kate's impressionable young mind. I would feel terrible if I were you.
BTW - BK is HORRIFICALLY procrastinating on writing the string charts for your Easter...which means it'll probably be awesomest EVER.
Knight. Out.
Hope you pass all the "tests" today! Praying specifically for you and your Angela and kiddos this afternoon.
Have fun with them all...and let them know that you love them! :)
"Candy Night"...awesome... memories like that will bind your children together like soldiers in battle. My cousins and I still recall the "Flip-Flop" incident of 1987. My mom went crazy after my cousins and I had been arguing in the back of a van on a long road trip. When she had enough, she grabbed a foam flip-flop and tried her hardest to smack our legs. It was foam...so we laughed...and then we laughed some more...I think my mom felt utterly defeated. That day, my cousins became my brothers.
As for the stress...may the Lord bless you greatly with some very large belly laughs, a good nights rest, and billboard size conformation in any questions that you need answered!
Candy night!! LOL!!
Thanks for the verses...they did my heart good tonight!
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