Month: December 2009

Dear So-and-So

Dear Future Daughters-in-Law

Karen

Can we talk?

Great. Have a seat.

No. That wasn’t a suggestion, have a seat. This is going to take a while.

Look. I have a confession to make. I’ve been a rather …. erhm … controlling mother to my boys. And as a result, they will not tolerate a woman who tells them what to do, yells at them, or tries to brush their unruly, greasy hair before going to a family function; I know these things.

So, word to the wise – don’t do those things if you hope to have one inkling of a chance with my sons.

In addition, it’s crucial that you have a sense of humor. Not only for my boys’ sakes, but for me, too. For you see? I have a rather warped sense of humor and tend to find the funny in the weirdest places. And if you don’t laugh?

I won’t like you.

I like being around people who can laugh at themselves. I like being around people who don’t take themselves too seriously. And it’s important that I like you. Why? Because if I don’t like you, I’m betting my sons’ won’t like you either.

And even if they do, you’re going to, at some point, HAVE to deal with me.

So. Laugh, damn it. It’ll make life a lot easier.

I also should point out, that if you talk too loud? Or you think you’re a know-it-all? I will take great delight in bringing you down a notch or two. Because even though I admire confidence and independence? I do not tolerate cocky ignorance very well. So, check your b*tchy attitudes at the door, please.

But if you must know the deal breaker with me? Here it is:

You must treat my sons like the gods they are. Because even though they are sweet, kind, gentle, caring, intelligent, sweet, handsome, courteous boys, they are human and if you trample on their self-esteem too much, you’ll have me to deal with.

And my mama bear getup? Is scary. (Trust me on this one).

I also feel compelled to add, that you are not allowed to get in the way of my son’s ambitions in life. Just as I fully expect them to support you in what ever you decide to do, I absolutely expect you to do the same. So, if he would like to occasionally (and I say occasionally because his first obligation is to be there for YOU) go out with his friends and have a good time, without you, then you must allow him to do so. It doesn’t mean he’s leaving you, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you, it just means he needs a little guy time.

Get over yourself. ‘Kay?

In exchange for your understanding and your willingness to bend over backwards to make sure he is happy and well-cared for, I will guarantee he will be an excellent husband, and someday father to your future children.

How can I guarantee that, you ask? Because I’ve taken great pains to teach my sons that if and/or when they reach the stage in their life that they have children, it is their top priority to make sure that that child grows up with both a mother AND a father. Even if that means they have to endure hardship (i.e. YOU) to obtain that goal.

But it would be so much more fun, for all of us, if you were the sort of girl that made it easy on all of us.

That is why I pray, every night and any other time that girls are mentioned (which seems to be more and more frequently, much to my chagrin), that when my sons choose a life-long mate, that they take the time to really choose wisely. That they don’t make any rash decisions (or DO anything rash, if you catch my drift) that they will then be forced to re-live either on a daily basis or anytime during visitation rights.

I’m writing this letter to you, not to scare you (unless it’s working and then, well, good), but to forewarn you that I don’t tolerate fools very well. In fact, it’s safe to say, I have zero patience for weak, wishy-washy women who blow dinner into a full-scale drama-fest every other night. That if you have any hope of getting along with me, you will know your mind, say what you mean and mean what you say. And yet, be willing to give in gracefully and to treat those around you fairly, when the situation warrants such behavior.

I respect a woman who is fair. Who is not afraid to admit when she’s wrong and to keep her emotions both in check and under control.

If you can do all of that, if you think you might be the woman of my sons’ dreams, then step forward and let the games begin.

Sincerely,

Your future mother-in-law

P.S. I’m really NOT as scary as I make myself out to be. No, actually, I’m worse.

P.S.S. Okay, so I exaggerated a bit on that last P.S. I will make every effort to get along with you.

P.S.S.S. But if I’ve been fair with you and you STILL act like a brat? All bets are off, missy.

Movie/TV Reviews

Movie Review: Henry Poole Is Here

Karen

Grade: C+

Last night, Kevin and I watched “Henry Poole Is Here.”

Here’s the trailer:

HENRY POOLE is HERE is a comedic drama about a disillusioned man who goes hiding in placid suburbia only to discover he cannot escape the forces of hope. Returning to the middle class neighborhood where he grew up, Henry chooses to live in indulgent isolation. Real life, however, refuses to cooperate with his plans. Nosy neighbors interrupt him with curious visits and prying questions. Then the situation escalates as a stain on Henry’s stucco wall is seen to have miraculous powers. His last-ditch hideout becomes a shrine; his backyard turns into an arena for passionate debate about faith and destiny. Seeking anonymous oblivion, cynical Henry Poole instead finds himself right at the center of the human comedy. A modern-day fable investigates the unexpected wonders of the everyday. A faithless man finds hope. A hopeless man finds love. Whether backyard miracles are real or triggered by hope and belief, their personal effects are permanent.

“Comedic drama” is exactly what this film is. It’s a drama with funny bits; a comedy steeped in drama. In short, it’s about life.

I confess, there was a moment when I nearly fell asleep. This film is slow moving. It’s sobering. And actually, downright depressing. Luke Wilson spends most of the movie either frowning or being quietly pathetic.

But considering the news his character receives? It’s to be expected.

It’s rare to find a movie that depicts faith fairly – most of the time, I think films that have a faith-based theme distort, or depict faith as something to mock, or shun. And though Wilson’s character does just that, the majority of the characters in this film are supporting strong faith and the power of CHOOSING to believe in a divine being or power.

I found that incredibly refreshing.

The fact that miracles happen to a few characters in this movie solidifies, in my mind, the importance of placing our faith in God. Faith is hope and often times, it’s ALL a person has. Without hope, life becomes meaningless, depressing, and pointless. Because Wilson’s character doesn’t believe in hope, in miracles, his life devolves into an empty shell so that he’s reduced to waiting for the inevitable.

Granted, I felt a little uncomfortable with the notion that people were coming to worship a “stain” on Henry Poole’s wall, the meaning behind the misplaced hope was apparent. And who’s to say that that stain WASN’T a message from God? I suppose hope can take any form, as long as we’re not worshiping that manifestation.

Overall, I think the film did a pretty good job juggling a sensitive subject. The overall message of the movie was the importance of recognizing hope – that faith does indeed perform miracles, if one is willing to embrace it.

I’m really beginning to like these “real-life” movies lately. And by “real-life” movies, I mean the movies that do a pretty good job at depicting real-life issues. There are no spectacular special effects, or outrageous plot twists in these types of movies, but instead, they are movies that are designed to make you think and to appreciate life on many multi-faceted levels.

Abundant Life

Teaching: Keep Asking: Persevering in Prayer

Karen

Every Sunday I provide videos and valuable links to the Truth or Tradition teachings. We’ve been following the Truth or Tradition teachings for many years now and they have truly blessed our family. We have found peace and happiness through our beliefs and we walk confidently for God. My hope, by passing on this information to you, is that what you find here, or on the Truth or Tradition website, will guide you to a better, more blessed and abundant life.

If you would like to read my views on religion and how we got started with the ministry, you can read this.

Let’s get started:

Some Christians teach that if you pray for something, and have faith, then you do not need to pray for that thing again. In fact, they say it shows a lack of faith to pray that prayer again, and you should just stand in faith until God answers your prayer. In contrast, there are other Christians who teach that if you want something from God, you should pray over and over for it until you get it. Which belief is correct?

The answer is that if there is something worth praying for, we should pray over and over for it until we get it. It is never a lack of faith to do what the Bible says. In fact, the evidence that we have faith is that we do what the Bible says to do. Therefore, if the Bible says to pray over and over for something until we get it, then we are walking in faith when we do that.

The Word of God instructs us in many ways to pray for something over and over until we get it. One of the places we can see this is Matthew 7:7, which unfortunately is usually translated, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” This translation makes it seem like we only have to ask one time, which is not true. In the Greek text, the verbs “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” are in the present tense, active voice, and thus describe an ongoing action. The Holman Christian Standard Bible translates the verse correctly:

Matthew 7:7 (HCS) [1]
Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

God’s Word tells us to “keep asking,” and then what we are asking for will be given to us. Jesus taught the same lesson in Luke 18. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). It is easy to “give up” in prayer. Sometimes it is difficult to know if what we are praying for is the will of God, so if we pray for something day after day but do not get any results, we may “give up,” and stop praying. That must have been happening to Jesus’ disciples so, using a parable of a persistent widow and an unjust judge, he instructed them to keep praying (Luke 18:2-8).

Widows in biblical times were often taken advantage of because they did not have people to help or defend them. In this parable, a widow kept coming to the judge and asking for justice. Her plea was the same every time: she wanted justice against an adversary, and the judge finally granted her request because she was so persistent. We learn from the parable that if we do not get what we are praying for right away, we must come back to the Judge over and over and keep asking until we have what we want.

When Romans 12:12 says to be “faithful in prayer,” Ephesians 6:18 says “pray in the Spirit on all occasions,” Colossians 4:2 says “Devote yourselves to prayer,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “pray continually,” it is clear that many of those prayers are for the same thing, and we must ask for what we want over and over again. There are many different reasons that we do not get what we ask for in prayer the very first time we ask, and it is true that sometimes we are not asking for something that God can grant in prayer. However, even if we are asking for something that God wants us to have, sometimes we have to ask more than once for it, so God instructs us in His Word to pray over and over until we get what we have been asking for. Prayer works, and our prayers make a huge difference on this earth, so let’s be obedient and pray for what we need until we get it.

Read the original article here.

If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about God’s wonderful message, please visit the Truth or Tradition website. You can also keep track of the ministry through their Facebook page, their YouTube Channel, or follow them on Twitter.

Thanks for reading.

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More from Write From Karen

random stuff, Saturday Stuff

What is Your Christmas Wish?

Karen

ADDED: My Christmas wish? Thanks for asking. 🙂

I’d love for Dude to pass this math class so he can meet his three credit requirement and we can relax on the toughest subject for him and he can finally ENJOY his last remaining high school years.

I’d love for Kevin to get a job, fairly quickly, after everything wraps up with this company and it’s “officially” shut down.

I’d also love for Kevin to have at least a month off before he plunges into another job situation.

I’d love to get more website jobs for two reasons: the money (though I don’t charge that much because I do school websites and they don’t HAVE that much) and because I truly love helping the community out by providing useful information to both students and parents.

I hope Jazz continues to love music and I pray he walks away from high school with some amazing music memories.

I pray that we can find a peaceful existence with both our government, and fellow country men, for though I know there will never be “Peace on Earth,” at least, not until Christ comes back, perhaps we can strive to find a peaceful compromise until that day arrives.

Your turn.


(Jingle Bells by Diana Krall)