But It's Just...

It's been nearly 4 weeks since I broke my toe. I am just now able to walk without a significant limp but I am still unable to put on a shoe. It has been a frustrating time of being unable to do all the things I normally do.

I have found myself repeatedly saying, "But it's just a toe! And it's just a little one to boot!" Such a little thing and yet it has had such an impact on my life: Weight gain, less laundry washed, the girls were lax in their chores because I couldn't inspect, and dates with Sam were limited, just to name a few.

How many other "little" things do we allow which impact our lives in ways that we just can't see? How many times do we justify our behavior with, "But it's just..."?

But it's just a little white lie.

But it's just a little bit over the speed limit.

But it's just a little more than I need.

But it's just a little immodest/inappropriate.

But it's just (insert your own excuse here)...

And yet the ramifications can be huge.

Proverbs 6: 10-11  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.


Ecclesiastes 10:1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 


Of course this is the negative side, there's also the positive.

It's just a little money...


It's just a little time...                                 


It's just a little effort...


 Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.


And so I am committing myself to take note of the "But it's just's..." in my life and to be sure they're working towards the positive, rather than the negative.

Day Off

Today is a day off. And as Samantha has told us about 400 times, it is because of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. When asked why we celebrate his birthday with a vacation day she answered that he was "a good and generous man". Huh?!?

Is that what they are teaching these days? We've made it so politically correct that we don't even discuss civil rights or equality under the law with second graders? Neither Samantha nor Rachel could state one thing that Mr. King had done other than the title of his famous speech. So we talked about race, slavery, unfair laws, prejudice, bias, Jim Crow, and Rosa Parks. Today we will read a book about Mr. King's life. A book that talks about police dogs, fire hoses, separate drinking fountains, and little girls going to school with police escorts.

If our children aren't taught the truth of our American history, how are they going to keep from repeating it? Persecution comes in many forms, not just skin color. Mr. King fought against all persecution and prejudice. We live in a world where my children's christian beliefs are challenged and denied on nearly a daily basis. If we, as a people, don't teach our children how to stand up for our beliefs, then we will soon be without the right to believe. Mr. King stood up for his beliefs and tried to use the life of Jesus Christ as his model. There is something to be learned from that.