Sprinkles of Blessing ~ Telling Our Family Story

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I have been thinking a lot about stories lately. About how I learn best through stories, and tell best through stories.

Because for me, all of life is context. My patient husband will tell of waiting on tenterhooks for the meat of my message to be revealed as I construct a where-I-was-and-how-I-felt-and-who-was-there backdrop. It's not that I don't want to be direct. It just all seems connected to me.

And I think it is all connected because underneath my story, and your story, and all the stories of the world, is the one big story. The story of God and His amazing work in His children.

In my evolving self-awareness as a writer, I have realized that I feel most in my element when I am writing about people, not facts. People are how God tells His story.

As I thought about this and how it impacts me as a writer, I began to also think about it as a mother. It occurred to me that a story is a giving. An old family story told to my children helps them understand more the backdrop that was already constructed for their lives before each began. We find our place in the world in context, not in isolation.

So I've purposed to add depth to their context. This week I am drawing on the memory banks... sharing stories from my life, stories from their early lives that they don't remember, telling of my own grandparents as we vacation in their grandparents' home.

And I am living the story that is my life, with its tears and joys, and wondering how some of my plot twists will turn out.  Yet all the while knowing that, because of Jesus, I will really and truly live happily ever after.

How about you? Do you share family stories? Stories about your life and your walk with God? How are you purposing to bless others this week?

Sprinkles of Blessing ~ Saying Yes

It seems so simple, saying yes.

The small people in my house (some of whom are now three inches taller than me) are among my favorite humans in the world. Shouldn't it be easy to say yes to their requests for Lego-play and sewing machine lessons?

Still I find it takes a conscious effort to set aside my to-do list and ignore the pressing refrain in my mind: "But you're behiiinnnd..."

It takes a choice to say yes to my children's non-urgent requests. But once I do, I almost always find the blessing is just as much for me.

I remember that I like following Lego instructions, and watching a vehicle appear in my hands. I sit by in wonder as our daughter confidently takes charge of the sewing machine after a demonstration. And despite thread-tension issues I manage to teach our girl without any Mama-tension!

Now, I know there are situations when "Yes" is not appropriate. I am not advocating catering to a child's every whim.

But "Yes!" can be such a blessing when it builds relationships. When it takes my focus off a task and shifts it to a person.

Choosing "Yes" is how I'm sprinkling this week. How are you showing love in action in your corner of the world?



I'm dropping the linky for now. Would you spur me on to good deeds by sharing in the comments how you are living love this week?

Sprinkles of Blessing ~ Something Unexpected

Last week was one of those weeks when things just didn't go as planned. Thank you for extending grace. Now back to our regularly scheduled Monday Sprinkles of Blessing...

Are you ready to have some fun this week as you sprinkle your family? How about trying something totally unexpected? Something seemingly out of place yet fun fun fun!

This week's Sprinkles of Blessing suggestion:

~ DO SOMETHING UNEXPECTED ~

Would an Easter egg hunt at the end of May qualify?  <smile>

We homeschool our children, and traditionally have set Memorial Day weekend as the beginning of our summer break. This year, to celebrate, I thought it would be fun to surprise them with a treasure hunt!

We enjoy Easter egg hunts, but a few years ago the kids and I got to thinking that it was kind of distracting us from what we wanted to be focusing on at Easter. Since we all love the fun of the hunt (and the hiding!) we knew we still wanted to do it, just at another time. I contemplated doing it on the first day of spring but that almost always falls in the middle of Lent, when we are feeling more contemplative. We just couldn't come up with a solution.

Near the end of May it hit me! The first day of summer vacation sure is festive! I didn't tell the kids, just got the hunt ready and put baskets at their seats at the table. I put a book in each basket for summer enjoyment as well.

When they got up they were so surprised and excited. Even the 14 year old! They all enjoyed scurrying around looking for eggs. As always we had one unfound egg, which will surely show up in the next few weeks.

How about you? Do you have some fun summer plans this week with your family? Are you planning anything out of the ordinary? I'd love to read more about your sprinkling adventures!  Link up below (hit click to enter) or leave a comment...

Sprinkles of Blessing ~ Make a Phone Call

Are you ready to bless someone in a special way this week?  Let's get out of our comfort zones and take action!

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
~ 1 John 3:18 ~

This week's Sprinkles of Blessing suggestion:

~ MAKE A PHONE CALL ~

Is there someone you haven't spoken with for a long time?  Someone who lives far away?  Someone who really needs your encouragement today? 

Pick up the phone and call! 

I called someone I haven't seen for over three years.  A change in life circumstance and some distance are all that separate us.  One of the wonderful fruits of our conversation is that I now know better how to pray for her.

What are you going to do this week? Will you pick up the phone and call an old friend? Or are you going to do something completely different? Share with us!

To link up, just click to enter below and add your blog. This linky will be open until midnight CST on Saturday May 21, 2011. If you'd like, you can add the Sprinkles of Blessing button to your post (see sidebar).

If you don't have a blog, just leave a comment with your Sprinkle idea. I look forward to gleaning new ideas from you all for ways to love in action!





telephone photo by Melodi2

Introducing a New Link Up ~ Sprinkles of Blessing

I am very excited to be launching a new blog link up today!

As many of you know, last fall I undertook a 100 day challenge to do something a little out of the ordinary each day to bless someone.

This was not only the fruit of God's work of showing me the great blessing of service, but also a way to express my love and gratitude to the many many people in my life who bless me.  I called them joy sprinkles, because it was my little way of scattering a wee bit of blessing in my corner of the world.

In Ezekiel, the Lord says:

I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.
~ Ezekiel 34:26b ~ 

You and I are merely the handmaidens of the Lord here on earth.  It is He who brings the rain, He who showers the blessing.

But we have our part; we must be willing to serve.

I chose the name Sprinkles of Blessing for this link up because of Ezekiel 34:26b. I want us to stay mindful that the showers are from Him, but that we can participate by choosing to act. Even in our small way, we can sprinkle blessings with His help.

Let me be very clear... my intent here is not for us to show off our good works:

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
~ Matthew 6:1 ~

My heart's desire is to nudge you to choose to be open to the Holy Spirit's prompting to bless others, out of your love for God and to His glory.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
~ Matthew 5:16 ~

Do you see the difference? All that we do should bring glory to God. This should not be about you or about me, but about Him. Without Him there would be no sprinkling, friends!

Details of the Link Up:

Each Monday I will post a suggestion to prompt your thoughts and prayers about how to participate with the Lord in blessing someone. 

The link up will be open until 11:59pm the following Saturday. If you are led to sprinkle more than once that week and want to link up several posts, feel free!

Take some time to visit some of the other folks who link up, to get new ideas for the coming weeks. It is truly amazing to me how much the Lord's creativity is reflected in His daughters who were made in His image. I know you will be inspired!

If you'd like to include a clickable Sprinkles of Blessing button in your blog post, you can grab the code from the left sidebar.

If you don't have a blog, you are welcome to share your sprinkle in the the comments section (click on comments in the gray bar below the post.)

Today's Sprinkles of Blessing suggestion:

~ BAKE A BLESSING ~

Last week I was thinking a lot about a sweet friend of mine. She faithfully sings with our church's music team and is one of those people who quietly and steadily serves. Her son is one of Farmer Boy's closest friends, and periodically she will let my boy come over and hang out and feed him (no small undertaking... he is fourteen!)

I decided to do some BAKING for this week's sprinkle. My normal bread is a simple whole wheat sandwich loaf, so instead I made a prettier bread... a braided challah.

When I gave the bread to her I told her what a blessing she is and how much I appreciate her. I am so thankful for faithful servants like my friend!

Now your turn... will you bake for someone this week? How is the Lord leading you to bless someone in a special way?