Fit to Be Tied

I'm not sure why it bothered me so much, but I past by them every time I entered the convention center. It was a bargin..a steal at only $5; but it made me cringe as I stepped through the doors.

The sign read "Witnessing Ties", with sayings like; "Thou shalt not murder"..."Army of God"..."One Nation Under God"... and a host of pictures; praying hands, crosses, and even a pastor's bookshelf. Since when are ties for witnessing? Where do most peope wear ties? That's right, church. And are these really the messages of the Gospel?

THere are better uses for your 5 bucks. Why not bring the homeless guy a sandwich and look him in the eyes when you give it to him? Or buy your struggling coworker a coffee and ask if she's doing okay? Maybe send a sincere card for the family who is dealing with grief?

It's in our service to others and our sincere words that the message comes to life. I guess I'll pass on the ties.

Funny Kids

Some recent funny quotes from my kids:

I gave my 4 year old some tic-tac's on the way to pick up his sister at school. When she got in the car he informed her, "I got some tic-tac-toes and you didn't get any!".

On the ride home she told me all about the "pil-a-grims" and religious "purse and cute shun". Then she ask me, "What is that anyway?"

My big 7 year old informed me recently that he's just about as smart as I am....and that He almost knows everything. Hang on to that as long as you can buddy! Pretty soon you'll be feeling like the rest of us.

They make me laugh; they make me cry;

They fill me up and completely drain me.

The paradox of parenting...

My Little Clown

He turned 4 a couple weeks ago, unbelievable! He surprises me with his profound words. Here are a few recent ones:
- "I wish I was a man before I was a kid."
- "God is a big boy. He made the whole wide world."
- "Mommy, you're pretty like a crystal."
True to costume, he makes me smile and laugh. And, I'm still uncovering the unique layers of my little clown.