Mothers' Day 2011 - thoughts on my Mom - the late Mrs. Germana N Christian

Each year different celebrations come and go and we enjoy the days, the family gatherings, and of course the food with fellowship.

Mother's Day is special because it reminds us of the special person who has taken a lot of pain to bring us into this world. We would not be here unless it was for her. So we are indebted to her for a lifetime.

Some mothers are strong, hardworking, disciplinarian, and caring. This year my mom is not alive as she passed away 3 months ago so today's tribute is to her. Her name is the late Germana Nandubhai Christian. People fondly called her Jayaben. 

She was born in a Piplag village in India some 85 years ago. Born to a nurse midwife mom, she lost her Dad before her 2nd birthday. So, life was tough for the widowed granny with two children that is my mom, and her only sibling her brother John. My mom married my Dad the late Nandubhai Christian who also died in a tragic road accident leaving her to be a widow in 1984 with four children, though we were old enough. Dinu my elder brother lives in India, and three of us siblings, my sister Kundan, my brother Rajoo, and I who lived in Nairobi saw her live her widowhood with dignity and hard work, trusting GOD to be her companion.

Mom also chose to be a nurse just like her mother. She truly was a blessing in her nursing career and looked after her patients from the age of 16 to 76 as if she were a missionary serving the Lord. Many people remember Mom in their memory as just being in a nurse's dress that she mostly wore. I am thankful that she had a serving heart.

I remember as a child; my mom had to do late night duties or day duties and she would come when we as kids had already gone to sleep. She would put sweets in our mouths that she had brought for us as many babies were born and it was customary in India to give sweets to people to rejoice over the new birth. yes, she loved working in the maternity ward and many kids are grateful for her presence. The sweets that she put in our mouths. yum. it was a treat, my sister and brother and I, we loved it.

The birth of our own daughter in 1995 was also special as my mom was the 1st one to spot the umbilical cord wrapped wrongly around her neck and immediately asked the doctor to cut it loose so Narita could breathe. Narita is thankful for Grandma's presence during her birth. Stuti remembers her grandma as looking after her before we found a full-time nanny. Bharat my husband shares her joys for watching Indian movies.

During her nursing career, even though she had to attend to many different operations in the Operation Theatre she saved the lives of so many infants as a midwife as well as of adults. As a fully trained nurse. On occasions, she had to pay from her own pocket for the ambulance to transport the tiny babies to a bigger hospital and she willingly did it. Things go differently in Africa where some of the greedy business/hospital owners won't foot the bill, so she ended up giving up her whole salary to pay for the ambulance. I know God will reward her in eternity for this generous act.

I remember she would be in an operating theatre assisting doctors with operations and yet praying, "Lord, look after my kids I am looking after one of yours!" that was a real deep heartfelt prayer.

I have witnessed while on duty, whenever mom took over from a nurse on the previous shift on duty, she would personally go and greet each patient in her ward and find out how they were feeling. That was so special. I am so glad Mom did her job well with passion.

She prepared a special breakfast on Sundays for us to know it was special because it was the Lord's day, something I try to do for my children even today.

She loved me making 'Thepla', a spicy Indian whole wheat flat bread, shallow fried in a pan. Due to her diabetic condition, she had to be careful with her diet so I had to make whole wheat flat breads for her every day. As a teenager, I felt bored making chapatis (flat bread) as a mundane life task but a believer friend once prayed with me and showed me this gesture as a loving discipline from the LORD. she said something like, "Kalpna, don't make chapatis for your mom, make it for Jesus as if he were coming home to eat it every day." This perspective changed my whole outlook. Yes, you guessed it right, from then on, I did it with joy and I became really good at making chapatis (Indian whole wheat flatbread) that families take pride in when their daughters become daughters-in-law. Thank God through Mom for that discipline.

Wait hold on, I have not yet told you that she was a good cook. In my childhood, I remember my cousins loved her lentil soup called 'Daal' and later in years, oh! I loved her vegetarian spicy rice (Mutter Bhaat) with yogurt curry that goes either with whole eggplants stuffed with caraway seeds and spices or Okra. (The recipe for the whole eggplant stuffed with caraway seeds and spices has been in our family from her side for the last 4 generations) and my girls cherish it when I make it just like hers. oh, I could die for that. I always told her if I died before her, she would make the vegetarian spicy rice, curry, and eggplant and put it in my coffin. (smile). My Dad loved her long bean veggies fried with fenugreek seeds and mutter ringer (Garden peas with eggplant) veggie with Indian spices.

Mom was a strict disciplinarian and would not accept no-nonsense. She would discipline us at any cost, my brother and I still remember her spankings. 

She was widowed in 1984 when Dad died in a tragic fatal road accident, so for 26 years till her death, she lived depending on the Lord, even as a full-time nurse by career. I am sure it was not easy for her to have all the responsibilities on her shoulders but she managed well. 

She told us after the birth of her firstborn, our elder brother Dinu, she contracted Typhoid and so due to that sickness she was forced to send Dinu to our grandparents at the village farmhouse. Dinu grew up there as the grandparents did not return him to his mom. They were happy to have a grandkid in their old age that brought joy to them and would joke with mom, "You took our only son who survived out of all 13 kids as your husband, and so we take the only son Dinu (by then) the firstborn to us in return." Mom missed him but due to her full-time work, she probably found relief knowing he was in the care of his grandparents. Whenever we visited the farmhouse, she would make sure to do her best to let him know that she loved him. She bought him toys, clothes, and everything that was needed. 

Being the youngest of the 4 kids, I always wanted to be close to her, in my years apart from her in my childhood I missed her a lot. From my mid-teen years to nearly in late 20s, I was able to reconnect more closely. I became a close companion of her, especially after my Dad died in 1984. She could lean on me. I owe my air travel career to her, she had introduced me to the air travel industry. During the years I was able to spend with my parents when they were alive, we made the most of it. God allowed me to put a big smile on my parents' faces when I would do unusual things for their birthdays, Christmases, and special occasions. God in his mercy and grace allows these times and I don't take it for granted.

I had the honor of sharing the gospel and leading her to say the salvation prayer and transfer her trust in Christ for her salvation, although she believed in Christ and was faithful in her work all her life. She shared with us that when she was young, she grew up as a Methodist, and to study further she had to accept Catholicism so I had a burden to share the importance of personal relationship with Christ. Isn't that amazing to hear your mom say the sinner's prayer? Her grandma was an evangelist, so wow, single women faced life as widows in 3 generations in my family.

This is personal and I have tears as I remember this and write. When she was a small child, and this is going back to the 1930s, in India. As a little girl's mom was asked to do some chores for an elderly neighbor. She enthusiastically helped but, after which, she was falsely accused of taking some coins, which mom had no idea about. The neighbor's daughter had tricked mom into this just to have fun. They told Mom, they had to put real hot coals from the kitchen (burning charcoals) on her hand, if she had not taken the money, her hands would not burn, but if she had, her hands would burn. My mom, as an innocent child agreed for the hot red burning charcoals to be put on her hand as she had not taken any coins!!!!! and oh dear, they held her tiny hands and put the coals! She willingly held not knowing what mess she was into. In a few seconds, her hands were severely burnt, so she threw away the coals with screams. She was so scared to show her burnt hands to anyone, that instead of going home to be further punished by her mom, in fear she ran to the common lake in the village, soaking her burnt hands to be soothed. oh! how can people be so cruel? Mom was rescued later by her mom who believed she had not taken any money. My mom refused to go and said unless they promised not to punish her further, she would otherwise she would stay put at the village pond overnight as long as she could. Her mom promised she would not beat her. Isn't this heartbreaking?

When I went witnessing for Christ, in my early 20s Mom loved it and encouraged me to do more. Once an Indian religious mother came home to abuse me as I had introduced her son to Christ, and given him some books to read. She came home charging, looking for me, but I was not yet home from work, so she abused Mom and humiliated her in front of our neighbors throwing Bible and Christian books at her. when I returned, I felt so embarrassed for Mom and was angry and said how sorry I was; especially since she as a widow had to endure this in her old age, yet my mom with a smile on her face said to me, "Hasn't the Lord told us that we will have to suffer persecution for His Name sake?" oh my, I had tears and I thanked God for giving me a believing, brave and bold Christian Mom who was willing to take the blows in my place for the sake of the kingdom of righteousness.

My mom is in heaven today and I am thankful for her life. Many people wrote on her death day and shared how blessed they were to know Mom. She always smiled and loved humor. She had a lot of burdens on her shoulders trying to balance her career, home, walk with the Lord, social life, standing up to patriarchy in the village, in society, and at work plus other responsibilities, yet did it joyfully. She believed and said, "If life gives you bitter pills you've got to take it, you've got to live the life." A growing neighborhood girl actually shared that she was inspired as a small 5-year-old child to become a doctor and doctor she did become; she shared, she owed it to my mom, for that inspiration.

Mom chose to live her retired life in India at her own house, with our elder brother Dinu who looked after her from 1998 to 2011. It seems like they made up living together that they had missed for all those years, the lost time of the growing years when she was forced to give him up to the grandparents due to her Typhoid sickness when he was barely a few months old. Isn't God great to restore the years locusts eat up?  Due to the distance and circumstances, I was not able to see her for more than a decade; she had suffered much but I am glad in the last 4 months of her life she was able to travel to Nairobi and be looked after by my elder sister (who also chose to be a nurse), her husband and her daughter. I am so thankful to my brother Dinu and my sister Kundan and her family for looking after Mom while I have been away. I also am thankful to GOD that in the years that I was given to spend with her, we had the best of times. I have good memories of spending meaningful joyous times, tears of crying about life's painful phases, and trusting GOD through it all.

I rejoice for Mom's dedication to her job, to her service, and to her LORD.
I look forward to seeing her in heaven when I go there in eternity at the feet of Jesus.

May these few life story lessons from my mom's life encourage you deeply.

Copyrighted © by Kalpna C Sharma, May 2011

Happy Resurrection Sunday - 2011 - Jesus is Risen, indeed!

2011 Resurrection Sunday - JESUS is ALIVE!

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the life, He who believes in me, even though he were dead, yet shall he live again. Do you believe this?“

Dear family and friends,

This is to wish you a very blessed and a happy Resurrection Sunday.

We do not find the term ‘Easter’ in the Bible. Jesus rose from the dead and it is called Resurrection Day. This day gives us hope beyond the grave. The Bible says, “Oh, grave, where is thy victory? Oh, death, where is thy sting?”

During his earthly ministry, there are 3 recorded resurrections that Jesus performed. One was the 12yr. old girl who had just died, the other was a widow’s son on his way to the grave during the funeral procession; and the third was of the Lazarus, the beloved brother of Mary and Martha.
In one way these all show that Jesus has the power to raise the dead be it dead for few minutes, few days or many years. He is the one who gives breath and life to all creatures big and small. Even as we are in the spring season and see the dead trees come alive again, we find the earth green once more, is there anything that we face this Resurrection Sunday that needs to be resurrected? I know we can have an endless list, from our circumstances to finances, to relationships to deaths and many more. We need to trust Jesus to do this in his time and his way. He is the Resurrection and life.
The resurrection of Lazarus speaks volumes to me. One of the reasons is Jesus knowingly, delays going to cure him. The 4 days delay was too much for the sisters. Jesus comes in his time and speaks peacefully, “I am the resurrection and life, he who believes in me, even though he were dead, yet shall he live again.”
Do you find God delaying in your circumstances, answering your prayers? Do not despair. He won’t be long. He comes in his time. His timetable does appear to move slowly but it moves surely.
What takes my breath away in Lazarus’ story is that Jesus knows he delayed purposely, he knows in few minutes he will raise Lazarus from the dead and there will be immense joy yet, in the moment of grief, when he sees the sisters and relatives crying, mourning the loss of the loved one, the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35 says, “JESUS WEPT.” This is a real deal. I love Jesus because he lives in my today, even though he holds my every tomorrow, and has all my yesterdays, He cries with me in my today. He understands my pain. He does not tell me to ‘get over it’ he does not tell me ‘get on with life,’ he mourns and weeps with me, and wipes my tears, he picks me up each time I fall.
Because He is alive, we can face tomorrow, Because He is alive, all fear is gone, because we know he holds the future, and life is worth living just because Jesus lives forevermore.
May this Resurrection Sunday bring hope in your today no matter what the circumstances. If we can trust Jesus with eternity, we can certainly trust him with hear and now.
Death has no power over Jesus; He is the Son of God and our Savior. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, we invite you to let him in your heart. He promises you resurrection. You can always bank on his promises, they are true and forever.
Because Jesus lives,
We do - Kalpna, Bharat, Narita and Stuti Sharma.

having a heart

Many times i have encountered that folks in the world want the behaviour change, they do not really mind if the heart is not in it as long as you can see visually the results and process, it is good enough. While this can help us see, God acutally looks at the heart. The motive and the commitment.

At times, it may look foolish what we may do or say according to the world, we may not be eloquent speakers or communicators, and not that it cannot be worked on, but God calls the worldly wisdom foolishness.

There is a saying, i would rather have heart than words, rather than words but no heart. We could be great speakers but it may be just the words.

At times God uses people in my life to teach me what he wants me to be and at the same time i see that God does not miss what the world misses to see in me.

I am not sure about you, but i am a very passionate person, i love passionately. i am passionate about biblically right things. i get angry when i see the wrong doings exalted and evil being so prevalent. but at the same times, i also see that God speaks to me thru many people that i need to be careful as many take advantage of our sincerity and openness and frankness and we are left hurt and injured.

i am at peace when i am able to do something for someone because it comes from the heart, if i am taken advantage of, its their loss not mine, because they will continue in their pattern, lose friends and opportunities while i am blessed because i do it sincerely.

God justifies us because of our heart issue. it is a big thing to God. If our hearts are right, we have 90% of battle already won.

Proverbs says, above all guard your heart for it is the well spring of life.

copyright @ KC Sharma

God's way vs. our schemes in parenting- Isaac and Rebecah

I have often wondered about Jacob and his schemes to get ahead of his brother as I read Genesis again and again. This year I saw something deep. When we read that Rebekah was not able to have children within 20 years of their marriage, "Isaac prayed for his wife and she became pregnant." We are also told she was expecting twins. Now I want us to read precisely as the Scripture is recorded and not try to add anything to it.

Genesis 23:  "The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Now in this nowhere do I find that Jacob is to learn to cheat, nowhere do we find that God approves of Jacob's cheating. I simply find it put in simple terms, God was blessing her with more blessings, not one but two boys and not just two boys, (like her family had sent her with a blessing before leaving her parents' home Gen24:60) she was going to be a mother of many (thousands upon thousands) through these two boys. So God blessed her doubly.

The verses state more like predictions and forewarnings of what the older and younger ones would do. God blesses each one according to what God wants, we are all unique and gifted to complement each other not to compete - if we understood this principle, things would perhaps be easier. When God gives us strength, it is to bless others, not for our pride; and when God gives us weakness it is not for humiliation or feeling intimidated. We need to understand that we need care without abuse and without manipulations. There was nothing wrong with one being an employer and the other being an employee. Jesus came to serve us, he did not become any less than us. If only Rebekah had understood this, perhaps she would not have taken matters into her own hands and taught deceiving traits and schemes to her younger son, Jacob.

But, Rebekah took it to mean what she wanted to hear and favored the younger one. She also does not seem to communicate that to her husband. Isaac loves Esau for the way he operates, while Rebekah seems to have her own reasons for liking Jacob. We do know what it feels like when one parent favors the other.

God had blessed Esau in his own way and God chose to use Jacob for his own blessing and blessed plan and no cheating, deceit, or manipulations were necessary.

One son good at outdoors and the other good at home, would have complimented one another best way. There was no need to sell or buy the birthright! Jacob seems to want to be two steps ahead of his brother. For people who think, winning is the only way they live, life must be very frustrating, stressful, and hard to try to be always on the toes, not peaceful. We can see that in Jacob's life. What he was taught to fight for was divinely given by God, already, but he felt he had to have his own ways. 

Proverbs says, "The Blessings of the Lord make one rich and he adds no sorrow to it." 

Rebekah taught Jacob deceitful ways to relate to a brother and others and we see in turn, he gets cheated by her own brother. (like brother like sister) One teaches him to cheat, and the other actually cheats on him too.

Isn't it ironic that Rebecah also goes full out to deceive her own husband in his old age with identity theft, Jacob being presented as Esau? What do you call this mothering? I have no doubt, that she stands responsible before God for her own wrong ways of parenting and 'helping God' out.

Sarah had tried to help God out by getting a child by causing her husband to sleep with her helper, misusing her own maid to get what she wanted, and when it did not seem to go her way, she threw the maid away. Rebekah, for her own ways of thinking, is getting the deceit in her family, and not only that, she is actually teaching her son to do that.

Isaac on the other hand seems to play a passive role. He does not seem to inquire about the LORD now that the children are born, but hold on, did Rebekah mention that to her husband? He knew and did when she was barren but now that she was pregnant, I wonder if there was any communication along those lines! She does not seem to have related the God-given info to her husband. The kids are born, and we see the Dad passive and even depending on lies for survival like his father Abraham did for his wife Sarah. What would have been different if Isaac too had inquired of the LORD on how to raise the child? (Samson's parents went to inquire of the LORD when the wife told the husband the message of the LORD. How are we to raise this child?) Judges 13: "Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” in verse 6, the wife shares with the husband what the Angel has told her.

Despite their good upbringing, what Samson chose is quite another matter, but at least the parents did the right thing.

If parents were on the same page and communicated with one another about their children and sought the wisdom of God in raising them! Parents can choose to wait on God for what God puts on their hearts concerning their children. Let us teach them to live in harmony and peace, showing the Christ-likeness to one another and to the world. Let us not favor one child over another. Yes, it is possible to have different likings for different children, but let us use that to build unity in them and teach them the good ways of God.

copyright @ Kalpana Sharma 2011

A Little Leftover Lunch/Supper to Share?

Every time I read the book of Ruth in the Bible, this story warms my heart. I like the way Ruth and Naomi are connected to each other. When we look at the cross-cultural marriage of Ruth to Naomi's son, we see Ruth, a Moabite; the people that were disliked, yet Ruth stands out as a diamond, pure, loving, gentle, caring, and humble. I almost find myself walking along with them on their way back to the land Naomi came from. I feel like I am being a fellow traveler with them.

Even as a young widow, Ruth is still looking out for her mother-in-law's interests. we see that she does not want to leave Naomi; no matter what, she is determined to be a close companion of Naomi, an elderly widow, mother-in-law, and a friend for a long time.

I find her obedient to God, to the parental authority, and the general norms of society, even at that age and in the state of being a young widow, with no hope of ever getting married, she is committed to Naomi; something so precious yet something a big part of our present culture will perhaps not grasp fully; because as in the days of Judges, and even nowadays, when majority is doing what they feel like, here we see Ruth and Boaz doing what God likes!!!!  She is ready to go wherever Naomi feels it OK to stay; she does not seem to argue that she will be better off in her own land and be able to find a job, as she spoke the language well and the place was familiar to her, her own people who were nearby and she could visit them often. No! She is choosing instead, to be Naomi's close person, more of a friend, even though coming from an Eastern culture I do know the term "you are more to me than seven sons," when a daughter or a daughter-in-law does an extraordinarily different and impacting thing, this term is often used. 

My heart went out to her fully when I read that when Boaz and his workers were nice to her and when she was offered lunch, she ate and then kept some part of that food for her dear Naomi. This is precious. We do read that she was blessed with a basket full of grains to take home but that little leftover lunch that she wanted to share with Naomi shows the depth of her love. She does want Naomi to experience the good taste that she has experienced. This impacts me more because I have two little Ruth types and one seemingly male version of Ruth around in my house. We have noticed that since their childhood, when one of our two daughters was offered some food even if it was a small portion, they will keep a part of it to come home and share with the other.

23 years ago, when I met Bharat, (my husband of 18 years at the time of writing this) he worked in an Accounts Department of a Panel Beating Company, back home in Nairobi, Kenya. In our initial meetings, even though I was working right in the downtown of the beautiful city of Nairobi, and my office was surrounded by many good restaurants, Bharat used to make a point of bringing a special egg curry that the cook at his place of work had freshly cooked for their staff. This curry used to be made at least once a week. He relished it so much that he felt he had to share it with me. He would travel with it using public transport to come downtown to bring me. I have not forgotten that. He was in love back then and so it felt kind of "normal" for "crazy" people to do that but now after many years of our very turbulent relationship it seems like in the restoring process, he brings food home from where he visits. As a self-employed independent contractor, he has to visit some of the best restaurants, as well as the fast food ones that he goes to. Whenever the shop requires him to do it alone, he brings leftover food home and shares it with us. He says he does not feel that he can enjoy it alone. (That reminded me of the Ruth personality) These incidents show the love and care that one can show. When his assignments require two folks to taste, either one of us would go with him, and whoever accompanies him brings back the leftover big portions for the one staying back at home. We thank God for blessing us with such generosity, it is nothing we can boast about but from God's good hand. Well, we thank God for such precious little things that have huge meaning behind them to bring us close to one another. As one of the major airline slogans reads, "There are more things that bring us closer than that keep us apart."

May these stories warm your heart and may you be encouraged to freely share whatever God places in your arms that you are able. (There are times to refrain from sharing like the story of the five wise and five foolish virgins so you are not depleted, so please do not feel obligated.) This is just some delightful normal sharing that is meant for the sake of kindness and not to be misused. 

in God's immeasurable love,
Kalpana.

Copyright @ Kalpana  Christian Sharma.

Fathers' Day 2010

"Any Male can be a father, but it takes great courage to let go of the ego, selfish self, and greed and be someone special- to be a Dad!"

Dads have been understood as providers, protectors, and promoters of their own little flocks, and quite rightly so. I also looked at 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, "For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."

Dads encourage, comfort, and challenge us to live good, holy lives. We pray that Dads will choose to be servant leaders, and not like the Gentiles who lord it over their flocks, bossing around, but rather serving, loving, and leading.

Kalpana Christian Sharma
Copyright © KC's writings 2010

Teaching the virtue of honesty to children - "And the gift goes on.."

Teaching the Virtue of Honesty to Children.

"Providing for honest things not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of men" (2 Cor. 8:21, Rom. 12:17).

How do you teach the virtue of honesty to children? First of all, we get right with God and ask God to help us get our lives straight. Then we pray and ask God to help us carry that onto the next generation. Pray for ourselves and our kids and make it a lifetime habit, from day 1 in childhood, from infancy, we make a conscious choice to instill, talk about it, sing along, and keep training them in righteousness. Show them kids' movies that are age-appropriate to instill goodness and godliness. 

I still do enjoy as I did in the past, taking my daughters on errands that I run from time to time. A few years ago when they were barely 8 or 9 years old, I witnessed these incidences.

A friend joined us at McDonald's fast food chain; we ordered our food with kids' meals for my two girls. Little did we know that by mistake the kids' meal packs came with an extra toy. Seeing this our girls, Narita and Stuti, went right away on their own to the cashier and returned it saying, "Excuse us, but instead of one toy someone has put two toys in each of our bags by mistake, so here we want to return to you." The manager was so pleased, he treated them with ice cream cones. They refused it by saying:"No! We cannot take it." But he still insisted and gave it to them. 

Girls told me, "Mama, the man gave us ice cream cones but we didn't do it for ice cream, we did it because it was the right thing to do. It would never be right to take things that don't belong to us." Hearing that this momma's heart swelled with joy and said, "To God be the glory! Way to go, kiddos! so thankful for your obedience, my precious girls!" They make my heart swell with gratitude.

On many occasions at the Currency Exchange outlets at park district facilities, or even at laundry mart machines, I have witnessed that whenever they find an extra quarter or a toy or a candy that was mistakenly left by a previous machine user, girls know is not theirs, and they willingly, and gladly return to the owners or the person on duty. They first return the found item and then come and report to me.

I remember Narita was nearly 3 years old. She watched the Disney movie "Robinhood", and at the end of it, she came up with an opinion stating that, "Mama, it was a good movie but it was not right for Robinhood to steal from anyone whether rich or poor." When I heard this, I knew the Spirit of God was at work in this little girl's life. At 4 years old, Stuti watched a regular soap movie 'Fine Things' that she rated as not morally right. We got rid of it. While I do not much know about who sits on the censor boards when movies are released, in our homes we have 3 and 4-year-old girls who are on our censor boards; they see, perceive with moral filter and guidance, and give feedback. 

At times, they see me feeding even the faulty parking meters with quarters, as a little way to continue to be honest, and yet at other times I am humble and openly share that we don't have a cent to feed the parking meter; we pray and God provides free parking- fully paid! Transparency and dependency as well as honesty are important to talk about, see, and be a reality between parents and kids. There are times I also acknowledge how I have made mistakes, compromised, and later on found out that was not the best thing to do; so then I try and mend my ways. I thank God for the blessed Holy Spirit that speaks to us and shows us where we were wrong, or are wrong. Isn't that a beautiful thing? My girls affirm to me "Just because God our Father owns the world that does not mean we can walk into any McDonalds or any place and demand any free thing!" God bless these little souls with giant godly, good characters!

I also keep affirming to my children that I feel so privileged to be their driver-mommie, driving them around; it's an honor to be a mommie in different roles. They are special to God and to us; at times when we speed up driving, they gently remind us of the posted speed limit on roads! God has used them to keep a check on our own lives! As parents, we need to be faithful to what/whom God has entrusted to our care. And when we have done our part, we can see that God is at work. Bharat teases singing a line from Sandy Patti's song, "...and the gift goes on...", yes indeed we pass it on to the next generation the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ that has been generously given to us.

Kalpana Christian Sharma aka KC Copyright © KC's Writings 2010