Saturday, January 28, 2012

Progressing through this Life.

Progressing: forward or onward movement toward a destination

American Oil Palm Fruit.


Pilgrim: a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons

Thinking about these words as a wonderful on-line friend who used them as her name on our home-school curriculum forums progresses toward heaven. She may already be in the arms of our Lord having finished her race well. I know my thoughts and prayers will return to her husband and two young sons often in the coming weeks and months. Happy her suffering ended but so sorry to the pain that her family must still walk through.

Progress- why we pick though provoking books and videos for our family because we want them to learn and grow. Why we try to be intentional with choices. Growing can only occur with a stress or tension I once read. I often ponder this thought. Growing pains hurt but do they need to? How much stress can stimulate growth but not cause pain?

Yesterday I spent some time on reading about grammar mistakes that bother people. [One blessing for those of us weak in grammar could be that these type of mistakes do not bother us much.] But I am trying to learn so I can avoid these mistakes and teach my children to the best of my abilities. 

The author mentioned that American is becoming a 'first draft' society, not proofing or paying close attention to what they write. This struck home with me this week as I work, rework, and rework the rough draft of a newsletter before handing it off to Cory and Mom for further proof reading and polishing. 

I am so glad that the Lord did not leave me in a first draft state. Progress for me tends to come with a chisel and hammer, rough sandpaper, or refining fires, rarely a soft polishing cloth. I'm a work in progress, thankfully progressing under His hands to a better person. 

I regret hurting the people who the Lord used as tools to shape me. I wish I would have listened and not argued with those who cared enough to correct me and point out the error of my attitudes or actions. Sorry. 

I'm very thankful that they took the time and risked being hurt to attempt to change me. Thank you for your important role in shaping my life into a more useful person. Any positive affects I leave on this life reflect ripples from your life. Thank you. 

6 comments:

Peter Olson said...

Kim and I were grocery shopping yesterday.
I noticed that they had Starfruit in the produce dept.
When I saw them I thought of the Thede family in Haiti and their efforts to grow these interesting looking fruit.
The label said that they could be used in a salad or as an edible decorative garnish.
In the Wild Bird Food section they had bags of freeze dried Mealworms. I wasn't to hungry after seeing them.

Kris, when you were little did you have dreams of becoming a doctor? I'm glad that you pushed yourself to that goal and that you had people along the way that encouraged you to press on in spite of the difficulties.

Betsy de Cruz said...

This is a lovely post. I'm sorry to hear about your friend's passing away.

We are, indeed, works in progress. Some days I feel it more than others.

Kris Thede said...

Starfruit season just finishing, Peter. We eat them like a apple and if eaten with miracle fruit they taste much sweeter. We don't have mealworms here but if you want some recipes I have come across some-just let me know and I'll share. Maybe I'll do a blog after the teams go about becoming a doctor-yes I was little.

Thank you Olive Tree. Yes, those days when the Lord uses the big tools can be painful and reminds me how far I have yet to go...but thankfully I'm not the person I once was.

Missus Wookie said...

Works in progress is how I try to view everyone. We have mealworms in our kitchen but for the birds not us.

Lovely post though Kris - thanks.

dan said...

Hi Kris

Would you mind sharing a few recipes with us from Haiti? I know each one of my students would enjoy trying something different.

dan said...

Hi Kris

Would you mind sharing a few recipes with us from Haiti? I know each one of my students would enjoy trying something different.