tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37786073894402078692024-02-18T23:58:50.808-08:00Welcome the ChildrenKathy Wienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250785811412462303noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778607389440207869.post-28240721644149720042012-02-20T11:14:00.000-08:002012-02-20T11:14:12.773-08:00Fruitful Parenting<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbkffdiUGBZisNmc-K1T_TfGlxT9kwbSZ2QehmXhvfW8xv-KBMcLj04IigqCuDu4Jxc8vf7vNNKMgIXnEXCinOOHW3ZTMEfBTkTaCLjEqw7DK-3A3mgXOd7VIwgHP86qtX_ab9sz6Y-M/s1600/thumbnail%5B4%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 167px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 229px;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbkffdiUGBZisNmc-K1T_TfGlxT9kwbSZ2QehmXhvfW8xv-KBMcLj04IigqCuDu4Jxc8vf7vNNKMgIXnEXCinOOHW3ZTMEfBTkTaCLjEqw7DK-3A3mgXOd7VIwgHP86qtX_ab9sz6Y-M/s200/thumbnail%5B4%5D.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span></span><span></span><span><shape id="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 129.7pt; margin-left: 14.1pt; margin-top: 33.75pt; position: absolute; width: 149.85pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-79 0 -79 21509 21600 21509 21600 0 -79 0"><strong><imagedata o:title="thumbnail[4]" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></strong></shape><strong>“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, </strong></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>patience, kindness, generosity, </strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>faithlessness, gentleness </strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>and self control.” </strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Galatians 5:22-23</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I love this passage from Galatians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I love it because of the wonderful song that dances in my head whenever I recite the fruits of the spirit. </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Jester; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: JasmineUPC;">“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Jester; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: JasmineUPC;">Patience, kindness, goodness,</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Jester; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: JasmineUPC;">Faithfulness, gentleness, self control.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Jester; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: JasmineUPC;">Of such there is no law.”</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another reason is that this list is based on Christian strengths and not on weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Spirit of God helps us have love, joy, peace, and the list goes on….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the person I want to be and the qualities for which I strive. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does this list of strength based qualities mean for us as parents?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the Spirit is fully a part of our lives then it should control how we relate to others, especially the children, in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So do the interactions you have with children reflect these qualities? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love</b>… how do you show love to your children?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joy</b>.. is parenting or relating to the children in your life a joy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do the children sense that they are a joy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to you?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peace</b>.. are the interactions with your children peaceful?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Patience</b>… do you have patience with your children, especially with their maturity and developmental level and age?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kindness</b>… would your children say your interactions with them are mostly kind?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goodness</b>… how do you express goodness to your children and see the goodness in them?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Faithfulness</b>… how faithful are you in your parenting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you comment this to God each day?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gentleness</b>… are you gentle with your children especially when you consider that they are younger, less mature, and have less brain development than you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the only power they have is what you give to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are much more vulnerable than adults and therefore need more gentleness.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Self control</b>…do you practice self control with your children, not only in the way you discipline them and control your anger, but also in the way you talk about them to others,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in jokes or sarcasm, or in the ways you may to tempted to give into their wants because it is just easier.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">If you would like to work on this more, one idea is to start a “Thirty Day Fruitful Parenting” journal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do this just get a notebook and each day, for the next 30 days, write down at least one or more ways you express a spiritual fruit to your child or children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if there is an especially difficult area you are working on in your relationship, use the fruits in that area.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you try this I’d love to know how it worked for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can contact me by commenting on this blog or emailing me at <a href="mailto:welcomethechildren@pixius.net">welcomethechildren@pixius.net</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>May God be with you this week as you navigate the joyful, but often difficult journey of being Jesus to the children in your life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">Kathy</div>Kathy Wienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250785811412462303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778607389440207869.post-27438957317815564412012-02-13T12:40:00.000-08:002012-02-13T12:40:18.624-08:00Finding the Lost<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> So Jesus told them this story: <sup>4</sup> “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? <sup>5</sup> And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. <sup>6</sup> When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ <sup>7</sup> In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div><h3 style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Luke 15:3-7</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">This scripture has an important message about how we treat children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like all of us, children get lost sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they can get lost literally, but they can also get lost figuratively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We typically think about this parable as people lost in sin, however, I hesitate using the word “sin” when we are talking about the behavior of children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is too powerful a word to use with children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they misbehave and they have inappropriate behaviors, but to tell a child that he or she is sinful, is inappropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children are sensitive and they take things very literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The younger they are the more this is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">However, children do get lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children can be lost in their behavior, in their emotions, and in the sin that others have put in their lives in the form of overly harsh discipline, abuse or neglect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is our job as parents, caregivers and teachers to go and find them, to not be angry with them for getting lost, and to rejoice when they are found, bringing them back into the fold. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">To find a child that is lost in behavior, we need to look at what they are going through and not just become angry with them because they are misbehaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shepherd did not get angry with the lost sheep, but he searched and searched until the sheep was found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To find the child means to find out what is causing the behavior and to work with that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">In my work as a preschool teacher, a little girl got lost in her behavior one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were done with our work time, and I asked the children to help clean up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This little girl, who had a complicated home life but usually did well in school, got lost as soon as I told her it was time to pick up the toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started screaming and threw herself on the floor in a tantrum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being human, I admit that anger started building up inside me at this child’s strong reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I also realized that her response to my request was way over the top, and something else was probably going on with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I picked her up and took her to another room so she could calm down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I held her and patted her back, through her tears these words came out: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“We have to move and we can’t keep our puppy.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this statement, I knew why she was lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was lost in grief and sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of her home life, many things were not stable for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was one more thing that was being taken from her that she had absolutely no control over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">I truly believe that Jesus helped me be his hands that day to find this child that was lost in her behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m thankful that even though I initially got angry at her out burst I was able to see passed the actions and see what was truly going on with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had have gotten mad at her and punished her for the behavior I believe she would have gotten even more lost and it would have been even more difficult to find her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls us, just like the shepherd, to search and search until the lost are found and then rejoice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Thanks for visiting today and may God bless you in your work to be the hands of Jesus in the lives of children.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Kathy</span></div>Kathy Wienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250785811412462303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778607389440207869.post-63232717702993819672012-01-30T14:58:00.000-08:002012-01-30T14:58:24.148-08:00Jesus Calls Us to Welcome Children<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>but the disciples rebuked them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">kingdom</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">God</placename></place> belongs to such as these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">kingdom</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">God</placename></place> like a little child will never enter it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Mark 10:13-16</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b>Thanks for taking time to look at my new blog. It's dedicated to one of my passions how we care for children and especially how we care for chidlren in the church. As Christians, we are called to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. This is true in all areas of our life, including how we relate to, care for and teach children. Welcome the Children emphasizes the example Jesus set for us in the gopels for how we value, care for and teach children.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>A passion for children.....</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>With more than 28 years of professional experience and volunteering in the church, I have been working with children and adults, families and churches helping them understand how children grow and thrive. After receiving undergraduate degrees from Hesston College and Bethel College, I went on to obtain my graduate degree in education from Wichita State University.</strong> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>In the early years of my career I worked for the Harvey County Health Dept. on licensing daycare homes and centers, and teaching early childhood workshops. I also taught workshops for parents, teachers and foster parents through Kansas Children's Service League.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Teaching children is also a passion of mine and I taught in early childhood classrooms as a MVS (Mennonite Voluntary Service) volunteer at the International Institute in St. Louis, MO. I also taught in the Wichita School system as a classroom teacher and at Wesley Medical Center Daycare as lead teacher and program director.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Later I taught at New Creation Early Childhood Program. Most recently, I was director/teacher at Zion Preschool and an Early Childhood Instructor at Hutchinson Community College.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>My passion for teaching children and educating adults is not just part of my professional life. I have also worked on the Christian education committees of all the Mennonite churches to which I have belonged and taught in Sunday school classes, Wednesday night programs, and Vacation Bible school. This summer (2010) I had the privilege of giving a session on "Welcoming and Embracing Children in the Church" at the Western District Conference.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Supporting me along the way has been my husband, Tim. God has blessed us with two great daughters, Terra and Ruth.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Along with weekly postings in this blog, I also offer workshops on issues relating to children in the church.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Thanks again for stopping by. May God be with you and bless you as you do the sacred work of caring for children.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Kathy </strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Kathy Wienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250785811412462303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3778607389440207869.post-20029971583594188572012-01-22T15:47:00.001-08:002012-01-22T15:47:37.019-08:00Welcome the Children blog is coming soon!!<br />
Please check back later.<br />
Thanks<br />
KathyKathy Wienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18250785811412462303noreply@blogger.com0