Sunday, August 23, 2009
Friends Part 2
Although the issue of Elisabeth and friends is one that we will cover. I have come to the conclusion that sometimes a girls just needs a good cry. So most often I offer a quiet shoulder. Then we have talk and prayer time.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Rosa boys at beach.
I love the picture of the Rosa boys at the beach. I did a little professional touch up. What do you think?
Friends.
I asked Libby this morning while I drove her to school if she had any friends at school. She commented on kids she knew and one girl she considered her friend but has been out already two days since school started last week. Not much was said on the way to school.
This evening she comes into my room, sits on the floor and sighs. I asked the question I usually end up regretting. "What's the matter?" She replied with sobs and tears. She began to explain through her tears that she does not have a friend in school. She had spent the last two years without a friend. Her recess times have been lonely, just walking around. I do not regret that my daughter feels free to share her troubles with me. I regret asking the question because when the answer is something that hurts her, it hurts me.
I can't stand to see her cry and I would rather avoid it than deal with it. I gave her the best answers I could at the moment. I can't think straight when she is bawling on my shoulder. I spouted some Bible verses and made some jokes, but I need to really help her. You see what do you tell someone whose definition of happiness, or at least happiness in school is having friends. I am sure it is not her only definition, but it is an important one.
And so I ask myself the question. What is really in her heart? What is driving her so about friendship or lack of friends that cause her to get really upset? I know friends are important and the love of a friend and what you share with them is precious. In my mind, I think I would like her to be more content with whatever is going on in her life. I would rather desire that nothing would bother her, but that would not be realistic. How do I take hold of her heart and care for it and protect it?
I told her that Jesus is a friend to the friendless. That we will pray for a godly friend for her and that she but know how to be a friend. Karen and I were careful to let her know not to change just to be friends with a mean girl or unpleasant girl just to have a friend.
Friendship is important, but sometimes friendships are desired for selfish reasons. Elisabeth is a sinner. If she has truly trusted in the Lord then she is a redeemed sinner. She struggles with sin just like we do. Her desire for a friend can be as selfish as well as altruistic. I understand she sees other girls being friends and must imagine how happy their lives are. However, I also understand that she may want to fulfill her selfish and self-satisfying desire to have a friend because it pleases her and satisfies her own self-esteem.
Instead of finding her contentment in the Lord, she wants to find it in another, not to give but receive. We are all like this. Some of our so called "friendships" are nothing more than relationships of what we can get out of them, or how they make me feel. Some even have this relationship with the Lord. What we can get out of Him and how He makes me feel. We want to feed our self-esteem and not humble ourselves.
So for the next 10 months I must teach my daughter and myself what exactly in our hearts. I must show her that glorifying God and pleasing Him is more important. And to look for friend for the right reasons and not to satisfy or please ourselves.
I do not know if this makes sense. I have not proofread it. I just needed to get this off my chest. Please pray for us and especially Libby.
This evening she comes into my room, sits on the floor and sighs. I asked the question I usually end up regretting. "What's the matter?" She replied with sobs and tears. She began to explain through her tears that she does not have a friend in school. She had spent the last two years without a friend. Her recess times have been lonely, just walking around. I do not regret that my daughter feels free to share her troubles with me. I regret asking the question because when the answer is something that hurts her, it hurts me.
I can't stand to see her cry and I would rather avoid it than deal with it. I gave her the best answers I could at the moment. I can't think straight when she is bawling on my shoulder. I spouted some Bible verses and made some jokes, but I need to really help her. You see what do you tell someone whose definition of happiness, or at least happiness in school is having friends. I am sure it is not her only definition, but it is an important one.
And so I ask myself the question. What is really in her heart? What is driving her so about friendship or lack of friends that cause her to get really upset? I know friends are important and the love of a friend and what you share with them is precious. In my mind, I think I would like her to be more content with whatever is going on in her life. I would rather desire that nothing would bother her, but that would not be realistic. How do I take hold of her heart and care for it and protect it?
I told her that Jesus is a friend to the friendless. That we will pray for a godly friend for her and that she but know how to be a friend. Karen and I were careful to let her know not to change just to be friends with a mean girl or unpleasant girl just to have a friend.
Friendship is important, but sometimes friendships are desired for selfish reasons. Elisabeth is a sinner. If she has truly trusted in the Lord then she is a redeemed sinner. She struggles with sin just like we do. Her desire for a friend can be as selfish as well as altruistic. I understand she sees other girls being friends and must imagine how happy their lives are. However, I also understand that she may want to fulfill her selfish and self-satisfying desire to have a friend because it pleases her and satisfies her own self-esteem.
Instead of finding her contentment in the Lord, she wants to find it in another, not to give but receive. We are all like this. Some of our so called "friendships" are nothing more than relationships of what we can get out of them, or how they make me feel. Some even have this relationship with the Lord. What we can get out of Him and how He makes me feel. We want to feed our self-esteem and not humble ourselves.
So for the next 10 months I must teach my daughter and myself what exactly in our hearts. I must show her that glorifying God and pleasing Him is more important. And to look for friend for the right reasons and not to satisfy or please ourselves.
I do not know if this makes sense. I have not proofread it. I just needed to get this off my chest. Please pray for us and especially Libby.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Sold first print.
Some of you know I have started my own photography business some time ago. Recently I started to take fine art pictures. One of them was of a church steeple. You can see it at www.jcalonso.photoreflect.com under seaside images. Well, I hung it up at the coffee place named Elements and it sold today. Praise the Lord!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Watch this video of the pictures.
You can also go to http://www.jcalonso.smugmug.com/ to see the pictures in full size, but without the music.
The words are from a Cuban poem about a little girl who goes to the beach with pink shoes and finds a poor playmate. Without hesitation, the privileged little girl hands over her beloved pink shoes to a poor, sick child she meets at the beach. For one moment the youngsters' different worlds meet and mesh, each one's fantasy becoming the other's reality. The poem depicts a world of contrasting images: wealth and poverty, sickness and health, joy and misery. The poem depicts the warm and sunny ambience of the seashore and highlights the innocence of the children.
Karen knows the poem by heart and has recited it through out the years at various family gatherings.
Home
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Lib's Birthday
We are back in Panama City Beach. Lib's birthday is tomorrow and we will celebrate it here, however a full fledged party is happening next Saturday. Here are a few birthday pictures we took at the beach.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Blog Posting
Sorry for the long time without posting. School gets complicated at times. Over the next few posts I will bring you up to speed with what is going on with us.
Today I am writing from Panama City Beach, Florida. It is just three hours south of our house.
Karen's parents own a home two blocks from the shore. This section of the beach is very nice and it is more family oriented. Mostly we go at night when everyone is dressed and either sitting or walking about.
I will post a couple of pictures of the family and friends we are staying with. The closest mall is called Pier Park and it is an immensely hug outside mall. Each day we go we can only cover a few blocks.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Joseph's Haircut
Joseph went for a hair cut yesterday and he was not happy. However, although he did cry he did not squirm or move. He was a good boy. Daddy got his hair cut first and he had the black plastic cover on him and Joseph wanted to put it on just like Daddy.
For more pictures go to jcalonso.smugmug.com
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