The Days are Long, 
But the Years are Short
By Christina Weimer (TentDwellr@aol.com)

November is here, and with it comes the thoughts of all the holiday events in the near future.  People will be visiting, meals need to be planned, church events are coming to their fruition, gifts need to be purchased …the list goes on and on.  It seems that November is not always the easiest month.  In fact, for many, it can be the start of a really stressful time.  With all that we do in the ministry, adding the holidays on to it can be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

I have talked with many people who tell me that they wish they could just skip this time of year.  Instead of feeling the Christmas joy, they see it as ANOTHER; thing in their already busy schedule.

 The other day I was speaking with a wise, older woman  We were talking about the demands of the ministry and the strain that the holiday season seems to have upon everyone.  She said “The days are long, but the years are short.”  We must learn to enjoy the moments while they are here, versus looking at them with stressed-out, tired, and spent emotions.

 As many of you can attest to, the years with your children seem to fly by.  Before you know it they are already out of the house and living their own separate lives.  Where did the time go?  How could it have passed so quickly?  When did they grow up?

 Although I have young children, I myself can attest to the fact that children grow up ever so quickly.  I find it hard to believe that I have a 9-year-old, it seems like just the other day I was giving birth to him. I even find it hard to think that my baby is already 2 months old.  Indeed the days seem long but the years are short.

 I am writing this to you as a reminder and a challenge.  Because the days are long and the years are short, we must take the time to do those special little things.  We need to take the time to spend with our children, our husband, or our families as a whole.  Amongst all the hustle and bustle of the seasons we need to make the time for memories.  Time needs to be set aside for this very purpose.

 If we wait until things at church slow down, or life in general slows down, we will realize that the years have flown by.  We will be among those who ask,  “Where has the time gone?”

 It is never too late to pause and take the time to focus on family.  The ministry is tough on all members of the family.  Because of this, we need to have a supply of pleasant times to help get us through the rough ones.  Take time to do something special with your children.  Do a craft with them, even if it means letting something else go for the moment.  It does not need to be an elaborate thing.  Even the simplest of things can produce lasting memories. 

If you are without children, take time to be with your spouse.  Even a cup of coffee, at a local café, can produce lasting memories. The hard times will come and go.  However, the pleasant memories we produce will last for generations.  Remember the days are long BUT the years are short - too short.

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My son, do not forget my teaching, 
But let your heart keep my commandments; 
For length of days and years of life, 
And peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 3:1-2

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RETREATS!!

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"Remember that it was God who decided on a twenty-four-hour day, and He must have felt that it was enough.  We can never do all that we expect ourselves to do, and we can rarely do all that others expect us to do, but we can always do all that God expects us to do."

 -(Scott Sernau)

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www.pastorswives.net 

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Find the hidden ball!

Click Here to Play! 

Contact Sarahstent@sarahstent.com for more information.

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Jer 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

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This is a family favorite apple pie recipe that received rave reviews at a potluck again this past Sunday.   The neat part is that it makes its own crust!

 IMPOSSIBLE FRENCH APPLE PIE

 6 c. sliced pared tart apples

1 1/4 t. ground cinnamon

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. milk

1/2 c. Bisquick baking mix

2 eggs

2 T margarine or butter, softened

Streusel (below)

 Heat oven to 325*.  Grease 10 x 1/2 inches. Mix apples and spices; turn into plate.  Beat remaining ingredients except Streusel until smooth, 15 seconds in blender on high or 1 minute with hand beater.  Pour into plate.  Sprinkle with Streusel.  Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes.

 STREUSEL:  Mix 1 c. Bisquick, 1/2 c. choped nuts, 1/3 c. packed brown sugar and 3 T. firm margarine or butter until crumbly.

 Dot loves to hear from you and answer your questions.  
You can reach her by writing to: DOTMI@aol.com 

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It’s the job that’s never started that takes longest to finish.

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Hi, Shannon and Christina, 

My sister is a mail carrier, and she's always got interesting stories to tell about her route (waaaaay out in the country), but today she sent me this, and I thought it was just too good to keep to myself.  I don't know whether it's appropriate for the newsletter, but I sure think it's worth a look somewhere; I thought it was awesome.  Thanks,

Tina

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Dear Friends:

 I wanted to share something with you that happened at work.  As a mail carrier, and with 600 plus mail boxes, I usually don't have time to do much more than glance at the addresses to make sure I get them in the correct box!  (which, by the way, I'm getting MUCH better at!)

 Today, however, a letter caught my eye----it was postmarked from prison and it had a stamp on it with the words, "Refused. Return to Sender".  The sad part of this tale, is that the return address read: Mother.

 Scenario after scenario played through my mind as I went about my day of delivering the mail:

 "Could it be that this young man had tried unsuccessfully to talk to his mother in his younger years, only to be met with a stream of criticism?  And now when he's messed up his life, and she wants to talk to him, he's afraid of more criticism?  And could he be right at guessing what that letter might have held inside? " 

"Could he have tried, unsuccessfully to get someone, anyone to listen to him....to pay attention to him----had given up and turned to someone who WOULD listen----a group of 'friends' who led him down the wrong path?  Now when his mother had decided to try to engage him in conversation, he wanted no part of her words?"

"Or could it be that this mother had begged and pleaded with her son to follow the law and be a 'good son' and now that he had broken her heart, he was too ashamed to converse with her?"

 Whatever the case, this letter stamped, "REFUSED.  Return to Sender.", spoke to my heart in an unusual way.  Not only will I make very sure to talk and listen to my children....I determined that I would begin this day, a habit of writing love letters to my children----now----before they don't want to read my words.  Words of encouragement and love and instruction.....words that won't make them wince, or be afraid to read.  Not long, drawn out dissertations---rather, short, loving cards and letters, perhaps twice a month that are hopefully a joy to read.

 God willing, I will never have to write letters to my children in prison, but in the day that I have to write them letters from far away, I never want to receive one back marked, "REFUSED.  Return to a broken hearted mother."

 May I encourage you to do the same?

 Your Friend,
V.C.Spalding

venuscheryl@juno.com

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Submitted by Kristy Smith 

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Joy in The Kitchen Volume 4 Issue 37