Tip of the Day 3/28/12

We have made it from the ceiling to the floors during our Spring Cleaning, but there are still things to do outside to get our homes ready to enjoy the warm months. A good way to start is by sweeping away all of the cobwebs and yuck that accumulate in the corners, under the eaves, etc. around the house. Sweep along the inside and outside edges of the doorways, not just the bottom, but the entire frame. No one likes to walk out the door and have a cobweb in their face. Sweep around windows as well.

Word for Today, Courage: Because I have several teen and tween grandchildren who are all big readers and movie goers I like to stay informed about what is going on at their level. The Chicago Tribune featured several articles on Hunger Games in the Sunday issue before the release of the movie. I read them all which was a good thing since this week I have three of my grands here and two of them have read the books and have seen the movie. The premise of the story is not what disturbed me, with the direction or nation is headed anything is possible, but the violence being portrayed and touted to teens and tweens is very disturbing. The heroine, Katniss, shows great courage in volunteering to take her younger sisters place in a gruesome battle. It is great for our children to be taught courage, but the portrayal of violence is more than any child should be exposed to. The increase of ADD/ADHD diagnosis', violent acts, lack of conscience, etc. should give us a wake up call to what our children are being exposed to. Even the things that younger children are allowed to watch like today's superheroes, etc. seem to contribute to over stimulation and a lack of self control. We all need heroes to look up to and emulate and throughout history and today there are plenty without exposing our children and ourselves to this level of violence. I may sound like I am preaching today, but my heart is truly burdened. Guard your minds and hearts and do the same for your children. Show them what real courage looks like, it isn't Katniss or a superhero or Ninja. "Be strong and of good courage. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Rather than saying, "may the odds be in your favor" let's say, "Arise and begin working, and the Lord be with you."