Monday, February 27, 2012

Let Me Get Your Sweater!


image courtesy photobucket.com

With two teen age boys and three teen age girls living in our home, there was usually a house full of their friends as well. Cup cakes and cookies were always available and often some would even stay for dinner.

In those days I cooked a lot of casseroles, stews or pasta dishes, so we always had enough food for an extra plate at our table. If it looked like company would be for dinner, I threw in a couple extra potatoes and a carrot in the stew, or more pasta for the spaghetti.

Our visitors were well behaved and there was always a lot of fun and laughter, but as the evening progressed, our kids did not always want the fun to end. If school was the next day, there needed to be a cut off time and visitors needed to go home.

I knew that for my children to “Save Face,” that it was up to me to gently and yet forcefully send our visitors home.

My favorite “easy out” was to pick up all the sweaters and jackets and hold them up for everyone to see and proclaim, “Sorry you all have to leave, but come back soon.”

image courtesy photobucket.com
All the arguments were saved, and our young people were free to finish up any homework that still needed attention and then prepare for bed time.

Perhaps I should have had more rules and regulations, but it seemed easier this way, and the friends of our children enjoyed hanging out at our home.

Most of those friends would attend our church and give their hearts to the Lord Jesus.

Some are actively serving the Lord in their churches, but sorry to say that a few slipped away with the cares of the world. Pulled away by desires of fame in the entertainment field, and influenced by other relatives and friends either their own, or those of their spouse.

We are urged by the Scriptures to Hold Fast to our Faith in Jesus and to build up ourselves in the Word so that we are strong to resist temptation.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Paul tells us to be wise and watchful because Satan is sly and out to snatch away your faith if he is able.

image courtesy photobucket.com

Next time you are aware of that Old Devil hanging out at your house, just reach up and grab his sweater and swiftly and forcefully invite him to leave and not return.    Good bye Old devil and good Riddance!

This post is linked to:
Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem
Joan Davis Sharing His Beauty on Monday



5 comments:

Joan Davis (Jo) said...

I bet that even the kids who have slipped away will never forget the Christlike hospitality offered at your home! Seeds were planted...

Blessings, Joan

Denise said...

I remember those days well Hazel; I am always blessed when Those "kids" pop in sometimes now even though my daughters now have homes of their own. Like Joan said "seeds were planted"! I love 2 Thessalonians 2:15~we must always hang on to Christ's teachings because our lives depend on it!

Blessings and hugs! :)
Denise

Sheila said...

I'm with Joan. Sometimes we plant. Sometimes we water.

floyd said...

Good for you for sharing God's truth. The free will is God's gift to us, it is up to each of us to accept or deny. The seed is still planted...

As for the stealer of souls? Yeah, Good Riddance!

caryjo said...

So sad that people, who begin with the right spirit direction are subdued or side-tracked and enter cultural "fittingness". I see it so often.

Agree with you: I'd LOVE to give the Enemy his jacket and tell him to go out where he belongs and leave all of our dear ones alone... and our "non-dear" ones. Just be GONE! [Looking forward to that portion of eternity!]