Physical and/or Spiritual Therapy

I met regularly with 13 different chiropractors before finding one who really helped me with my back issues. I have also seen several different physical therapists for my knee pain.  Yesterday, I met with the fourth physical therapist so far since my injury last October.  Each therapist has shared a few insights and recommendations with me, but I'm hoping this fourth therapist will be the one who actually helps me improve.  Clearly, treating my injuries is not an exact science with standardized protocols.

During my PT session yesterday, my therapist noted that I had the "forms", and he could tell that I had been using those forms during my daily stretching routine.  However, those standard forms required modification to best address the needs of my body.  I need to really listen to my body and note which positions and angles best address the areas of tension.  He encouraged me to find a quiet place free from distractions so that I could really focus on the exercises and tweak them as necessary to target the tight spots along my IT band and hip flexors which are causing my patella to track incorrectly.

As he summarized his proposed action plan for me, I could not help but see spiritual parallels.   Forms are necessary for physical rehabilitation and injury prevention.  We need to know the rules of proper stretching to prevent injury. For example, we should never position the knees past the toes.  Similarly, God gives guidelines in Scripture to protect His people from harm.  The ten commandments (Exodus 20) and the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22: 34-40) are non-negotiable.  If we break these rules, harmful consequences will inevitably affect us personally while possibly injuring other people and definitely impacting our relationship with God.  Out of God's infinite love for us, He fills Scriptures with commands and guidelines which will guide and protect us while making us wise and mature.  The psalms are especially filled with thanksgiving and delight over God's statutes (Psalm 119).

Graphic Credit

My physical therapist noted that knowing and practicing the prescribed forms is not enough.  While I must maintain the hard and fast rules, some of the stretches and postures need to be modified to best address my areas of weakness.  For example, the standard supine piriformis stretch has the knee bent at almost a 90 degree angle.  However, for me, the stretch works better with my leg out instead of bent and over the other leg at about a 60 degree angle.  Tomorrow, the stretch may work better at yet another angle.  They key is knowing my body and finding the angle where I feel the greatest stretch at my area of tightness.  If I merely follow the forms without actually targeting my trouble areas, my stretching will be useless.


In the church, people often follow all the forms quite devoutly.  They recite scripted prayers, attend church services faithfully, and maybe even give the designated tithe.  They hear the sermons and sing the songs of worship but without really thinking about the words they are hearing and reciting.  Following the forms without knowing the God they supposedly worship is vanity. 
  
Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NASB)
I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.

Changing our outward appearance through visible forms and actions will not change who we are inside, so religiosity becomes meaningless.  When Christ fills us from the inside, however, then our forms become both powerful and effective.

Ephesians 3:16-17a (NIV)
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Our Creator knows us intimately.  

Psalm 139

 ¹ You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways. 

 ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.

He knows our weaknesses and helps us through them.

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

He knows our needs.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

So, if He knows us so intimately and wants to help us, then by knowing Him we can know how to address our weaknesses.

John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

The forms teach us that we should study, memorize, and apply God's word, and they teach us to pray. We must seek the Lord personally, moment by moment, however, to know how to study, what to study, how to apply God's word in our lives, and how to pray.  When we know Him intimately, decisions that aren't clearly answered in Scripture such as which job to take, whom to marry, which Bible study to join, or which schooling option to choose for our children become more clear.

When we face areas of weakness, He will give us more specific boundaries to protect us while we grow stronger.  Within the clear indisputable boundaries established in Scripture that are for the good of all people, some people may need to alter their forms in a way that will best mold them into Christlikeness.  The forms that work best for one person may not be necessary for another person.  A recovering alcoholic, for example, may need to avoid all situations in which alcohol is served whereas someone else who is strong in that area may be led by the Holy Spirit to minister in settings that would seem compromising to the former alcoholic.  Fallen humans have no place to cast judgment on others, but rather, they must seek the Lord intimately to know what minor adjustments to their spiritual disciplines are necessary for themselves personally.

Romans 14
¹ Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. ² One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. ³ The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to judge .....  ⁵ One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. ⁶ Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

My physical therapist wisely suggested that I free myself from distractions when I do my stretching so I can best listen to my body.  Similarly, communion with the Father often requires that we remove ourselves from distractions and get alone with Him.

Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Jesus, who was the very nature of God Himself, set the example by getting alone to pray.

Matthew 14:23
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,

Finally, my physical therapist reminded me to relax my muscles while using the foam roller since it's impossible to roll out tense muscles.  In a like manner, when we come to the Lord, we can find rest and relief from tense emotion and anxiety.

Matthew 11: 28-29
²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Happy Birthday!

I know I've embarrassed my husband enough with our love story series, but I couldn't let his birthday go by without some acknowledgement.  I am forever thankful to the Lord for this man.  He was born exactly 3 weeks before me but in a hospital over 1100 miles away from my birthplace.

13 months old - climbing shelves

I'm so thankful for God's clear hand in bringing us together across that great distance and for the beautiful love we share.

Alaska Cruise with David Jeremiah, 2003

I praise God for the precious children He has placed into our care, and for the way they reflect their earthly father and are beginning to reflect their heavenly Father.

 

 Philippians 1: 3-6

 ³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Since my husband has been using the Hundred Push-ups iPhone app, my brother's family thought these push-up bars would make a suitable gift.   I'm glad he shares them with me.

98, 99, 100!

We have four March birthdays in my immediate family and five on his side.  So, we've enjoyed lots of birthday cake, brownies, cheesecake, and cookies this month!  We celebrated at my my parents' this past weekend, and our nuclear family will celebrate again tonight with dinner out and some Coca Cola decadent chocolate cake.

The two guys in this photo share the same birthday.  Our niece's birthday was our daughter's due date.

Kids can make a parent blush!

Children can be quite amusing when they state their observations so honestly. Over the past few years, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching our son (age 4) and daughter (age 7) observe the world around them and learn how to communicate.  However, sometimes their statements are downright embarrassing.  I would like to share a few examples so that I will still remember this precious stage of parenting young children when I am older.

Product Marketing
Since our son loves to cut paper, I handed him a stack of coupon inserts and some kid safe scissors yesterday so he could practice his cutting skills.  When he came across a coupon for Carefree products, he said, "Look, Mom, a coupon for Kleenex.  I'll cut this one out since I use so many tissues."   I didn't bother correcting him.  He has been sniffing and sneezing a lot now that pollen season is upon us.  I just hope he doesn't stuff Carefree products inside his pockets with the assumption that they are Kleenex!

Operatic Metaphor

I gave the kids an opera appreciation lesson yesterday by playing a professional recording of Verdi's Aida for them. During Aida's first solo, our daughter said, "I can't sing that high without yawning."  Well, I suppose opera singers do look like they are yawning when they sing.

Photo Credit

When I Grow Up... 

I can't wait until I'm a Daddy. Then I can go to work, make money, and play video games all day.  (4 year old)

Boy Meets Girl
Son:  I want to marry Candace*.

Me:   OK, but you can't marry her until you are at least 24 years old, have a college degree, and have a job that pays enough to support you both.

Son:  (negotiating) What if we wait until I'm 15?   Can I marry her then?

*not her real name

Our boy with Candace

Nana to our son:  Please get down on the floor and play with your cousin (age 1).

Our son to Nana: I don't like to play with babies, Nana.  I like big girls!

Youngest cousin

2010 Winner

Our son won the prize last year for evoking the greatest blush upon my countenance. I had to take the kids with me to do some shopping at the mall.  While in a department store, I discreetly purchased a few undergarments.  When we returned home, the kids helped me unload the car.  When our son, in his eagerness to be my little helper, brought in the last shopping bag, he said, "I got the last bag, Mom.  Here are your nipple wrappers!"

Pronunciation
I also want to remember some of the cute ways our kids have mispronounced words.   At the age of 4, our daughter would often say "distraticated" when she meant to say "distracted".   When our son was 24 months old, he sounded like he had a French accent when he would say words ending in the letter "r". He pronounced "pepper" as "pep-air" and "sweater" and "sweat-tair",  Kids are so adorable at that age.

"Black Bear"

The word that our son is currently trying to say correctly is "stairs".  He pronounces it as "strairs".  I'm going to miss his baby voice some day.

All Natural, Budget Friendly Health & Beauty Elixirs (Part 3): Get 6-Pack Abs In Seconds!

I saw a comical "ad" on the internet last week for the Abhancer, which promises 6-pack abs in seconds. Simply attach the Abhancer's adjustable lightweight straps tightly around your abdominal area for 6-pack definition.  Supposedly, you can wear this device under clothing to make your abdominal area appear super fit.

6 pack abs in seconds

After experiencing a traumatic delivery with my first child and then a botched C-section with my second child, I wondered if I would ever see 6-pack abs on me again.  The core and back strengthening exercises prescribed by my doctor to address my spinal problems did have the side bonus of toning my abdominal muscles, but these changes took many months of hard work.  There is no such thing as real body transformation in seconds.  Anything that makes such claims is a gimmick.

Modern culture has created a multiple billion dollar industry out of quick fix beauty gimmicks.  Global cosmetic surgery revenues alone are expected to reach $40 billion by the year 2013.  My guilty beauty indulgence has been hair care products.  I've been testing out hair color since my preteen days of using Sun-In.  I went all natural during college, but by the time I had graduated, gray hairs had already begun to sprout, so I renewed my hair coloring habit.  I have now become a slave to my roots and those invidious gray strands that clamor for attention.  Recently, thanks to a generous gift from a family member, I have discovered Royal Keratin hair conditioning treatments to tame and nourish my postpartum frizz.  Now, I'm in bondage to both color and keratin!

While all of these beauty products and treatments do make us look better, the changes are high maintenance and rarely last very long.  The fact that these improvements are fake is quite obvious to everyone especially now that it's been over 5 months since my last "hairapy" appointment.  No gimmick or cosmetic will give us the level of beauty or satisfaction that we could have if we had achieved those same results naturally.

If everyone could get 6-pack abs by simply buying a device for "three easy monthly installments of $9.99", no one would even appreciate ab definition.  Why would anyone bother working out intensely for years to get what someone else bought for less than $30?  Diet pills, steroids, and the plethora of beauty products available today could cause a culture to tend toward laziness or lack of discipline.  The same effect is true in parenting.  If parents do not enforce consequences or if they prevent natural consequences from occurring to help train their children, then those spoiled kids will likely become rude, disrespectful adults with an inappropriate sense of entitlement.

If external beauty products or treatments are not the answer to true and lasting beauty, what is the perfect beauty elixir?

1 Peter 3:3-5 (New International Version, ©2011)

³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Nothing is more beautiful than a heart surrendered to Christ.  This beauty begins within, but it emanates outward so that others can see it.   Elisabeth Elliot has suffered an enormous amount of grief and hardship during her lifetime. Nevertheless, she has always appeared absolutely radiant to me, even in her later years, because of the fullness of Christ within her.

Elisabeth Elliot

Upon seeing a woman great with child, people will often remark that the expectant woman has a beautiful glow about her.  I'm not sure if I had that radiant glow, but during each pregnancy, my face certainly looked more pleasant during my 9th month than it did during the first trimester when I was overwhelmed with nonstop nausea.

9 months pregnant with 1st child

There is something about that miraculous new little life moving about within and the hormones of pregnancy that make expectant women glow.  Pregnancy hormones made my skin oily which contributed to my sheen! 

Similarly, when a heart is surrendered to Christ, the living Spirit of God shines brightly within the believer such that others can sometimes visibly see it.  I have had the great pleasure of participating in some worship services in which up to 30,000 genuine followers of Christ were gathered together exalting the Lord with every fiber of their being.  Their faces were radiant, and they had a bright, eternal spark in their eyes.  When I looked at these true worshipers of Christ, I did not see marred humans with all of their imperfections. All I could see was the radiance of Christ in them.  They were like glorious lights!

2 Corinthians 3:19 (NIV)
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 4:6 (The Message)

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. 

Unfortunately, many people have also witnessed worship services that were empty of the Holy Spirit.  Those in attendance sat in pews like knots on a log and were void of joy or radiance.  Some may refer to these people as the "frozen chosen".  On the outside, they look quite pious.  They wear sophisticated conservative clothing.  They never miss a church service and give to the church and to the poor.  They are quick to point out the sins of those outside of their inner circle but fail to notice the hollowness of their own hearts. They think they are righteous, but their hearts are dead.

Matthew 23:27  (NAS)
" Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

Matthew 6:2  (NAS)
"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men.....

Revelation 3:1 (The Message)

 Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks: "I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone-dead."

No matter how much a hypocrite may adorn himself with religiosity through good works, use of spiritual sounding words, or formal attire, no beauty will emanate from him.  No quick gimmick or false pretense can cover up a hardened heart.  Right actions without right motives are still filthy rags in God's sight. (Isaiah 64:6). We cannot buy or earn God's unmerited favor.  He freely bestows His grace upon all who truly believe and accept Christ as the one and only perfect way to redemption.  Receiving His grace costs us nothing, but it cost Him everything.  Radiating His beauty, however, requires moment by moment submission to His authority over our lives.  The more we die to self, the more His beautiful Spirit shines through us.  Christ doesn't offer us a cheap gimmick.  His love and His power are both real and eternal.  Even scientists and secular psychologists are finding it hard to ignore the health benefits of following Christ.  Longevity, shorter recovery time from surgery, better stress management, and improved mental health are all listed as health benefits in this article on psychologytoday.com. The ultimate health and beauty elixir is the living Spirit of God.  May we never settle for any of the world's cheap imitations. (1 John 4:3)

Psalm 50:2  (NAS)

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth.

All Natural, Budget Friendly Health and Beauty Elixirs (Part 2)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Swiss Chard

Since today is St. Patrick's Day, I should ask, "Did you wear green today?", but instead, I would rather ask, "Did you eat green today?".  Green leafy vegetables (GLV's) play a vital role in promoting health and beauty.  GLV's are among the least expensive sources of vital nutrients.  They are high in dietary fiber, folic acid, vitamins C and K, potassium, magnesium, iron, and calcium.  They also contain disease fighting phytochemicals, such as lutein, beta-crypoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.  GLV's are low calorie and low glycemic.  These beneficial qualities all work together to help lower risk of cancer, diabetes, and bone loss while improving immune function and eye health.  GLV's also help reduce inflammation, which is a huge concern for those suffering from arthritis or athletic injuries.

Spinach

Some of my family's favorite green leafy choices are raw spinach, steamed broccoli, and cauliflower. To minimize nutrient loss during preparation, it's best to eat GLV's raw or lightly steamed.  When we grow weary of salads or steamed vegetables, I'll mix GLV's into all sorts of other foods.  Spinach has a mild flavor, so it can be added to a surprising number of foods without much impact on overall flavor.   I'll mix spinach leaves into soups or pasta dishes to add more color variety and an antioxidant punch.  The green color is powerful, however, so when the spinach is mixed in with a blender instead of just tossed in as whole leaves near the end of cooking, it will turn almost anything green.  Our children are usually fascinated by my green concoctions and are eager to try them.

The kids love green smoothies.  To make them, I simply toss 4 cups of spinach, 1 cup yogurt, 1 cup berries or bananans, a few ice cubes, and a dab of sweetener (Stevia, Truvia, or honey are my preferred sweeteners) into a blender and mix.  If I'm making the smoothie just for me, I'll also add in some all natural chocolate whey protein for a powerful protein boost and for more of a chocolate covered berry flavor.

In an effort to keep healthy, high protein snacks conveniently on hand instead of the 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips I usually grab in my quest for quick energy, I "engineered" a new green snack this week that I call Popeye Puffs.  I wanted to add in some turkey ham and call it Green Eggs and Ham, but ham, even low fat turkey ham, is banned from the anti-inflammatory diet I am aspiring and failing to follow at least to some extent.

These green puffs taste like cheese quiche, but they certainly do have a nasty appearance.  My kids thought the green color "rocked".  Each standard muffin size serving has only 46 calories and less than 0.8 grams of sugar, but contains 7 grams of protein, lots of spinach, and 80 mg. of calcium.  Maybe I should just eat them with my eyes closed or reserve them for St. Patrick's Day only.  For more appealing recipes that pack in a lot of protein and GLV's without as much green coloring, click here.

"I'm Popeye the Sailor Man

Popeye the Sailor Man

I'm strong to the finich, cause I eats me spinach 

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!"   

(Popeye's theme song)

All Natural, Budget Friendly Health and Beauty Elixirs (Part 1)

Our son brought home a photo frame as an "art" project from LAMBS yesterday. The photo included with the frame was not exactly a flattering image of our son.

I'm not sure if he was sick or injured or what was going on when this photo was taken last fall, but it certainly isn't like the photos of him I have posted on my refrigerator.  Compare the above photo to this next one.

Which photo reflects more health and beauty?  What is the primary difference between them?  It's amazing to me what a difference a smile makes.

Would you ever guess that the two photos below were taken of the same chubby little girl when she was 5 months old?

Smiling certainly does make us appear more attractive, but it also has a number of health benefits.

1. Smiling, even if initially forced, can improve your mood and lighten the spirits of others around you.
2. People are naturally more attracted to people who look happy, so the more you smile, the more likely you are to find yourself surrounded by supportive friends.
3. Smiling reduces stress.
4. Smiling helps boost the immune system.
5. Smiling can lower blood pressure.
6. Smiling makes you look and feel younger which helps improve confidence.

I have a number of wrinkles around my eyes, cheeks and mouth that are accented when I smile.  At first I wanted to avoid smiling so as not to draw attention to my wrinkles.  When I considered the health benefits of smiling, however, I realized that these smile lines are trophies signifying a healthy life lived with joy.  Don't be afraid to smile today!

^"When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them."  (Job 29:24)

Out of the mouth of babes

This morning, I had to take the kids with me to the auto repair shop. While driving, I listened to a sermon on CD. This pastor is definitely more of a teacher than a preacher, but he can get fired up and passionate when necessary.  As his voice volume began to crescendo, my 4 year old uttered from the back seat, "Mom, I think he's losing his temper!" 

I found his comment to be most amusing at first, but then I began to consider what motivated him to say such a thing.  My son did not understand what the pastor was saying, but he clearly associated a forceful and loud tone of voice with a loss of temper.  I was convicted at that moment of the tone I have apparently used with our children when frustrated with them or when desperate for them to listen to me.

Proverbs 15:1
  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

As a parent, I need to constantly be reminded that tone of voice communicates much more then any words I may choose.  Our children perceive our emotions more readily than our message.

What are you communicating to your children today?

Speech Therapy: Then and Now

During my early years in elementary school, I had to see a speech therapist for several reasons.  At first, I was treated for stuttering.  The therapist explained that it is common for young children with active minds to stutter because their mouth coordination has not yet developed enough to keep up with their minds.  My family will attest that I certainly did try to talk a mile a minute.  My therapist, Mrs. Apple, was fabulous, and my mouth soon caught up with my mind!

A year or so later, I met with a speech therapist again because I was confusing my "r" and "w" sounds.  What type of books do you enjoy "weeding"?  Did you "wide" in a "caw" today?

I'm so grateful for these speech therapists who quickly helped me address my speech issues.  Public speaking has been a vital skill for me since high school.  I have given speeches and presentations at multiple city council meetings and for corporate execs in 3 continents, and have facilitated various types of professional management training, but I can't remember stuttering or confusing my letter sounds at all since 3rd grade.  Thank you, Mrs. Apple!   However, speech therapy did not slow down my mind, and now, instead of confusing "r" & "w" sounds, I think I may be confusing words that start with "r" & "w".

Reading and Writing
I love to read and write. However, when I read, my over active mind analyzes every word and probably takes me far beyond what the writer may have intended.  Just as I once stuttered when I tried to speak, now I seem to stutter in my mind when I read silently.  My thoughts ping pong back and forth so that I often end up reading the same line 5 times before I can move on to the next one.  My 1st grade daughter reads much faster than I do.  She misses some details, but she gets the overall theme, story line, and enough details to thoroughly enjoy each book.  She can breeze through books at mind boggling speeds.   Since I consider every detail carefully (I'm left brained, obviously), I get a lot more out of each book, but I'm not efficient enough to read as many books as I desire.

Writing is great therapy for me, and I probably write almost as fast as I read.  To be a good writer, however, I need to read profusely.  So, it seems I am still confusing my R's and W's when it comes to reading and writing.

Running and Weights
Two of my favorite recreational activities are running and weight training.  While both are essential for good health, it is very difficult to excel in both activities simultaneously.  Running and weight training will eventually work against each other.  Strength is necessary to run well and is especially helpful when climbing hills.  However, too much body mass, even lean muscle mass, will slow down a runner.  Too much running will burn off the muscle gained through weight training.  Since I enjoy both activities, I must find a balance.   Running is most enjoyable when I feel light on my feet like a gazelle leaping through a meadow. Races are all about speed, so when I run, I want to run fast.  Weight lifting, on the other hand, should be slow and heavy to optimize results.  If I run like a weight lifter, I will not finish well, much less win the race.  If I lift lightly and quickly like a runner, I will not increase my strength.  With these 2 activities, I must be careful not to confuse my R's and W's.

Nature vs. Nurture

I took our daughter to her first piano "competition" today.  She only started taking lessons this past summer with several breaks for teacher or student travels, so our goal for her today was simply to gain some experience playing for a judge.  She wasn't competing against other students but simply playing for a judge who would give her a rating with comments.  We didn't even know which pieces she would be playing for this competition until last week, so clearly, her teacher was careful not to put any pressure on her whatsoever.

When we first arrived, I felt a strange sense of de'j`a vu.  During my youth, I competed in federation contests and hymn festivals numerous times, but the event itself wasn't the only thing that felt both strange and familiar.  What I also felt was an emotion similar to what I experienced as a 17 year old girl when I first stepped off the airplane in Japan for a student exchange program.  There was so much to see and do in Japan, but what was immediately obvious to me was that I did not look like everyone else.   

Out of curiosity and the sheer respect I gained while in Japan for Asian education techniques, we chose to pursue a Suzuki style of piano instruction for our daughter's first year of lessons.  At this competition, a large majority of the students looked more like Mr. Suzuki than my daughter did!  I was easily intimidated because my life experiences have given me the biased perception of Asian people as being exceptionally brilliant and musically gifted.  Our little girl, however, was much more interested in the American Girl book she brought with her to read while waiting for her turn than she was in the outward appearances of others.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

We spent some time in prayer together before we got out of my vehicle.  I asked the Lord to give her peace, help her do her best, and be gloried through our attitudes and actions.  She was a tad nervous but not at all afraid.  She was nervous because it was a new experience, but her confidence in God cast out all fear (1 John 4:18).  Update:  We just found out that the judge gave her a Superior rating overall and in all categories, so we are thankful to God for keeping her at peace and for enabling her to play her best.

The event was huge with over 1300 participants.  I was ushered into a crowded auditorium with all the other parents of students who were playing during that one 5 minute time slot!  While waiting, I began reading one of Suzuki's books about his educational philosophy.  He clearly favors nurture over nature.  He strongly challenges parents to provide an ideal environment in which children can grow and learn, especially during the first 4 years.  (Oops, my youngest is 4, so it is too late for our kids?)

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

He encourages parents to expose their children to high quality music at an early age.  As children listen to fine music and watch their parents play, they will begin developing a passion for music and should be eager to learn and practice when they begin formal study.  Students may obey if their parents constantly nag them to practice their instruments, but true talent develops best when the student desires to practice out of a nurtured appreciation for high quality music.

As an adopted child who now knows (by miraculous means) both of my birth parents and even the foster parent who cared for me between placement for adoption and placement into a permanent home, I think my life experience can serve as a test for Suzuki's theories.   As far as I can tell, neither of my birth parents were musical proteges.  I don't think they played musical instruments at all.  My foster mother, however, is a skilled musician who plays the piano often at home and regularly exposed me to fine music during my brief four months with her.  My beloved parents (adoptive) both took some piano lessons as children, but neither continued to play for very long.  By the time I was five years old, however, I was begging my parents for piano lessons.  Back then, age 5 was considered too early for lessons.  Yet, the desire was already deep rooted within me.  If what Suzuki wrote is true, then those 4 months spent in the home of a musician helped develop a love for music within me.  I do not have any special musical talent in my genetic composition.  Yet, a passion for piano compelled me to practice regularly, and my parents provided me with the tools, instruction, and environment I needed to excel. 

Suzuki has tested his ideas on children labeled as "slow" in the Japanese schools.  He mentioned in the book one little girl who could not even count past 3 when she entered the school system.  He discovered that her home life did not provide a suitable environment for learning.  Her parents did not value education, nor did they attempt to teach her.  As her school teachers began to work with her, they applauded each tiny step of improvement she made in her learning.  As she gained confidence in those little things, her attention span increased, and she eventually passed the entrance exams for one of the finest universities in her country. The nurture of her teachers helped her overcome her rough beginning.  (Whew, it isn't too late for my children after all!)  Suzuki encourages parents to make learning enjoyable for their children and to praise their progress so that they can build confidence and concentration endurance. 

Let's just hope that providing a "suitable environment" does not require buying her a 6 figure piano!

I usually try to compare any teaching, secular or otherwise, with the Scriptures before accepting it. God is our perfect parent and teacher, so He should be our example.  He created man in His own image so we were created with the capacity to learn, achieve, and please Him.  However, God is more concerned with our motivation than our actions, so He gave mankind free will.  He doesn't nag us to practice piano, study our lessons, or obey him as we parents do with our children.  He delights when we desire to do those things out of love for Him and for all that is good and holy.   With that free choice, man fell into sin.  So, when it comes to nature, all men are born with a sin nature. (Romans 3:23)

What about nurture?  God nurtures a love for Him and for His beauty by revealing Himself through creation.  He nurtures a passion for righteousness through Christ's example on earth.  Christ certainly nurtured his 12 disciples.  He demonstrated perfect love through his sacrifice on the cross for the sinners who rejected Him.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

God instructs parents to train children up in His ways and in His righteousness (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 4:10).  Establishing the right environment for children certainly ups their chances for coming to faith and living righteously, but it is by no means a guarantee.   Works alone will not overcome the sin nature.

^" know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:16)

Only faith in Christ's payment for our sins on our behalf through his horrific suffering and death on the cross can overcome the sin nature and give each of us a new nature and a new identity as a child of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Moses is an example of a child who was born with the nature of an Israelite, nurtured by his Hebrew family during his earliest days, and then adopted into the home of the Egyptian Pharoah where he received the nurture and training of an Egyptian ruler.   God called Moses out of Pharoah's house to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  Neither nature nor nurture can hold a candle to the powerful calling of God.  God may work both our nature and our nurture together for His good (Romans 8:28), but nothing can thwart His plan.

Job 42:2
"I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

My conclusion is that Suzuki's ideas can be supported by Scripture in part and do have their place.  Parents most certainly should provide the best possible learning environment for their children.  Scriptures do teach that parents are ultimately and primarily responsible for the education of their children.  Nature certainly isn't the only indicator for a child's destiny.  I do believe, however, that Suzuki's methods omit the most powerful indicator of a child's potential, God's plan!  Regardless of the child's nature or nurture, God will equip those He calls with whatever education, resources, or abilities that are required (Philippians 4:18-19), and He will do so in such a way that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

^"for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29)

My other concern with Suzuki's teaching is that it could tempt the parent and/or the student to develop a prideful heart.  If a child excels in music after a parent has diligently followed Suzuki's methods, that parent may be tempted to feel too much personal pride. Likewise, the student, having worked so diligently, may consider himself/herself more highly that he/she ought.

Romans 12:3
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Whatever we do and whatever method we use, our primary purpose and aim should be to do so with excellence for God's glory alone (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Look Who's 7!

Birthday Girl at a Horse Farm

Today our daughter is celebrating her 7th birthday.  She gets to choose the menus for all our meals today, so we've had pizza, pancakes, and sausage so far today.  She is also receiving lots of phone calls and Facebook greetings.  She cherishes the birthday cards she has received in the mail.  Our beloved mail carrier just delivered a big box from her grandparents.  Inside, she found an American Girl doll, Felicity's best friend Elizabeth, the corresponding American Girl book, and more American Girl doll accessories.  She is over the moon right now.

Birthday Girl with Elizabeth

She insisted that I photograph Elizabeth's earrings.

We can't keep up with the grandparents when it comes to gifts, so we reminded her that her party was her big gift.  Thankfully, we did include Felicity's formal ball dress in with her other gifts from us, so now Felicity and Elizabeth can go to fancy parties together.

Felicity in her ball dress

I remember my 7th birthday more than most of my other childhood birthdays.  My birthday fell on Easter Sunday that year, so my parents got me a pet bunny whom we named Peaches.  My parents did not expect that bunny to live so long, but she kept me amused for the next 7 years.  What I remember most about that sweet bunny was her benevolence.  She would flip her food bowl over so that the food fell to the ground beneath her cage where she shared her meals with the wild bunnies who flooded our backyard each spring.  Perhaps she just enjoyed their company.  I always wanted to free her from her cage so she could hop around with her new wild friends. 

Peaches even made friends with my Cocker Spaniel!

Oops, I digressed.  I merely wanted to note that I hope our daughter will remember her 7th birthday as fondly as I remember mine.

Some of our birthday girl's favorite things this past year have been books, anything American Girl, and horses. For Christmas, she got a new horse bedspread and horse pillow pet.  She received a handmade stable and multiple horse figurines that she plays with and stores in the stable.  She also received the American Girl doll, Felicity, who passionately rescues a horse named Penny in the book Meet Felicity, and the American Girl horse, Penny.  She is so fond of horses that by November of last year, I had already selected the venue for her birthday party and had purchased all the favors and paper products for the horse themed party we hosted this past weekend.  I have always loved horses and have dreamed of living on a horse farm myself!

Here I am playing with Penny and Felicity dolls! :-)

While waiting on all of the guests to arrive to the party, the kids enjoyed meeting and loving on a gentle, 40-year old mare named Strawberry.  Then the kids received a lesson on horse care and grooming.

Meeting Strawberry and receiving instruction

Grooming tools

Then they got to practice grooming techniques.

Each guest got to go on a few pony rides.

She asked for horseback riding lessons as soon as we arrived.

Our son felt overwhelmed and jealous at first when surrounded by so many girls who were there for his sister's birthday.  He complained of boredom and initially refused to ride a horse, a ride which we had already paid for him to enjoy.   Thankfully, his favorite teacher, whom he loves and admires, talked some sense into him, and he ended up having a blast during his horse rides.

Gifts!

Our family in our riding boots at the horse farm

Hambone, Hambone

I think I just set a record for the longest amount of time between blog posts.  I promised myself, "No blogging until taxes are filed."  Plus, we had a busy weekend with a fabulous mother/daughter book club meeting (which was more like a lavish party), our daughter's birthday party, church duties, and our kids' recent enrollment in children's choirs.  Since my children love to watch me beat rhythms from my mouth while doing the hand jive, I thought I would elaborate on a few of these excuses for not posting recently to the tune and rhythm of the Hambone hand jive (click here for original lyrics).  I have tried to keep as many of the original lyrics as possible. 

Hambone! Hambone!

Where you been?

Hosting a party in a horse's pen.

What did you do when you came back?

Stayed up late working Turbo Tax.

Hambone 

(I will not be posting video of my hand jive, but feel free to use your imagination!)

Hambone! Hambone!

Did you hear?

Pops bought our girl doll's riding gear. 

As if those doll clothes weren't enough,

She got other American Girl stuff.

She got cool crafts and classic books,

(Image from Amazon.com)

Toys and clothes. She gave grateful looks.

Hambone

Hambone! Hambone!

Where you been?

Mom/girl book club, and we'll go again!

Photo from Amazon.com

 We spoke of plots, this, and that.

We made mob caps to wear as hats!

We played some games, and stayed too long.

This much fun could never be wrong.

Hambone, Hambone,

Where's your mate?

Home with the boy wishing we weren't so late

Hambone (2x)

Hambone, Hambone,

Trying to eat.

"Finish your veggies, and you can have a treat!" (this line is for KR)

It took too long to get our taxes filed.

Will there be supper for next year's child?

Look at him holler, look at him moan.

The US wants ANOTHER loan!

Hambone (2x)