Saturday, March 11, 2006

"You have only two things to do in life, Boy"



I've told The Boy that he has only two things he needs to do in life:

1. Love Jesus
2. Take care of your sister

This picture above is him doing both.

He is reading Max Lucado's "You are Special" to his sister.

Three things [I'll think of a fourth by the time I'm done, I'm sure.]

1. Anyone else read it? And found it helpful even as an adult?
2. If you wish to hear a summary of the book [and therefore why The Boy is doing both things], then ask me by posting a comment.
3. Can someone please forward this link with thanks to Rhea Harding? She gave us the book.

And, yes,
4. For the record, he can't read. But he will one day, I can feel it... I can feel it...

Love, Justin.

PS I've updated a pic from a former post: http://moffattnyc.blogspot.com/2006/03/eight-things-boy-has-learnt_06.html
Its the boy learning Point 2. "If you go out in the snow and, in anger, you rip off your gloves, socks, shoes, beanie and protective plastic stroller cover, you'll just get more angry. It's a fact."

9 comments:

Justin said...

He is indeed a legend.

Welcome MP. Love your Blog...

Justin.

Anonymous said...

I was going to say the same thing, thats great to see him doing those things!
Its funny how adults can learn from the books their children read!Do tell us what its about Justin!

Anonymous said...

hello, - such a great book, i use it with clients - especially when they have taken on beliefs about themselves from others eg: 'you are just like your father', you are x y z' ' i am ugly' 'nobody wants me'....the list can go on. Helps give a concrete example of what they are allowing to happen, then can couteract it with what God says. Amazing privelege to see adults break down crying as they start to make sense for the first time of what they have been living under!
Have also used it at school for assemblies and brought representative children out and stuck stars and dots all over them - very powerful and provides a platform and language for children to explore the idea of name calling and bullying and believing lies.
Praise God for Max Lucado!
My prayer for the boy and girl is that they carry the truth of this book with them forever more.
lots of love.

Justin said...

Thanks Sharon.

Chels: Here is a description that I found on the net.

"Every day the small wooden people called Wemmicks do the same thing: stick either gold stars or gray dots on one another.

The pretty ones--those with smooth wood and fine paint--always get stars. The talented ones do, too.

Others, though, who can do little or who have chipped paint, get ugly gray dots.

Like Punchinello.

In the tale Eli the woodcarver [The Creator Figure] helps Punchinello understand how special he is--no matter what other Wemmicks may think. The message is that regardless of how the world evaluates them, God cherishes each of them, just as they are.

Anonymous said...

hello lovely justin and the aforementioned one wife, the boy and the girl!
i miss you guys so much, and love your blog. I think blogging suits you very much! As you know I love 'you're special', and it makes me smile to see that photo! My boy (ha ha) also gets read your special. I am considering reading it in church soon! Remember that God thinks you're special Justin, and we should listen to what he says, because not only did he make us, but he cares for us! (he he!)So, be transformed by the renewing of your mind (somewhere in the Book).
I am reading Piper's "desiring God' at the mo - what do you think of it J? -just assuming that you have read it! Also, i have a great Book which i can send you when i have finished. Details are not my forte, but it's called Compassion, and Henri Neuwen wrote it with 2 other friends, as a result of how hard they found it living and ministering in (maybe NY or San FRAn??), and being compassionate. Its amazing. i really do miss youse all! will enjoy reading your blog! rhea

Anonymous said...

Thats a lovely story! hehe Such a good reminder! And awesome to see your kids learning that from such a young age (But who am i kidding, they're your kids, of course they will! Which is great!)
Thanks for your comment about revelation! Always exciting to learn more about it, so thanks!

Anonymous said...

>I've told The Boy that he has only two things he needs to do in life:
>1. Love Jesus
>2. Take care of your sister

I wish I had a sister who i could take care of. More accurately, I wish I had a sister whose boyfriends I could terrorise.

"You make her cry, I make you cry."

My daughters are going to hate me ;-)

Pete said...

Terrorising Boyfriends is lots of fun.

Being nice to them is even more fun (especially to see the reactions).

I'm lucky though, was driving around the other day and my little sister commented how she would not be seen in skimpy clothing.

How refreshing, seeing modesty treated as a virtue. Hope you get to see that from "the girl" eventually too Justin.

James said...

Justin, i have to inform you that the boy will at some stage start teasing and tormenting the girl. He's a big brother. It's part of his job. He just can't go overboard with it (which i, unfortunately, kinda did... but come on, i have three sisters!)

However, dont get too upset when with him, it actaully helps the girl. It shows her that people are going to annoy her and bully her, other boys are going to be mean to her, and hopefully then, she will be able to deal with it and not get too upset.

I did say, however that teasing was part of his job, the other part is protecting. It goes like this...

"I can tease her - but if anyone else does i'll kick their butts!"

All three of my sister will testify to this!