The Chronicles of Biscuit - The New Deal

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

It's not often any more that I get two "Biscuit" stories in a week, but this week it has happened! 

Tonight Biscuit came to me and asked if he could make a "deal" with me.  I said, "Possibly.  What's the deal." 

Biscuit: Well, I was thinking.....what if for one whole month I didn't complain, didn't argue, and didn't have any negativady (he's pronunciation of negativity) and then, you give me a prize at the end.....except I might mess up two times each month. 

Me:  What's the prize?

Biscuit:  Clothes....like a polo or something like that.

Me:  (Well, it is a season change and most likely I will be buying him a few things, so it's not going to be anything out of the norm, where typically we don't bribe our kids to be good.)  Go ask your dad and see what he thinks.

Biscuit comes back:  Dad said yes, but he's the judge.

Me:  Well, I need to be the judge, too, since I'm home with you more.

Biscuit: (Goes and talks to my husband again.)  Okay.  Dad said that's good.  And so at the end of the month I get a prize and I can mess up just two times.

Me:  Okay.

Biscuit holding out his hand to shake mine:  It's a deal!

Later on:

Biscuit:  Mom, can we start my deal tonight?  

Me:  No Biscuit, you already messed up this afternoon by complaining, remember? 

Biscuit:  Oh, yeah.  Tomorrow then.

*So, now we'll wait and see...... :)  Will Biscuit live up to his "only 2 times messing up in a month"?  I'm not sure.  But what I do know is that I'm proud of him for at least trying to improve in the complaining and arguing and "negativady" areas.  Imagine a world where everyone tried to improve in those areas.  It would be a lot different, wouldn't it?  All I can do is start with ME!  All you can do is start with YOU!

Good job, Biscuit!  I'm proud of you!

I'll Keep Going Till They Quit

A great reminder for all of us. Courtesy Alan Smith @ Thought for the Day.

There once was an older man who went out jogging. He was running around a track that circled the high school football field while the team was conducting their practice. When the football players began running their sprints up and down the field, the man said to himself, "I'll just keep running until they quit." So they ran. And he ran. And they kept on running. So he kept on running.

Finally, in total exhaustion the man had to stop. When he stopped, an equally exhausted football player walked over to him and said, "Boy, I'm glad you finally stopped, Mister. Our coach told us that we had to keep running wind sprints as long as the old guy was jogging!"

It seems to me that we can sometimes find ourselves in a similar kind of situation when it comes to anger and conflict. We have a disagreement with someone and get into an argument. Voices get raised. Neither side wants to be the first to give in, to stop speaking in anger. Everyone has the attitude, "I'll just keep on till they quit." So the other party stays mad. And we stay mad. On and on we go, eventually finding ourselves emotionally and even physically exhausted by the ongoing animosity.

Let me challenge you to do something very difficult. The next time you get in an argument, be the first to give in. Be the first to stop the yelling and the name-calling. Be the first to say, "I'm sorry." It's the quickest way to stop the vicious cycle.

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
Have a great day!

Alan Smith

How can I SHINE?

In my study, I began to make an acrostic using the word SHINE. Beginning with "S", it was logical to start with the first part of the verse "do everything without arguing or complaining". "S", then would be STOP ARGUING AND COMPLAINING! Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Well, we all know, this isn't always easy to do and for some of us, it's harder than it is for others of us. At the time I began this study, my mom had this verse on her chalkboard in her kitchen. That is a pretty good thing for us to do - put a much-needed verse where we are reminded of it throughout our entire day. In fact, Deuteronomy 6:6-9 refers to just that. We may need many verses posted around the house to remind us of God's Word and how relevant it is to our everyday lives.

Here's a question for each of us: Why do we complain and argue? Let's look at three reasons we may argue and complain.

1. We argue and complain because we are selfish. Maybe things are not going the way we want them to. Maybe they truly are not going the way that would be best, but we have to be really careful to not be selfish in our thinking...make sure that we are not only looking to our own interests, but are concerned about the interests in others and their well-being. Am I being selfish in my thinking? Is what I am upset about really that important?

2. We argue and complain because we are suffering. None of us really want to suffer in any way, do we? But is what we are going through really suffering or is it the persecution that God's Word tells us we will endure and that we should willingly endure to allow our faith to become stronger? Remember that James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." God may be allowing this trial in our lives to test our faith and help us grow.

3. We argue and complain because we are unthankful. Sometimes we fail to see just how much God has really blessed us. We concentrate on the negatives instead of on the positives. We let the little petty stuff fill our minds and our spirit, instead of dwelling on what is truly important. We begin to look inward at ourselves, instead of looking upward toward God. When we look to ourselves or even look to others for happiness, we will always be disappointed. Only our faith and trust in God and His ability to supply us with everything we need, will keep us from being unthankful.

How can we learn to not complain?
The most important thing we can do in learning not to complain is to learn to be content. We, as Americans, tend to want more and more. We are not satisfied with what we have, but constantly strive to have bigger and better. Paul later tells us the key for being content. He says in Philippians in 4:12-13 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret (emphasis mine) of being content in any and every situation, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The secret, Paul says, is getting our strength from Christ and nothing else. Being content by being in Jesus, as a child of God.

How can we learn to not argue?
By listening to others opinions and not thinking my way is the only way, and sometimes by just letting things go. Remember what Philippians 2:15 says “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God, without fault. When we do choose to complain and argue, we are not being blameless and pure and we are surely not looking like children of God, without fault.

We can all make make an effort to stop arguing and complaning, but most likely it is something we will work on for a long time. We may fail and go back to our old ways in this area, but by putting our faith in God and realizing like Paul did that it is Christ who gives us strength, then with His help, we will stop the arguing and complaining. We will be making an effort to not continue in this sin. In order to "Shine Like Stars" we must also strive to imitate Christ.