Just Ten Things-Book Giveaway II

More Autumn Blessings--Just Ten Things 

(and book giveaway!)

In an earlier post, I discussed the power of gratitude and how creating a simple habit of giving thanks each day for just ten things can dramatically alter our feelings and attitudes for the better. I did a book giveaway for those of you who left a comment to share something you're grateful for, and Kelly Ropson won a book.

Well,  I'm doing another giveaway. To be entered, leave a comment like last time, sharing your top three reasons for gratitude today. In this beautiful Autumn season there is so much to be grateful for. I'm starting us off with my list for today  (the illustrated version--with pictures!).

Here goes: 

1. We recently took a trip from Ohio to New Hampshire and Maine, and were fortunate enough to be visiting  at the height of the "colors"--that is, the fall, when the leaves change. I'm grateful, Lord, for your beautiful Creation!

2. Good friends became better friends as we shared four nights and five days together in their rustic retreat on a pristine Maine lake. Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of godly friends who share their blessings!

3. In New Hampshire, we renewed ties with relatives we hadn't seen in a decade. (And with their dogs, too! Below, meet Lila, Noah and Moses.) Thank You, Lord, for family, both far and near. 

4. We got to "ooh" and "ah" all along the way, both coming and going. Thank You, Lord, for leading us safely there and back. 

                                                 Every turn in the road was postcard-pretty.


5. Our friends were perfect tour guides, taking us from remote mountain views to off-the-beaten-path good eateries. Thank You, Lord, for hidden blessings that You bring forth in their time--and for those still in store for us during life's journey. 

            Here I am, with Pete and Sandi. I found out Sandi is an intrepid hiker who will leap tall boulders for a single photo! Me? Not so much.

6. The picture below was taken only three days after the similar one, above (3rd from top of post). Notice how much the maple on the left changed in so short a time. Thank You, Lord, for the fleeting beauty we glimpse on earth--just a taste of what awaits us in heaven. 

7.  Coming home has blessings all its own, like these marigolds which I never expected to last this far into the fall. Thank You, Lord, for unexpected, small pleasures.

8. In the front, my geraniums are proving hardier than expected, too!

9. We don't have mountains or a lake just steps from our back porch, but I'm grateful for our little woodsy spot in Ohio, anyway. 

10. For all the responsibilities of home and family, which make vacations so very special. Thank You, Lord, for appointed times of refreshment! 

                                          Above: Back at the lake. The view from our room. (Sigh.)

Now it's your turn. Leave a comment with your top three reasons to be grateful today, and I'll draw a winner (to win a free book of mine) from among the commenters. To choose a book, you can see what I've written  along the right side-bar of this blog, or you can click through to my website and see more about my books  here.  

Comments accepted for the drawing through  October 31st.  I look forward to hearing from you!

                                                            Saying goodbye is sad to do!

When Being Beautiful Turns Ugly

Note: This is something I wrote a few years ago for a column called "Media and the Home." It was a standing feature of Dionna Sanchez's blog, "Inner Fulfillment." I'm no longer a homeschooling mom, but I still have three young women beneath my roof, one of whom is only nine. The topic here is just as relevant today as it was then, and not just for me or for homeschoolers, but for any parent of a girl.

When Being Beautiful Turns Ugly
Parents today are concerned about media influences on their kids, and with good cause. Suicide is the second-highest cause of death among teenagers in the US—after car accidents. Why are so many young people killing themselves?

The answers are complex, and stem from the breakdown of the family, legalized abortion (which devalues human life), the loss of faith in society as a whole (if there's no God, how does life have meaning or purpose?) and, finally, an unrealistic sense of failure to measure up.

Measure up to what?

All too often, the media's idea of how and what they should be. And nowhere is this insidious idea more powerful to young psyches than in the area of appearance. Teens are hard on each other, but not nearly as hard as they can be on themselves, especially when they compare themselves to photo-shopped images. Beauty gets ugly really fast when it takes on visions of perfection that are simply unattainable.

Young women are particularly vulnerable to the society-fueled obsession with weight and appearance, as they are constantly bombarded with images of hyped-up beauty. From Britney to Sleeping Beauty to Barbie, women are supposed to be slim and flawless. School teachers report that girls as young as nine and ten can be heard worrying about over-eating and being on diets. Meanwhile, at the same time, there is so much computer and video game usage today that staying in healthy shape is a greater challenge for today's kids than ever before.

As a parent, I struggle to find ways to affirm my girls' attractiveness—just the way they are—when there is so much out there telling them a different message. At age ten, my middle daughter is now saying to me (when I tell her how beautiful she is), “You only think that because you're my mother!” Or, “You're supposed to say that because I'm your daughter.” She is already internalizing society's message that being “beautiful” is directly correlated to how sexy you are, and what brand or type of clothing you wear. She might not put it that way, but this is what it comes down to.

Where is she getting these ideas?

They are seeping in from all sides! We have a protected environment in our home—to a degree. (No TV, just selected videos and DVDs) but as I mentioned earlier, even Barbie is picture-perfect and skinnier than Twiggy.

On an up note, Dove (the beauty products manufacturer) has produced a video showing the transformation of an ordinary girl (read: could be your daughter. Could be you!) into a super-glamorous billboard model. I had both my daughters view this and my ten-year-old was shocked. It's an eye-opening message we need to get out.

I suggest you view this with your daughters--and your sons(Guys can get unrealistic expectations, too). After viewing the video, make it a point to pick up magazines that show stars “as they really are”. Celebrities hate this, but it's a shot in the arm for girls who are struggling with self-image or self-worth issues (and what girls do not?). Finally, remember to affirm that God has created them specially (they're not an accident); He has a personal plan for their life (purpose); and they ARE beautiful—truly beautiful--in Christ, just the way they are.

Once you watch the video let me know what you think. Do you have an effective method for instilling your girls with a confidence that doesn't come solely from what they see in the mirror? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
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