God' Secret Weapon
By: Susan Deborah Schiller
From the series, "Write to Freedom" Mini Memoir eCourse
Life Story Writing Tip: What place does honor have in your memoir? Who are the heroes in your life story that you would like to honor? Sometimes we forget the power and influence our children have in our lives, and that they are intended as blessings, not burdens. As adults, we work so hard to protect, to educate, and to prepare them for life, and we forget that they come as blessings to protect, to educate, and to remind us of what life is really all about. The Kingdom of Heaven is upside down, so it may seem strange to think of children in this Light.
While it doesn't mean we treat them as adults, we can honor them by looking for, recognizing, and employing their gifts. Why should they wait until they are 18 to begin working their crafts, skills, and gifts?
The photo at the top of this page was taken at a local powwow, where people of diverse faiths, skin colors, and fashion design honored our Creator, our world, and our families. I felt the wholeness of the family unit at the powwow, because so much honor was extended to each person, from the greatest to the least.
The family is the backbone of society. God's secret weapon is a whole family.
There are women today – who call themselves feminists – who also classify themselves as radical homemakers. They are leaving Corporate America in droves, finding businesses to run from their homes, and nurturing their children to be creative, independent, and free. I believe this is one way we can honor our children.
It reminds me of how the Lakota raised their families before our country robbed them of their destiny, cheated them from their land, and stole their identity. But that's another story.
Malachi 4 is my promise – a promise I believe I will see in my lifetime, or at the very least I will spend my whole life working toward, "when God will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers" so that the curse will be removed from our land.
Children are the arrows in our quiver (Psalm 127). When people talk of population control and thinning the masses, do we think that God made a mistake when he declared each part of creation, "Good" and then went on to say "grow and multiply!"
The devil would have us programmed to believe that division is the way to go: Factions, dysfuntion, divorce, and favoritism. We are programmed for scarcity. We are programmed to use birth control, to limit our families. I'm not saying there isn't a place for that, but let's dig down to the roots of that belief system, which is based on scarcity.
When I was in church leadership, my pastor told me to caution the parents to use birth control. He said that two children were more than enough for each family. He pointed out certain couples who were breaking the rules and he reprimanded me, as children's and youth pastor, for allowing them to get away with pursuing the adoption of orphans, on top of their four naturally born children.
What if it's just the opposite? What if having more children makes us stronger, not just in ancient history but today?
The devil would have us believe children are a liability, an expense, and a weakness. What does God say? Did Jesus not rebuke the disciples for pushing children to the side, when he wanted them on his lap? And then he took one and announced, "Unless you become like a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom."
This is what being "born again" is all about. It's the process of becoming childlike. It's not a sinner's prayer that becomes a ticket to heaven.
This is part of my own legacy: I believe we need to honor our children, to deploy them against the devil, even. My granddaughter, Danielle, is an example of what I mean. She once sang a song from her imagination to me, and it mirrored the thoughts in my own mind. I wrote it in my journal so I wouldn't forget her words. I share this story, to honor Danielle, at "The Love Revolution".
"I wake up in the morning,
I see the trees and sky.
I go outside.
I see the birds and the butterflies,
I say a little prayer for someone.
Then I do something for someone.
Our brains are for thinking about God.
Then we say a little prayer for someone.
We do something for someone."
Danielle's words were what I needed to hear, at just the right moment. More than once, God has spoken through Danielle's lips, and I know she has a tremendous gift of prophecy, discernment, and wisdom. I chose to honor her by writing her words in my journal, and then publishing them on her own blog and on mine. I want my actions to affirm and honor her, so that she knows she is someone important in this world, and that she is needed here and now – not just when she grows up.
In your memoir, have you considered honoring your children and grandchildren, or other family members, in such a way that if you were to die today they could use your words to chart a path into their future?
That's today's activation, in fact. Even if you are not a parent or grandparent, perhaps you are an aunt or uncle, a teacher, or neighbor. Is there a child on your heart today? Is there a child you can spend time with and allow that child to speak into your life?
It's another practice in empathetic, attentive listening… the kind of listening where your motive is to dump your ego, to empty your head of responses, and to engage in a true spirit-to-spirit connection. Without further ado, I'll bow out now and allow you to switch eye glasses. Instead of your 100-year old glasses, put on your childlike glasses and step into a child's shoes today… and feel what they are feeling. Really listen… and then follow your heart as to what response you want to give, to honor them.
Have fun!
Living the adventure and choosing love today,
Sue
PS God's secret weapon is a whole family, as pictured in Malachi 4. The family is the backbone of society. In writing your memoir, in this way, we are healing the heart of the family!
Susan Schiller knows how it feels to lose everything: marriage and family, church and reputation, finances and businesses, and more. Susan's upcoming, interactive memoir, "On the Way Home," tells the story of how she came to be known as "the most abused woman" her counselors had yet met and how she learned to navigate her way out of hell to a rich and satisfying life. In her lifetime, Susan has served in duties ranging from home school mom – to pastor – to full-time deliverance minister – and to Midwest regional prayer coordinator for a large international ministry. These days you can usually find Susan soaking in her favorite hot springs pool, reading a book (or several), blogging, baking bread, or hanging out with her family and friends. You can get a free copy of Susan's upcoming book, "On the Way Home" by registering here.
Copyright 2010-2014, Susan Schiller, http://TeamFamilyOnline.com. For reprint permission for any private or commercial use, in any form of media, please contact Susan Schiller.
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