Around the Web:

enough chocolate cake anxiety

At Finding Joy, Rachel writes about the night she gave her boys chocolate cake for dinner.

• Sometimes I deal with anxiety.

  I don’t like to talk about it really, but sometimes there are some things that need to be talked about. In fact, tucked away in my Evernote is a post that I wrote almost two years ago about dealing with anxiety at times. What was crazy to me was the amount of shame that I once heaped on myself – you can’t keep it together, what is wrong with you, you’re not a good mom – about having anxiety moments. And then as the years have worn away and I’ve learned to become stronger and found freedom in articulating my heart I’ve realized that the greatest thing that hinders growth, love, and community is the need to hide and live under the facade of perfection. . . .

  Which again, brings me back to that chocolate cake.

For the times when we allow our expectations birth anxieties, Rachel’s post is a reminder of the need for grace. Read more.

16/365 Acceptance. Religion. Pollution. Coffee.

This one is a week or so old, but I keep coming back to it. Christine wrote at Homemade in China about one of her days—it began with pollution, included theological discussions with her children, and ended with a reminder that there is no good apart from God.

• Today started off ultra polluted and gray again. That’s also alright. It is… our life. It does not feel alright a lot of the time, but I do find that in acceptance lieth peace. That is no mere trite saying either. I have to work to accept it. There are a lot of tricks and disciplines to this. Still, the fact remains that at it’s core, the acceptance of what you have been called to, or given, is what leads to contentment, even joy if you dare hope for it.

  Thinking on acceptance, and whether that is just my explanation for living in a fateful manner or a believing my life is ordered by a very real and active God, my mind wandered all over the good roads of philosophy and religion and the contents of my coffee mug throughout the day.

Read more.

The Meaning of Mundane Work

Matthew Smith challenges men in this piece at the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, reminding them that work is not a result of the curse but a reflection of God.

•  This struggle with the meaning of mundane work especially grows out of the soil of following your dreams. That’s the American theology of work. If you are true to yourself and follow your dreams, your work has meaning. But if you are working a solid job, providing for your family, but your dream is to be the next the Next American fill-in-the-blank you’re a fraud and your current endeavors are meaningless. I’ve seen people make poor decisions about jobs to follow their dreams. I’ve seen families destroyed because one spouse felt like they weren’t being true to themselves and had to follow their dreams. 

His words are a good reminder for both men and women. Our work—no matter how mundane it may seem—is good. Read more.

Around the Warren:

Remembering our Place

James Witmer tells of pierogie day at the Witmer home—and how it helped their family remember their place in the Story.

• The story of Genesis opens with the protagonist (God) overflowing with love and creativity. Then the villain, in a devastating opening move, convinces the story’s love interest (mankind) that the protagonist does not truly love her, and that she – not he – should be the center of the story.

  Now, as members of that gullible race, we and our children struggle to remember our proper and beloved place in the story. In fact, it is a precious thing to glimpse any story larger than our own.

Read more.

“Narratives are catechisms. . .”

As per usual, fantastic stuff from N.D. Wilson and Paul Boekell.

The Clown of God

Helena Sorensen introduces us to an ancient French legend in the form of Tomie dePaola’s book, The Clown of God.

• Something appalling is taking place at the altar in the monastery chapel in Sorrento, right in front of the statue of Mary and Jesus. What do you suppose it could be that would send the Sexton running? Was the chapel being damaged, the statue defaced? Was a villager committing some reprehensible sin inside the very walls of the church?

  No. The sacrilege was nothing more than Giovanni, the juggler, performing for the Holy Child, offering his humble gift to Jesus.

Read more.

Welcome to The Green Ember Family Audio Hour

Something to Do with Your Kids:

I sat at lunch with a new acquaintance the other week and halfway into our meal she said the words that convinced me we’re going to be good friends: “I love outer space.” Space is one of the most utterly mind boggling and incredibly lovely things I can comprehend in this creation. So whether your family agrees with me already or if you’re looking for something new to be fascinated by, here’s an activity that will get you thinking about outer space: Galaxy Mobiles.

And Something to Watch

Have you ever wondered just how your family’s hamster managed to pack away all that food into his cheeks? Wonder no longer! Here’s a video x-ray where you can see just where Agamemnon keeps his booty.

Thank you for reading. We’re on your side.