Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 133

A Different Child: A Marathon not a Sprint & A Podcast

Nathan is home for acouple of weeks and we are trying to make memories, have fun, and be friends. He is on the move again and so I am cherishing the time we have. But, I am also reminded that his issues and the way it effects our family and his life will always be here.

Both of us have received hundreds of emails, texts, letters and comments from so many of you since we first published our book, Different, less than a year ago. Those of us who deal with the daily issues of challenging circumstances in our home just need to know others understand and that there is hope for our story to end well. Though our story is not over yet, it will pretty well developed and we see God's grace and fingerprints all over our lives--and we are best friends.

I thought it would be great to do a little podcast of together sharing some of our most recent thoughts about living with an outside the box story. Hope you enjoy it. I am also including a short part of one of our stories in the book.

Finally, we are pondering publishing a beautiful new picture book for children about all of us being different. If you would enjoy such a book, please leave a comment below. It is our hope that our story will be of encouragement to you. 

Play Podcast # 107 With Nathan and Sally Clarkson

 

 

********************************

As I prayed for Nathan and pondered him over the early years of his life, I gradually began to understand more fully that he was not a problem to be addressed, not the sum of his behavioral performance. His worth to God was not about his ability to fulfill other people’s expectations or act according to accepted norms. Instead he was a beloved child of the Father with a specific role to play in God’s ongoing story of redemption.

Again, this was a lesson long in coming. It hurt my feelings when people made no effort to understand what we were going through. I often felt humbled, discouraged, angry, lonely, and so very tired of dealing with these issues day in and day out, especially with three other children who needed me and other responsibilities mounting in my life. Daily I sought for wisdom, understanding, and insight into what would make our lives a bit easier and help all my children grow into their potential. And gradually I began to focus on two scriptural principles that helped me immensely.

Because of my many years in ministry, I had studied and written a lot about Jesus’ relationship with His disciples. And I had noticed that one of the Master’s relational strengths was His constantly speaking positive things into the lives of His followers:

“Peter, you are the rock” (see Matthew 16:18). (The one who cut off the ear of a soldier, who called Jesus down for saying he would die, who denied Jesus was still the rock Jesus used as the one who would lead the disciples.)

“Mary, you chose the good part” and (later)

“Mary, your story will be told through generations because you have done this beautiful thing for Me” (see Luke 10:42 and Matthew 26:6-13). (He did not criticize her for not working enough to help with Martha.)

“Centurion, I have never seen greater faith in all of Israel” (see Matthew 8:10). (He did not comment on the fact that he was not a faithful Jewish man.)

“Nathanael, you are a man in whom there is no deceit” (see John 1:47). (He was the one who doubted Jesus' resurrection until he could see him face to face--and yet he was a chosen disciple.) 

That was one principle. The other emerged as I studied God’s priority for His children throughout Scripture. I noticed a consistent theme: the importance of the heart.

“People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT).

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Matthew 22:37).

“The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

There are many, many verses like these throughout the Old and New Testaments. In fact, the heart is mentioned as a priority to God more than eight hundred times in Scripture. The overall implication is that God values the inner person—will, imagination, values, purpose, attitude—more than behavior or even beliefs.

That’s not to say behavior and beliefs are unimportant. They are. But God seems to care most about who we are on the inside. He looks for a heart that is devoted to trusting Him and then strongly supports this person’s life, work, and relationships, accomplishing far beyond what that person could do naturally.

Those two scriptural principles—speaking positive words into a life and focusing on heart issues—became my essential strategy for raising Nathan. We prayed regularly that God would help us figure out how to reach Nathan’s heart with a vision for how God might use him. We wanted to build a world in Nathan’s mind where he was not always the odd man out, the kid who could not perform to the expectations of others. He needed a sense of himself that was not based on math scores or behaving correctly inside four walls, but on integrity, moral character, and courageous action. He needed to find a way to be fully himself and yet be strong in ways that God would use.

This kind of affirmation is important for all children, of course, but it's especially crucial for the Nathans of the world, who tend to push buttons and provoke negative feedback from others and who can easily lose heart as a result.

A constant feeling of just not measuring up can build a lifelong legacy of insecurity and even despair. Feeling like a disappointment on a regular basis can actually shape the brain patterns of a growing child. Failure and helplessness can become self-fulfilling prophecies.

So how can the parents of a different child counter that tendency while still giving the child necessary guidance? Partly by choosing our battles, as I have already mentioned. (Not everything is worth a confrontation or even a correction.) But also by deliberately speaking forward, by faith, into the heart of the child.

Be sure to listen to the podcast today. 

Be sure to leave a comment below if you would like to have a "Different" picture book for your family. :)

 

 

 

Storyformed Podcast Episode #17 - A Conversation With S.D. Smith, Author Of The Green Ember Series

In this episode, Holly Packiam and Jaime Showmaker talk with the popular children's book author, Sam Smith. Sam is a deep well and also quite the jokester as you will observe by how much we laughed throughout the entire podcast! 

The Green Ember was his debut novel and The Black Star of Kingston is a prequel. Smith’s newest book is the highly-anticipated sequel to The Green Ember, Ember Falls (The Green Ember: Book II).

Sam has been a runner-up for the West Virginia Fiction Award, World Magazine’s Children’s Book of the Year, and Audible’s Kids Audiobook of the Year. He has also lost every other literary award ever given over the entire course of human history. 

Sam is a co-founder of Story Warren, a site for parents and others dedicated to helping foster holy imagination in children. He is passionate about kindling 'Imagination for Kingdom Anticipation', about how stories and play can train us for a richer faith and more intentional lives.

Sam has spoken at conferences and classrooms across the country. He enjoys soccer, West Virginia sports, reading, eating chocolate chip cookies, getting letters from readers, and spending time with his family.

Topics include:

Sam's recent decision to quite his current job to become a full-time authorHow we can see ourselves as characters in God’s grand narrative, and see God as the ultimate hero of the story.How to be a creator or a curator versus a critic.

Click HERE to listen to the podcast and to find out how to be involved in Sam's campaign called, Gimme5!

The Life-long Value of Traditions

Within the multitude of busy moments we live through in a year, it is easy for us to wrongly believe that our efforts to celebrate life, to serve our children, to love and forgive them one more time can be pouring our lives into an empty hold. Yet, now that my children are grown, I am amazed how much they communicate over and over again how much our family traditions meant to them. I think it planted very deep roots intertwined around their hearts that tie us all together to the same faith, the same moral values, the same purposes that we share as we live life from day to day. 

Often, women have asked me how my children truly became my best friends. Many moms have asked me over the years, "What did you do to cultivate your children into best friends? How did you help them learn to enjoy each other? I think one way is that I purposed time that we would all spend together, routinely, every week, every season, all the time--even as they got older. There were some non-negotiable times when everyone had to be home--sometimes it was a Saturday night pizza movie, most times we were always home on Sunday afternoon tea times, or Sunday morning feasts. Of course when they were little all time was family time and that is when you are really securing tight relationships.

Every time spring rolls around, I find myself wondering how we started so many birthday traditions that the expectations of each birthday child is so high! (Four out of five have a birthday in one month!) I find myself a little worn out, and my mind ponders, "Now, why am I doing this, again? Does it really make a difference?" As I have pondered this the past few weeks, having had everyone home for 5 weeks, I have realized again that traditions force us to take time to celebrate life and this has built our family culture and close relationships more than I ever could have known.

Pausing, as a family, in the midst of the busyness of life, communicates that we are more important to each other as a family than all the activities that are swirling around in our lives that separate us from each other.

In our case, when Joy was in her mid teens, she didn't often have the full attention of her siblings, who are quite a bit older than her. They were always running here and there to a job, to classes or to meet friends. Yet, on birthdays, everyone takes a break from their other commitments---even Clay stays home the mornings of birthday breakfasts--and says to the birthday child, "You are beloved in this family and we are here to celebrate your life!"

I remember clearly the day Joy turned 12. That day was especially bittersweet, as I imagined that by the next year's birthday, probably only Clay, Joy, and I would be home to celebrate her birthday as a family! I thought we would have to import new friends as family. Yet, the reality was, our home had a revolving door. All of her siblings managed to come home often, move home for a period and always we have never had less than 4 living at home at a time.

Each birthday morning, the person we are celebrating, had to wait expectantly in their bedroom. They were allowed something to sip--hot chocolate or tea---and then had to wait patiently for the other siblings to come to deliver them to our breakfast table. Usually, I made my whole-wheat cinnamon rolls--the expected favorites--and I make my own special scrambled eggs---with cheese, sour cream, ham or bacon bits. Strong Austrian coffee dripped through the filter, while one child set the table with the ceramic tea set used for all birthdays. (The set was bought over several years at a second's shop in Austria. By now, several of the dishes are chipped or cracked, but, as we cannot buy anymore here in the States, we are happy that the dishes aren't broken.)

We were always all a part of a team seeking to throw things together as quickly as possible, since often, presents were wrapped and cards written at the last minute. One child would throw the gifts into very familiar bags--many of which we have kept for years. As a matter of fact, the kids all discussed which bags were their favorites and warned me never to give them away to anyone else with a present in it, because it is family tradition! (Winnie the Pooh and a pre-Raphealite bag tied for the favorites!)

We put every gift, however small, in its own bag. Even if something was purchased for a song at GoodWill or at the dollar store, it gets fully wrapped. Consequently, each year, it looks as though the birthday child is getting a zillion presents, even though the ultimate value may not be much at all--it is all part of the sparkle and fun of the morning. (Once, a child received a package of ball point pens--each in its own bag!) Life is a flurry as one sets the table, one lights the candle and puts coffee cream out, another is wrapping and putting on music to set the mood and Clay is always looking for the camera and batteries since he is the official photographer.

Finally, at least a couple of kids would go to the birthday child's room to blind-fold their eyes, so that they have to stumble into the room with no peeking. What a funny sight that year, as 6'5" Joel and 6'3" Nathan still willingly participated in leading Joy down the steps for her surprise day.

Seems the conversation never varies from year to year---I think your cinnamon rolls are the best, Mom. Yeah, we have never tasted any that even compared. (Of course this is so I will keep making them from year to year and yes, it does encourage me to keep up the work---even with five birthdays that month!)

After breakfast was appropriately enjoyed, the birthday child began opening gifts one at a time--to be marveled at, commented on, and appreciated. Then come the cards---each child and parent usually creates a card and message for the birthday child to read and save in a special box.

Humor always adorns every meal we share, whether it was our somewhat silly golden retriever who almost knocked down the table to get to the leftover eggs, or some extravagant comment. This particular day did not disappoint us; I was reading a Jane Austen quote out loud from a card Joy received: "It is much easier to kill realities than phantoms!" At that exact moment, the front door mysteriously blew open--and we all looked for the phantoms who must have entered precisely on time for a great effect! (Maybe you had to be here--but the timing was perfect and made us all giggle!)

Finally, the pinnacle of the morning was when all of us at the table shared with the birthday child what they have meant to us, how we appreciate them, and how they have grown over the past year. I am still astounded that even now, when we are together, my adult children take this ritual so seriously. When they were young, I expected they would surely giggle and make sarcastic comments and find it difficult to finish the time. Yet, I am truly amazed that they have invested lots of love and thoughtfulness into these times and I can truly observe the heart of the birthday child being watered and refreshed enough to last for months.

 I see before me, these children who have learned to love each other in spite of the personality differences, the various immature and hormonal and argumentative stages of life. I am amazed and grateful. How did this happen---these children who threatened to undo me from time to time with their whining, silly fusses, immaturity and friction. Yet, here they are in their right minds, enjoying each other, laughing at each other's jokes, discussing issues loudly, and participating in family bonding--willingly, generously.

What a gift to me, Lord, to see this picture, watching Joy's heart fill with emotional health, before her brothers and sister venture to the far winds.

When everyone goes their way, I see that there will be hundreds of memories shared, love communicated, and prayers offered at our table over the years of celebrations--because we took time to invest in tying our heartstring to each other. These foundations of emotional, mental, and spiritual health will serve to stabilize and give hope to each of us long after we are separated by miles.

Now I see, all the effort and cooking and washing of dishes and wrapping of presents did matter, because they provided the frame around which a life of love was painted on the souls of each of my precious children.

READ MORE STORIES IN THE LIFEGIVING TABLE.

The Life-long Value of Traditions

Within the multitude of busy moments we live through in a year, it is easy for us to wrongly believe that our efforts to celebrate life, to serve our children, to love and forgive them one more time can be pouring our lives into an empty hold. Yet, now that my children are grown, I am amazed how much they communicate over and over again how much our family traditions meant to them. I think it planted very deep roots intertwined around their hearts that tie us all together to the same faith, the same moral values, the same purposes that we share as we live life from day to day. 

Often, women have asked me how my children truly became my best friends. Many moms have asked me over the years, "What did you do to cultivate your children into best friends? How did you help them learn to enjoy each other? I think one way is that I purposed time that we would all spend together, routinely, every week, every season, all the time--even as they got older. There were some non-negotiable times when everyone had to be home--sometimes it was a Saturday night pizza movie, most times we were always home on Sunday afternoon tea times, or Sunday morning feasts. Of course when they were little all time was family time and that is when you are really securing tight relationships.

Every time spring rolls around, I find myself wondering how we started so many birthday traditions that the expectations of each birthday child is so high! (Four out of five have a birthday in one month!) I find myself a little worn out, and my mind ponders, "Now, why am I doing this, again? Does it really make a difference?" As I have pondered this the past few weeks, having had everyone home for 5 weeks, I have realized again that traditions force us to take time to celebrate life and this has built our family culture and close relationships more than I ever could have known.

Pausing, as a family, in the midst of the busyness of life, communicates that we are more important to each other as a family than all the activities that are swirling around in our lives that separate us from each other.

In our case, when Joy was in her mid teens, she didn't often have the full attention of her siblings, who are quite a bit older than her. They were always running here and there to a job, to classes or to meet friends. Yet, on birthdays, everyone takes a break from their other commitments---even Clay stays home the mornings of birthday breakfasts--and says to the birthday child, "You are beloved in this family and we are here to celebrate your life!"

I remember clearly the day Joy turned 12. That day was especially bittersweet, as I imagined that by the next year's birthday, probably only Clay, Joy, and I would be home to celebrate her birthday as a family! I thought we would have to import new friends as family. Yet, the reality was, our home had a revolving door. All of her siblings managed to come home often, move home for a period and always we have never had less than 4 living at home at a time.

Each birthday morning, the person we are celebrating, had to wait expectantly in their bedroom. They were allowed something to sip--hot chocolate or tea---and then had to wait patiently for the other siblings to come to deliver them to our breakfast table. Usually, I made my whole-wheat cinnamon rolls--the expected favorites--and I make my own special scrambled eggs---with cheese, sour cream, ham or bacon bits. Strong Austrian coffee dripped through the filter, while one child set the table with the ceramic tea set used for all birthdays. (The set was bought over several years at a second's shop in Austria. By now, several of the dishes are chipped or cracked, but, as we cannot buy anymore here in the States, we are happy that the dishes aren't broken.)

We were always all a part of a team seeking to throw things together as quickly as possible, since often, presents were wrapped and cards written at the last minute. One child would throw the gifts into very familiar bags--many of which we have kept for years. As a matter of fact, the kids all discussed which bags were their favorites and warned me never to give them away to anyone else with a present in it, because it is family tradition! (Winnie the Pooh and a pre-Raphealite bag tied for the favorites!)

We put every gift, however small, in its own bag. Even if something was purchased for a song at GoodWill or at the dollar store, it gets fully wrapped. Consequently, each year, it looks as though the birthday child is getting a zillion presents, even though the ultimate value may not be much at all--it is all part of the sparkle and fun of the morning. (Once, a child received a package of ball point pens--each in its own bag!) Life is a flurry as one sets the table, one lights the candle and puts coffee cream out, another is wrapping and putting on music to set the mood and Clay is always looking for the camera and batteries since he is the official photographer.

Finally, at least a couple of kids would go to the birthday child's room to blind-fold their eyes, so that they have to stumble into the room with no peeking. What a funny sight that year, as 6'5" Joel and 6'3" Nathan still willingly participated in leading Joy down the steps for her surprise day.

Seems the conversation never varies from year to year---I think your cinnamon rolls are the best, Mom. Yeah, we have never tasted any that even compared. (Of course this is so I will keep making them from year to year and yes, it does encourage me to keep up the work---even with five birthdays that month!)

After breakfast was appropriately enjoyed, the birthday child began opening gifts one at a time--to be marveled at, commented on, and appreciated. Then come the cards---each child and parent usually creates a card and message for the birthday child to read and save in a special box.

Humor always adorns every meal we share, whether it was our somewhat silly golden retriever who almost knocked down the table to get to the leftover eggs, or some extravagant comment. This particular day did not disappoint us; I was reading a Jane Austen quote out loud from a card Joy received: "It is much easier to kill realities than phantoms!" At that exact moment, the front door mysteriously blew open--and we all looked for the phantoms who must have entered precisely on time for a great effect! (Maybe you had to be here--but the timing was perfect and made us all giggle!)

Finally, the pinnacle of the morning was when all of us at the table shared with the birthday child what they have meant to us, how we appreciate them, and how they have grown over the past year. I am still astounded that even now, when we are together, my adult children take this ritual so seriously. When they were young, I expected they would surely giggle and make sarcastic comments and find it difficult to finish the time. Yet, I am truly amazed that they have invested lots of love and thoughtfulness into these times and I can truly observe the heart of the birthday child being watered and refreshed enough to last for months.

 I see before me, these children who have learned to love each other in spite of the personality differences, the various immature and hormonal and argumentative stages of life. I am amazed and grateful. How did this happen---these children who threatened to undo me from time to time with their whining, silly fusses, immaturity and friction. Yet, here they are in their right minds, enjoying each other, laughing at each other's jokes, discussing issues loudly, and participating in family bonding--willingly, generously.

What a gift to me, Lord, to see this picture, watching Joy's heart fill with emotional health, before her brothers and sister venture to the far winds.

When everyone goes their way, I see that there will be hundreds of memories shared, love communicated, and prayers offered at our table over the years of celebrations--because we took time to invest in tying our heartstring to each other. These foundations of emotional, mental, and spiritual health will serve to stabilize and give hope to each of us long after we are separated by miles.

Now I see, all the effort and cooking and washing of dishes and wrapping of presents did matter, because they provided the frame around which a life of love was painted on the souls of each of my precious children.

READ MORE STORIES IN THE LIFEGIVING TABLE.

Discovering Vision for the Beauty of Your Table (And a New Podcast!)

Episode # 107 Discovering Vision for the Beauty of Your TablePodcast: DownloadItunes: subscribe

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

Table-Discipleship Principle: Creating an environment of beauty, comfort, and acceptance cultivates hearts that are open to your messages.

IT'S TOO MUCH!

With all the pressures we have as mamas to cook, care for, clean after, inspire spiritually, meet the needs of others, why should we cultivate ideals around the table? It seems too much.

I so empathize with all of you sweet ones who pour yourselves out and do it without much in the way of support. You get exhausted. Sometimes you feel depressed. It is HARD!!!!! But I feel more deeply than ever, as we look at all the ways culture and our worlds are falling apart, it is more important than ever for families to stay fast to ideals, for us, as women to do all that we can to build personal, humane, honoring, engaging relationships in an isolationist, lonely fearful world. More important than school test scores, more important than out of the house lessons. More important than making more money or working at social media.

The most important thing in our lives is to Love God and then love those around us because of our love for Him. Taking the time to love and then love again and then lay a foundation of love and security is what gives deep roots and will hold our children fast, and our friends strong, when they encounter storms in their own lives. It's hard to know, but it seems like we must be approaching the end times or getting closer to the end times. Jesus said that in the end times, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold," and I believe for us to keep good relationships, to keep the bond of love in families, to give our children a heart that hopes in God's goodness, they must feel it, believe in it because of our taking the time to invest in loving them well now. 

Either love will be felt at our table or emptiness, lack of belonging, fussing, just getting through it. But casting a vision for loving those in our home and scope of life must be planned, embraced, envisioned. That is why I wrote this book, to try to capture a vision for women as the conductors of love and cultivated relationships within the walls of their own homes. 

 Creating a life-giving table begins with a vision for cultivating beauty and a hosting place for others. In this episode, Sally and Kristen dive in to chapter 4 of the book, The Life Giving Table, to share stories and encouragement that will help you develop your own vision and sustain it through a commitment to your original ideals for years to come.

What we talk about:

-Sally’s special story of her first apartment as a newlywed in Vienna, totally unfurnished and an adventure to find a second hand table that would eventually seat thousands

-How we create beauty that reflects our own unique circumstances and preferences, without comparing to Pinterest or anyone else

-Understanding that the way our tables become a are a part of our history and family story

-The table as a place to extend life and a hosting place to share Christ and offering Him the bread of life, who will feed and nurture us through all of our years.

-The promise we have that Jesus wants us to never feel alone or wonder where He is

-Accepting the differing personalities of our tables and the limitations of those who are sitting there and growing a little at a time

-Understanding the place of planting a flag and keeping fast to Commitment to ideals as important to sustaining vision

-The way we create family culture at our table and learning to shape it over years

-Ideas to involve very young children in bringing beauty to your table

 

























Play Episode #107
 Links:

Cultivating Life With Sally

Be sure to get your copies of these books so you can have the recipes, get the table talk starters and underline the ideas that help you in your own home. I pray you feel encouraged.

Happy new week.

Andrew Peterson, a New Podcast & A Great Story

Music is one of the defining cultures of the Clarkson family.  A handful of talented musicians have permeated all the seasons of our family history,  as we listened together, sang along in the car, filled our walls with the melodies that tied the strings of our hearts together. Our friend, Andrew Peterson, is one such singer songwriter and close to all of our hearts. I am so happy to have him as a guest on my podcast today. 

 The Petersons are kindred spirits and fellow "creatives" in so many areas. They love to feast, talk, read, sing, and create a rich life with a warm welcome to all who would join their community.  I am happy to introduce some of you to Andrew's story, his music and his books, though I am sure many of you have followed him for years as we have. I know this podcast will encourage you. 

Clay is a long time supporter of all things Andrew and we have both loved attending Hutchmoot, a gathering of artists, musicians and creatives for many years. Every year we draw closer to the friends we have found in this community. 

Last week, Clay snapped this photo in Nashville at Hutchmoot. Fun memory.

 























 

Play Episode #106
You will find lots of fun Links from today's podcast!

Find more about Andrew Peterson here.

So much more to discover here!

Here is a post I previously wrote about one of my favorite songs of Andrew's, "Why Don't the Mountains Make me Cry No More."

Behold the Lamb of God 10th Anniversary 2-disc Set

By Andrew Peterson





















After All These Years

By Andrew Peterson






















Light For The Lost Boy

By Andrew Peterson

On December 26, watch the animated short film based on Andrew's wonderful Wingfeather Saga at his FB page here. 

Andrew shares a love of stories with our family and has written a series of page-turners you will love. 

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga)

By Andrew Peterson





















North! Or Be Eaten (The Wingfeather Saga)

By Andrew Peterson





















The Monster in the Hollows (Wingfeather Saga)

By Andrew Peterson





















The Warden and the Wolf King (Wingfeather Saga)

By Andrew Peterson





















A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band

Reunion Records

Rich Mullins had a big impact on Andrew as well as all of our family. Nathan and I particularly liked An Arrow Pointing to Heaven about Rich's life.

Songs

Reunion Records





















Rich Mullins: A Devotional Biography: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven

By James Bryan Smith

Sam (S.D.) Smith - author of the delightful Green Ember series

Sam is a dear friend and we hope to have him on the podcast soon--also a part of this community. Many already love his book, The Green Ember (Joel, our son, was the reader for the book!)

The Green Ember (The Green Ember Series: Book 1)

By S. D. Smith





















The Crucifixion of Jesus

Fernando Ortega

Fernando Ortega is an amazing musician.  Find out more about him here. He is also one of our family's favorite singer-songwriters and has carried us through many years.

 

All of our friends in the Rabbit Room Community value feasting, talking around the table and celebrating life together. I loved the tradition Andrew shared about his own family table. So fun. 

Be sure to get your copy of The Lifegiving HOme for our 6-week podcast series about Mentoring That Brings Life to your Table.  You can find the first episode here. 

Thanks for all the wonderful letters about my new book! Love hearing from you. 

Happy Friday!

The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time

By Sally Clarkson

Why We Read to Our Children

It’s autumn here in Colorado, my favorite time of the year. The changing of the leaves from green to yellow creates great anticipation in my heart for what is to come. The brisk, cool air invites me to stop, look, and listen. I start to imagine sitting with my kids on the couch; cuddling together with warm fuzzy blankets, lots of books, and a wood-burning fire in plain sight. 

“Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.” 
C.S. Lewis

This vision is one I aim to walk out as we settle into the autumn season. Some of our activities are soon winding down and I look ahead envisioning more space to connect with each other and reflect on what the Lord is saying and doing in our lives as we read together.

Although I can feel nostalgic during this time of year, as the weather gets cooler and we’re indoors more, there are more opportunities for me to intentionally choose to read to my kids. So it got me thinking about why we as parents love reading to our children…

We read to our children to give them the gift of a great story. Beautifully written stories have a powerful way of speaking to my kids that can give them a vision for seeing themselves making choices they want to make and a vision for how to avoid pitfalls. Story has a subversive way of allowing our children to think about choices and life trajectory without being overly direct. If our children can see how characters in a story perceive life, deal with difficulty or evil, make decisions and so on, maybe they can see how they too could be a pivotal part of God’s great story here and now. I’m remembering the story of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This story in one that is easy to drop into in an instant while reading. We can easily imagine walking by Edmund’s side as he contemplates whether or not to follow the White Witch or to trust his siblings’ instinct to join forces with the Old Narnians who follow the great Aslan. One of my favorite scenes is when the witch is laying claim to Edmund after his treason. His future was uncertain…to everyone but Aslan.

“You have a traitor there, Aslan," said the Witch. Of course everyone present knew that she meant Edmund. But Edmund had got past thinking about himself after all he'd been through and after the talk he'd had that morning. He just went on looking at Aslan. It didn't seem to matter what the Witch said.” 

“Fairytales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairytales tell children that dragons can be killed.”
G.K. Chesterton

We read to our children to give them a vision of their callings as Christ’s kingdom-bearers here and now. How can they play a part in defeating evil and bringing His life into the lives of those they encounter? When I drive my kids to church, a class, and activities, we pray…

“Lord, give us eyes to see what you are doing, ears to hear your voice, and a heart willing to obey you.”

I encourage each of them to ask themselves, How can I ‘see’ someone else today? Is there anyone new I can befriend? Does anyone need help? How can I be supportive and encouraging to someone who is learning the ropes of a new class for the first time?  Reading stories about kids who serve and help and extend mercy, and love others well, encourages our kids to do the same. 

 Click here to read more of this Storyformed post. 

A Special Or AnyDay Feast-- Pork Roast!

Feasting is a Clarkson tradition, and weekends seem prime time for wonderful meals and discussions around the table.  Here's a family favorite I hope you'll enjoy!

Pork Roast a la Sally

Two pork loins

1-2 cups apple juice (depending on how big the loins are--I usually just pour it in to the top of the meat.)

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1 package onion soup mix

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

4 apples sliced thinly

2 onions sliced thinly

1/2 -3/4  cup dried cherries according to preference (optional--some don't like this--but most of my family loves it)

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Stir the apple juice, garlic, soup mix and worcestershire sauce together in a crock pot. Place the pork loins in the sauce. Cover the meat with apples and onions. Sprinkle the dried cherries over the top. Put lid on and cook slowly all day. Salt and pepper to taste. The meat is so luscious and literally falls apart. Always a hit for crowds or for my kids and so very easy to do. I make an easy gravy out of the juice that is left over. I have a great source for natural, organic pork, so though we don't have it often, it is a real treat. 

Mashed potatoes

I almost always use red potatoes lately as they have less of a sugar base when cooked. I also use a pressure cooker and do them in four minutes. Add 1-2 teaspoons of condensed chicken bouillon (natural, no msg) when you drain the water from the potatoes and then you don't have to use as much butter. The bouillon gives it a rich taste. Salt and pepper to taste and a little butter and milk and whip away.

Steamed green beans

I love the green beans this time of year. Fresh is best, but there are frozen, thin beans that you can get at the grocery store. Steam over boiling water until just tender. While steaming, I sprinkle the beans with French herbs. When finished, I sprinkle lightly with sea salt and toss them in 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. They taste fresh and melt in your mouth. 

Since the children were little, we have often served sparkling white or red grape juice with this meal. And if you surround your roast with other favorite vegetables as shown above, it will be even more festive!

The Urgency of Resting & A Giveaway!

 

The Urgency of Resting

Henry Maynell Rheam

(Many know blue is my favorite color and this is one of my favorite prints.)

Today was the first day I have had off in many weeks. Not only did I have my 5 children home since mid July, with needs for medical attention, personal time, family time with all sorts of out of town company and I literally hundreds of meals, snacks and clean up, but I launched a new course, had to keep podcasts going, write articles for many others for my launch, run a launch team and travel and speak at conferences.

It has been quite a stretch and exhausting and taxing. Yet, I count it a privilege to be a hands on mama, and to be available to my children when they come home. I also am so very blessed to be a steward of truth, messages that matter that God allowed me to know, a desire to inspire, help and encourage women all over the world in their roles as followers of Christ, as women and as mothers and wives. So, passion for Jesus keeps me going.  Yet, I am also human and have needs, physical limitations and emotional needs and spiritual needs.

A part of being a godly mature women means recognizing your personality limitations, (I have to have time away from people to stay sane--and so did Jesus.) Also, knowing that you have to take care of yourself if you are going to finish well. I have to be filling my heart on a regular basis so that others have something to draw from there. I must enjoy life if I am to pass on joy. And so today, though I have quite a few clamoring for my attention now that they know Clay and I are home after 10 days, I chose to sleep late, to sip tea,  to go out to breakfast with my beloved Nathan and to take some time to breathe.

Sometimes, when we have piles of responsibility on our plate, we start to place a lot of energy, worry and fear into the issues of our lives and fret. The last thing that seems to be productive when we are overwhelmed with responsibility is to choose to rest. 

Yet, rest may very well be the most strategic thing to do if we have a busy, full and demanding life.

If we do not practice a habit of a restful life, we will end up with serious illness, exhaustion, bad attitudes and fist shaking faith aimed heavenly.

As I have said before, "Fretting leads only to evil doing." Psalm 37: 5

God put Sabbath Rest into the weeks of our lives with a purpose. I have found that when I believe and engage my heart in the goodness of God's character, and put out of my mind, after praying, all that I am carrying and just seek to be still and find joy, I see the miracles bubbling up slowly, surely, as He, my Father, delights to provide.

A godly woman makes time to rest and restore.

However, a Martha heart is want to see the miracles, as she is so busy living in the whirlwind of her own meek provisions, she loses all hope and becomes a wretched nag.

The more exhausted I am with life, the more tense, grumpy and tight I become and it spills all over everyone else.

Finding myself at a juncture of exhaustion from giving all that I had the last weekend 2 weeks, to the sweet, wonderful  women in my conferences and online, I find that somehow when I try to figure out all of the responsibilities of the next few months, which are huge, I am tempted to be overwhelmed.

I could still be doing more work for my publishers to launch my book, I could despair that my house is showing signs of my too busy life in the past weeks. I could try to answer every message, email, instagram friend. 

Yet, from so many times like this in the past, I have learned a secret. My Prince Jesus comes to me and beckons me away to have time with him, to listen to His voice and to trust him to fill in the cracks of all the things I am too limited to do.  

Like the story of Sleeping Beauty, the prince comes, not when she is searching the horizon, pounding her fists, running the floor, but when she is doing nothing but resting.

Resting in Him, choosing peace and putting off responsibilities and restoring is sometimes such grand medicine for my soul, that after choosing to rest and to invest in fun and love and ease of life, my strength is renewed and all issues are able to be faced with grace. I know more deadlines of life are coming, but I will face them with courage, trust and resilience if I choose rest today.

Often I find women shaking their fists at God, ready to quit their ideals when I think they are actually overcommitted and doing more than God ever asked them to do. If God's will is good and acceptable and perfect and we feel at great odds with our life over a long period of time, then we need to ask what we are doing that may not actually be a part of God's wise and gracious will for us.

And so today, my plan is to go back to bed, to pace leisurely through the pathway to a new week, to sip and really taste my coffee and tea!...to just sit and listen to my beloved ones in facetime and phone calls, and focus on the beauty of the love we share that deserves my present attention, to stay in comfy clothes all day, to read and pray, and then maybe to rest again, because I know that while I am resting, my Prince is already coming to my rescue.

And I pray you, too, will find time to give your heart, mind and soul a rest amidst a too busy world. 

Peace, be still, the Lord is near.

************************

So many people donated prizes to my launch about table that I still have a prize or so to give away. Thanks for everyone who has gone to such a great extent to help me get the word out about my newest books. I hope they also help you to slow down, to celebrate time with your loved ones, face to face within the peace of your home.

I wish I could win this as I need new knives and pans!

Receive an 4 lovely printable posters to use at your table if you purchased 5 or more books!

This special prize will go to one person who has bought 5 or more books. I know many of our small group leaders of Mom Heart Groups have bought books for their whole Bible study. We have several thousand participating in Mom Heart Groups or Mum Heart Groups all over the world. These sweet ones spread the messages of our books and ministry online. So we wanted to give you who are in or lead a Mom Heart Group, (  Mom Heart Groups and Mum Heart Groups)  special thanks for supporting our ministry of messages for purchasing books for you and friends and small groups. 

And a Big shout out of thanks to all of you who wrote to say you were buying extra copies to donate toyour library, homeless shelters, crisis pregnancy centers. Our team of staff is doing the same thing in their areas, seeking to be an encouragement to those who most need the messages. Many of you have done this for years. Heartfelt thanks! 

If you have bought 5 or more books for any reason, fill out the form below and you will be entered in to win this contest. But also, those who purchase 5 or more books, when you fill out the form below, will receive several downloadable printables we have prepared just for you---a printable poster to use at your table with questions to stimulate discussion with your family; a poster of how to develop family culture, a tea time discipleship poster to give ideas on how to use your table as a place of sharing friendship over coffee or tea and the poster for The Armor of God to share with your children. We want you to feel encouraged by these beautiful resources that my sweet friends have prepared as a thanks for being supportive of the message and encouragement part of our ministry. 

If you have a purchase receipt for the copies you ordered, we would appreciate having that. But, it is on an honor system. If you do not have a receipt by email, then tell us how you purchased and you will receive these special items our team prepared just for you. Thanks again for everyone who has helped us in this launch in any way. We appreciate you. 

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Thank you!

Many have asked, you are not too late to join Kristen and me on our podcast series about the discipleship principles found in these books that speak of reaching your children's hearts with the messages of Christ on our podcast. Purchase the books, read the quotes, principles, questions and follow along with us. (And so glad you liked this week's podcast.)

The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time



$10.99

 

 

Heartfelt Mentoring to Transform Your Table

PLAY EPISODE #105
Episode #105: Heartfelt Mentoring to Transform Your TablePODCAST: DOWNLOADITUNES: SUBSCRIBE

Thank you so much for the notes, emails and messages from all of you who have written me to tell me how much my new book is encouraging you and changing the way you think about your table. Kristen and I are so excited to begin our book study with you today about the discipleship principles in the book and to share some of the table conversation starters. We are learning so much ourselves as we prepare this 7-8 part series covering 14 chapters of the Lifegiving Table. I pray you will be inspired by what we share. Get your copy of the book and underline and copy the quotations in the book and join us as we discuss the mentoring principles that will shape your children as they learn to love God. (On sale right now!)

The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time



$10.99



By Sally Clarkson

 

 How can our table make Christ real to those who share life with us? How can it inspire them to serve him their whole lives? In this episode, Sally and Kristen begin a series on discipleship and invite you to discover how feasting invites you in to celebrate the delights, creativity, and personality of God.

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT:

-The example of the Life of Christ- feasting, caring for those he came in contact with, feeding them, preparing a place for them, touching them, and desiring intimate connection with them.

-How feasting fills spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

-The meaning of sanctuary and why is it important to create one for your family.

-What qualities of the table aid in reaching the personal harvest fields of our lives.

-Coming to the table is not just about the physical act of eating, but about sharing life as God designed and gave it to us. 

-Approaching the table with an intentional purpose and expectation with shape how we cultivate it.

-What we can do to protect and set boundaries for our tables.

-Why the table is just like a beautiful piece of music: carefully arranged, thoughtfully directed, and passionately played.

LINKS:

"The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine." Isaiah 25:6, NASB

"When Jesus wanted to explain to his followers the meaning of his death, he didn't give them a theory, he gave them a meal"- N.T. Wright

"If the home is a body, the table is the heart, the beating center, the sustainer of life and health." Shauna Niequist

"For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:9

"For Jesus the home is not what defines the table; the table is what defines the home." Leonard Sweet, From Tablet to Table 

I have a couple of more wonderful giveaways for you this week. Today, if you leave a comment on Amazon or Barnes and Noble about my book, if you share a photo of you holding the book on FB or instagram or if you share a photo of the book, leave a comment below and you will be entered to win this lovely assortment for fall--lovely napkins, a fall runner and these darling chargers. So much fun. 

And happy week. 

A fall runner, fall napkins, a pumpkin and fall chargers--hope you win. 

Buy yours today and join Kristen and me in our 7 week series on Discipleship principles to win the hearts of those who join you at your table. 

The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time



$10.99