MUM-e-Mail

- a newsletter to enthuse, educate, and entertain
mothers of pre-schoolers and their supporters

August 2005

 

Mothering Maxim - Faithfulness

 

‘Being there’ sums up the heart of faithfulness – of a friend, of a pet, and of God.

 

Mum Moment

 

Bob the Cat initially sniffed cautiously around this wriggly bundle lying on the rebounder but soon he became a faithful friend with the energetic baby, a relationship enhanced when she became old enough to feed him.

Grey, on the other hand and true to his nature, was cautious and wary – until a couple of years later when a different wriggly bundle lay on the rebounder. Both Bob the Cat and Grace were super-friendly whereas Grey and Nathan were more content to sit and watch the world from a safe distance.

Grey died a year or so before Bob did, and both occasions were opportunities to experience a lesson in the School of Life called Death 101. The last afternoon before we took Bob to the vet, the children remembered and sobbed and hugged their special mate. Bob had always been there, no matter how rough the Younger got. He’d sit on their laps or their beds and purr with a good vibration.

One of my favourite photographs is from behind the children sitting at the gate, waiting for Daddy to come home, with Bob the Cat rolling and lolling enjoying the children’s company in the last sun of the day.

A pet trailing the children around and in a non-pushy way being part of family life points to faithfulness. ‘Being there’ sums up the heart of faithfulness – of a friend, of a pet, and of God.

 

From A Mother’s Heart

 

The children learnt various other Fruits of the Spirit, like compassion, peace and gentleness, from having the cats. What have you learnt from your pets?

 

 

 

Mum's Mail*

 

Last night I was heading out the door and my 3 yr old was trying to avoid bed time.  She was standing on one foot sort of holding her leg and I asked her what she thought she was doing.
"Exercises" she said (like I do before I go for a run I realised).
"Well, it's bed time" I said.
"These are my bed exercises" was the reply.  Aren't they creative!!  Lets pray she can learn kindness from me too ... Thanks for doing the MUM-e-Mail.   - from Jo in Kaiapoi, Chch, NZ.

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Enjoy your children – and your pets!

Yours faithfully,

 

Johanna Whittaker

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on behalf of MOPS (NZ) Inc. www.MOPSNZ.bravehost.com
© 2005 by MOPS New Zealand Inc and MOPS International.