“He knows not how to rule a kingdom that cannot manage a province; nor can he wield a province that cannot order a city; nor he order a city that knows not how to regulate a village; nor he a village that cannot guide a family; nor can that man govern well a family that knows not how to govern himself; … neither can any govern himself unless his reason … be ruled by God, and be obedient to Him.” Hugo Grotius, a Dutch Christian writer
The quote by Grotius reminded me of a lecture I got from my Air Force father when I was in third grade. It seemed extreme since I never got in trouble, but it happened because he received a promotion in rank.
“I better never get a call from the school saying you’ve misbehaved or I could lose my job,” said Dad.
As young as I was, I understood our conversation when I overheard the explanation he gave my mom. The military believed a man had no business being promoted and overseeing other men if he couldn’t manage himself and his family.
I confused the idea of self-governed with governing others because I’d rather work on you.
I considered myself an expert about everyone’s life except my own. I offered advice to others, then fell to pieces (crying, cussing, and throwing things) over my own life. I knew how you should live even though I was a mess.
In fact, that’s why I focused on you. I couldn’t fix me.
I’m grateful to Kirk Cameron and his American Campfire Revival where he’s talked often during our 89 evenings together about governing ourselves. We don’t get better by forcing our beliefs on someone else. We don’t get better by complaining about their beliefs. We don’t get better by repeating our intentions, the ones we don’t do.
We get better when we self govern.
My ability to self govern begins within and with God. When I’m in relationship with Him, He transforms me, then uses me to help transform my family, my village, my city, and beyond.
During tonight’s campfire, Kirk said, “The most powerful force to transform the world ever unleashed on planet earth is the self-governed individual who loves God with all their heart and has made it their mission to heavenize the world by loving their neighbor.”
I want that as my mission. How about you?
In this together,
Kim
Thank you Kim!
You really have a beautiful way of putting all this in perspective. I wish we had all had these daily writings long ago. Live and learn ♥️🙏
Me and the girls are grateful. They may not follow but they read everyone as do I . They like for me to forward ♥️🙏
It’s truly amazing how we are all so alike and so different .
I too thought I could fix everything 🥲
I love you
Connie
Awe, Connie, I love you and your girls so much! ❤️
I’m grateful y’all are reading along because it helps me keep writing. You will never know how much I appreciate your encouragement. I really can’t repay it even though I wish I could.
Trying hard to fix everything, well, it nearly killed me. Maybe I could have taken one deep breath if I had known that it wasn’t up to me. I’m so grateful to know now.
Thank you for everything!
My feeling was that If I couldn’t fix it, then who could. However, when I got back into a semi-rational mind I realized I was being laughed at and that laughter was from God. He could fix it, not me. But note I stated when I got back into a semi-rational mind…..that is far and apart for me. (Lol)
Hahaha, Faye … I get it. 🤣
I’m still not too rational and I can still think I need to be the one to fix it. But not nearly as much as I used to because I got tired. Really tired. Downright exhausted tired.
Trying hard slap wore me out!
I just wrote about having fun, so maybe we just need to laugh right along with God at ourselves. I love you so much, my funny friend! 😍
I love you also and also love that you used the phrase (slap wore me out). How Southern can that be even though you are not fully Southern (except we have adopted you).
Now if you know and use these phrases, you will become more “adoptable”
“Fixin to” This is as Southern as sweet tea and collards. I’m fixin to lose my cotton-pickin” mind.
“More than Carter’s Little Pills” and Carter had a lot.
“Over yonder”….what is strange about that…Over yonder down the road…over yonder in the barn yard.
“Till he cows come home”. Note that cows are slow walkers.
“I reckon”. I reckon it might rain.” This should be a world-wide phase. Wake up people.
“I am worn slap out.”). Kudos to you for earning points with this phrase.
“Heavens to Betsy”. I guess Betsy needed heavens.
“Too big for his britches”. We see a lot of that.
“Well, I s’waee.” Doesn’t everyone say this??? Don’t they?
Master this my friend and you will gain points in the trek to being more Southern.
Love you….I s’wanee.
Faye, I’m a lot more Southern than you think. I’ve used every single one of those phrases at least once in my lifetime. And …
I drink a ton of sweet tea. I eat fat back. I shelled butterbeans and peas on the front porch. And I say “bless their heart” a LOT. LoL 😂
I fixin’ to fix the world by fixin’ me.
I love you, my friend!
Yes, you are Southern. I will give you that. So glad you decided to come our way. I love you.
❤️❤️❤️