I didn’t read as much this week as I should have, so this post will be shorter than the previous. But, rest-assured, I have not given up on reading every day, I’m just finding my stride.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel –
Report: I read 13 pages this week. I know…that’s abysmal.
Reflection: There really wasn’t anything I found worth comment on or thinking about further….I know this is a best seller and that most women LOVE it, but frankly I find it extremely dull and alarmist. Some of the advice they give feels to me like they are advocating the philosophy, “look until you find the problem, regardless of whether you have cause.” However, I feel that that is a HORRIFIC philosophy for really anything health related because I think, like a lot of things in life, if you look hard enough YOU WILL FIND A PROBLEM. Whereas, if you don’t have symptoms, then I think, if there is a problem, it will usually straighten itself out. Not to mention the problems that the medical field “finds” that aren’t actually there….I mean, that’s no way to live your life, in constant fear.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in, when you have strange symptoms, getting to the bottom of them. But going around digging for problems for no reason is just stupid.
Antiquing for Dummies by Ron Zoglin & Deborah Shouse –
Report: 24 pages this week.
Reflection: The following are some tips for buying antique beds: “Use your sleuthing skills to check out age, construction, and condition. Beds are usually sold without the mattress, so you have everything framed out for you. Look for the usual signs of wear….
Measure the height of a canopy or tester bed to make sure that it is not too tall to fit into your home (be sure to measure your home’s ceiling before you shop for beds). You can almost always remove the canopy, if you want.
Measure the space for the mattress. If the bed won’t take a modern size mattress, you can usually change the side rails to make the bed longer. Altering the rails can compromise the value of your antique, so consult a qualified restoration specialist. Keep the original side rails, in case you want to sell the bed.”
I wouldn’t mind having an antique bed. I think it would add a lot to a room while not being nearly as much work to maintain as an antique rug.
I’ve always thought that “Armoire” sounded suspiciously like ‘Armory”, and it turns out that that is in fact not a coincidence. Originally an armoire was used to store weapons and related gear.
They found new life when the French government decided to implement a room tax; which meant that home-owners paid more the more rooms they had, and each closet was considered a room. That is when the armoire began being used for clothing storage.
An antique armoire is another piece, like the antique bed, that could greatly enhance a room while not requiring exhaustive maintenance.
Everyday Saints and Other Stories by Archimandrite Tikhon –
Report: 27 pages this week.
Reflection: There were so many beautiful accounts in this section. I don’t know where to begin…it feels as though all I can do is post the words already written, but I don’t want to deprive anyone of the joy of discovering these stories from the book, themselves.
There was a thought that struck me, however, that I can share. In one of the stories, Archimandrite Tikhon related, a priest had a young girl come to him in distress. She was possessed by a demon and wanted him to help rid her of it. The whole tale is remarkable and worth reading, but I just want to talk about one portion.
After he exorcises the demon, he is “happy for the girl because the child had truly ceased to be tortured and suffer for the sins of her parents.” She was possessed, not because of sins she had committed, but because of sins her parents had committed.
We see so much suffering in this world, especially among young people. Often we condemn them for their actions, or criticize them as being young and stupid. But we don’t think about how they must be suffering inside, and, if we do, we don’t think about how that probably didn’t start with them; it started with their parents heaping it upon them.
Human beings come into this world innocent and helpless. God made parents to cultivate the child’s pure heart, and to defend them while they are helpless; but too often, almost everywhere you look, the parent is neither a cultivator, nor a guardian, but rather a pillager and assailant.
May we choose humility, being honest with ourselves about our actions and words while raising our children; so that they may not bear the burden of our corruption. For it is the not God who passes such a burden from one generation to the next, but rather selfish, and fearful parents.
FreeFall to Fabulous 