Robert Beeson

I am amazed at how much time I give to distraction. Be it old habits or new fancies either way I am too easily  pulled off forward motion… thus the word distraction I guess…
dis – denotes separation, a parting from,
traction – grip,
in other words losing grip.
We give away too much of one of our most valuable commodities, time… Time better spent pursuing things that will last, that will mean something, that will ‘bear fruit’. I am really growing tired of how much time I waste. Often it’s the old comfortable habits or the small things that start to consume my [...] Read More »

Once in a while, actually more often than not, scriptures that I have read many times take on a whole new perspective… This is one of those times. Here’s the scripture:

Romans 5
3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I find it interesting in this passage that hope is the result, not the beginning of enduring hardship.
So often we think that hope [...] Read More »

 
But it only seems that way…
For the last 5 years I have been stewing, storing and shaping the stories of being a single parent. I have been talking, AT LENGTH, about the book I am working on –
Solo
 Fear, fatigue and the restoration of the single parent.
Well, the time is here for me to ‘get cracking’ on getting it in some from that looks different than my scattered notes and musings.
So, here I go diving into the deep end.
I may be blogging a bit here and there, but for the most part my focus (outside of iShine) will be putting [...] Read More »

It occurs to me that if we felt as bad about the things we didn’t do as the things we did do… our communities, and the world for that matter, would be a better place.
So much shame is put on the mistakes we make instead of the opportunities we miss to love others.

In other words… so much time is spent on us… not others.
I don’t know the origin of why we focus on the past rather than ‘right now’, but in my not so humble opinion Christians could be so much more effective in this world if we would look for [...] Read More »

I was talking to a good friend the other night about relationships. This person was telling me about someone they knew who had recently been divorced, and how now he was so accommodating… to the point of annoyance. They also mentioned that this person, while married, had been accused of being too controlling.
It occurred to me that what might be happening here was something that I have made the mistake of doing in the past. Fixing past shortcomings with current situations…

Kinda paying penance or trying to prove to myself that I am NOT what I was accused of…
the problem with [...] Read More »

For me, being a supermodel is definitely a heavy load!
I know you can relate…
I think the key is focusing on a few things at a time, and being deliberate about those things first.
I explain in this short video - Life as a supermodel
 
If you found this helpful – check out these What to do with disrespect and Being selfish as a way of serving.
If you would like these posts sent directly to you via email simply click HERE.
  [...] Read More »

Have you ever asked your kids what they thought YOU could work on as a parent?
I did. (I’ve got some work to do…)
Patience. Patience. Patience.
Here’s what my daughter said in this 30 sec video - I wish single parents wouldn’t…. 
What do you think, HONESTLY, your kid’s would say if asked the same question – What could I as a parent do better?
 
If you found this helpful – check out these 
Patience
Single Parent OVERWHELMED
I Blew it!
If you would like these posts sent directly to you via email simply click HERE. [...] Read More »

( FIRST, I KNOW I SPELLED IT WRONG IN THE TITLE OF THE VIDEO:) )
As our kids get older, especially as teen agers, it seems sometimes all we are doing is correcting – at least thats the way it feels for me.
Well, you have heard of the “Love dare” from the movie Fireproof right – (one kind act a day day for 40 days) well, I have a similar ’dare’ for us parents
Look, find and express AT LEAST one word/thought a day of encouragement. 
Sounds easy enough… well, the challenge is how you approach it – I explain in this video - Just one [...] Read More »

I don’t remember who told me about this, BUT one of the most useful bits of advice I got upon becoming a single parent was this.
 Find things that you don’t enjoy doing, hate doing, or are just a nuisance, and make them the consequences for our kids disobedience.

 What do I mean by this?… It means that if there are certain chores around the house that you don’t enjoy doing,  (for me it’s folding the laundry and putting the laundry away), make and keep a list of those things and delegate those as consequences to give out to our kids.
Often I [...] Read More »

I had posted this awhile ago on a different blog but I wanted to share again because the idea of second chances or starting again is one we all have to get our heads around – especially as SoloParents.
One of the most profound lessons I have learned is this.

It was late September 11 and EARLY morning of September 12, 2002. A night I am not proud of, but one I hope to never forget.
Some very dear friends and I spontaneously decided to celebrate one of our friend’s birthdays further into the evening than we had originally planned. We had met for [...] Read More »