Darla's Dash of Salty Grace

Life is full of goods and bads, bigs and littles, the predictable and the come-at-you-from-out-of-nowhere kind of things. But no matter what, we have total control over how we handle any and all of it. We can respond or react. We can let life deal with us, or we can deal with life. Most of the time (nobody's perfect) I do my best to respond with what Bible calls 'salty grace' (Colossians 4:6) which is to say and do things the way Jesus would. This blog is my salty grace to you. -Darla

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

No ???????? November

We've all heard of ‘no shave November’, right? And we’ve all seen—even possibly participated in—the Thirty Days of Thanksgiving on social media. Both are good ways to have some fun and spread some much-needed positivity. I highly doubt, however, that your kids have any reason to do a ‘no shave November’, and hopefully a great many of them don’t have social media accounts to post their ‘thankful’s’. But that doesn’t mean kids can’t or shouldn’t do something to be made more aware and sensitive to the Thanksgiving holiday—the what, why, and how of it all. So, with that in mind, I want to give you a list of things you can do as a family and things you can have your kids do to make this month extra special. NOTE: I’m not giving you thirty things to do because trying to do too much makes for too much stress and not enough fun and thankfulness.

1: Go on a NOVEMBER scavenger hunt in your neighborhood, park, or nature trail. Find something that begins with every letter in the word.

2: Make a family tree. Trace back your roots as far as you can.

3: Donate a food basket to a family.

4: Make it a no-tech November. No computer games, no movies, no unnecessary screentime. Instead, opt for board games, hayrides, pumpkin patches, volunteering, and other worthwhile activities.

5: Bake pies together for Thanksgiving dinner.

6: Using your firepit, roast hotdogs and s’mores.

7: Pumpkin patches and corn mazes.

8: Read about the events that lead up to the first Thanksgiving.

9: Make table decorations for a local nursing home.

10: Have a ‘do unto others’ week at your house by giving everyone in the family a day off from their chores.

11: Have a candy-tasting test using a blindfold and 6 or 8 different candy bars.

12: For one evening meal, prepare foods the pilgrims ate…the way they prepared it.

13: Rake leaves—yours or a neighbor’s.

14: Invite someone who doesn’t have family nearby to share Thanksgiving with you.

15: Spend a few hours one weekend doing random acts of kindness around your community.

Happy November (although I have no idea where October went)!

Colossians 4:6

Darla, aka, Momma D

Who am I?

I’m Darla Noble—Author, Speaker, and Ghostwriter with over thirty years of experience. I am known for being a great storyteller, but not merely for the sake of telling a story. The stories I tell are a) true and b) they always have a takeaway, i.e., a life lesson meant to help you be a better version of yourself.

I’m Darla Noble—wife, mom, nanna, and a little ‘oldish’ lady who loves Jesus, her family, playing in the dirt, walking…walking…and more walking, riding bikes, eating popcorn, roast beef, Mexican food, reading, and watching old sitcoms.

What do I write?

Inspirational nonfiction—Christian devotionals, books that spark the creativity in every mom and nanna’s heart, and one that breathes new life into the art of being a good neighbor and reminds you of why it matters.

Historical nonfiction—WWII and family memoirs.

Character Education & Family Fun—Books that use science and scripture to teach positive character, scavenger hunts of all kinds that are both educational and FUN, and write-in journals for tweens and teens.

What do I say and who do I say it to?

*WWII hands-on display and presentation based on “All My Love, George…Letters from a WWII Hero”. The presentation consists of brief reading from the book, an interactive time of Q&A, and time for participants to view and examine a variety of WWII memorabilia including George’s original letters and medals.

*Keepsake In The Making Classes, using the book, “Please Pass the Memories” as inspiration, the class consists of exploring and brainstorming fun, creative, and interesting ways we can use your family’s keepsakes, recipes, photos, stories, and even traditions (YIKES) to bring past, present, and future generations of your family together. Everyone needs and wants to have a sense of who and where they come from, and the Keepsake In The Making Class is the perfect way to do just that!

*Women’s ministry events/conferences/retreats. I offer several programs that are easily adaptable to fit your needs and timeframe. Workshops for each one are optional. Programs offered include: “Jesus and Zinnias Make Me Smile”, “Deuteronomy 6 Parenting”, “Please Pass the Memories:, “Love, Momma D; Getting to the Heart of Parenting From the Heart”, and “Sippin’ Tea With Jesus”. NOTE: I am also happy to speak on a topic/subject matter of your choosing.

*The Nanna Subscription—an easy, but oh, so fun mini-class which equips Nanna, Gma, Granny, Mama, Mimi, or whatever name your grandkids have for you, with EVERYTHING you need to engage and connect with your grandkids on a regular basis. No matter how young or old they are, no matter how many miles separate you, no matter how many grandkids you have, no matter…anything!

*Brighten the Corner Where You Are” is my newest book as well as the focus of an event I offer to individuals, community chambers of commerce, neighborhood organizations, HOAs (Home Owner Association), church groups, and anyone else interested in reviving the art of being a genuine friend and neighbor. Participants will discover (or rediscover) the value of kindness among neighbors, and of having a small circle of people you can count on and who can count on you…no matter what.

*Fun with science and a few illusions, “The Sneaky Banana Lesson (plus 26 more)” is a character education program for ages 5 to 15. This event is engaging, interactive, and overflows with life lessons young people relate to and that will make them want to be a little better and stand a little taller.

*If you don’t think it’s possible to have fun teaching math, science, verbal skills, ordering, rational thinking, and grammar, social skills, and team building, think again! “The Medium-Sized Book of Scavenger Hunts” event gets kids up and about, inside and out, talking and listening, and learning on the sly. This event is fun for classrooms, parties, family events, social gathers, team building, and lots more.

Fees for events vary. For more information, questions, or to book an event, CONTACT ME at dnoblewrites@yahoo.com, on Linkedin (Darla Noble), or on Facebook (Darla Noble).

Where can you find me?

My books are available worldwide via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or directly from me when you email me at dnoblewrites@yahoo.com. You can also request any title from your favorite brick and mortar bookstore.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Pedestals are for Statues...not People

I’m old enough to remember when Focus on the Family experienced its massive surge in popularity. Their publications were filling up mailboxes right and left. Dr. Dobson’s radio show had an audience of millions. His books, along with those written by others associated with the ministry were best-sellers for weeks and months on end. I was even part of their freelance writer’s team for two of their publications.

Their advice and adherence to scripture was solid. But even at that, there was still a certain amount of personal thoughts, feelings, and beliefs intermingled into it all. That’s not a bad thing, as long as they in no way contradict the scriptures, and as long as the person speaking or writing doesn’t become more than a messenger.

I am thoroughly convinced that it was absolutely, positively unintentional, but more than a few people (including several I know personally) started taking anything and everything Dr. Dobson said as gospel truth—even to the point that a comment he made about Disney’s “Lion King” (when it was released) caused many a conservative parent to declare the movie (and several other animated fairytale films) heathenistic. I think we can all agree that classifying Bibbidy-Bobbidy-Boo demonic is a bit much. But that’s what happens when you put people on pedestals. Things get out of hand and blown way out of context. Too much pressure (and sometimes power) is put upon those who are in a position of authority and influence.

The pressure of being under such scrutiny and having the weight of responsibility of not letting people down, is neither easy nor fair. It is also not something only people with far-reaching influence deal with.

Anyone who is in a position of Christian leadership—as a teacher, elder, deacon, youth worker, nursery worker, and even older adults who mentor or shepherd their youngerpeers—is in danger of being put on a pedestal. And chances are, anyone on a pedestal is going to fall at some point or another.

The ‘fall’ may come during a time of great sorrow in their life. Maybe they undergo a significant period of testing of their faith, financial struggles, the stress and heartache of a loved one leaving the faith. Maybe they experience something that causes them to be angry at God. These things happen to everyone—even those who, in the eyes of some, are unshakable. Falling off the pedestal isn’t the worst of it, though. The worst of it usually comes from how these low points in their lives are perceived and received by others.

When someone you admire—a spiritual mentor, a more mature Christian brother or sister you admire—slips off, or maybe takes a big ole’ faceplant off the pedestal you put them, don’t just stand there shaking your head or pointing a finger at them. And no matter what the reason for the fall, don’t run away from them. Help them up. Let them lean on you. Let them know you are there for them the way they’ve been therefor you. Cry with them. Listen to them. Take some of their burden if you can and however you can. Make sure they know you love them. And while you’re at it, make sure you don’t do a few things. Don’t preach to them. Don’t make their pain about you. Don’t tell them their pain and doubts are a sign of weak faith. Don’t make them think they are letting you down when they are the ones hurting. Don’t make them feel like they are a blight on the Church. Remember they are human, frail, and imperfect people perfectly loved by God…just like you. Remember to love them the way you would want and need them to love you in times of crisis and heartache. Why? Because sooner or later…you will.

Colossians 4:6,

Darla Noble