The Baily Buzz: The First Spider

Monday, November 15, 2010

The First Spider

written by Isaiah Baily

Long, long ago in Ancient Greece, a youthful girl named Arachne spun a beautiful cloth. When she had hung it up and was admiring it she proclaimed, "No clot is as beautiful as mine!" As she said this, the goddess Athena who was fair but stern, in a cloud of smoke, appeared in the door way.

"I am the goddess Athena!" she remarked. "And I have heard your boast. Let us both weave. The loser will never knit again." Later Arachne set up her loom in the shade of a mulberry tree, and Athena set up her loom in the sky.

Arachne spun a cloth of marvelous beauty but Athena's clot was far beyond compare. Athena took of the sunbeams and of the autumn woods. When Arachne saw Athena's cloth she cried out in fear. "Oh, how will I make my living now that I may never use a loom and spindle!" On seeing this Athena took pity on the girl. She turned Arachne into a spider who immediately began to weave and spin merrily thus the first spider came into existence.

(This year we are reading through Ancient myths and folklore and using them as a springboard for our writing. Using a book from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, I am very pleased at the progress Isaiah is making in his efforts. Hope you enjoyed his latest work.)

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This Day

10/14/10
O.K. Time to update. Three months ago I left my thoughts and haven't written since. It's hard to stay in certain habits.

I was thinking about self discipline today, about how hard it is to do something day in and day out. I try to get up around 5:30 or 6:00 each day, but lately I have had a hard time having the discipline to rise in the darkness and start my day early. The impact of this foible makes the day more difficult. Often my patience runs shorter and I have a sense of rush instead of peace when I don't get up early enough.

I was also thinking about the challenge of doing daily chores with the kids. They help out with what I ask of them, but I know we would greatly benefit from a better routine. I have yet to stumble upon the best time of day to do this, but I am committing this to the Lord and asking him to guide us in this.

We are taught that, as Christians, self control is something we can expect from the Holy Spirit. I have experienced his help in this and am hopeful He will continue to work this fruit in my life and the life of my family. I am praying that He will give us the control to do the things we need to do, day after day, without failing. I am asking Him to help us conquer the flesh and overcome.