The hour was almost up. I had been sitting at the table with two other teacher’s aides observing the counting of change. I had watched as students meticulously tried to put the quarters in a stack of eight coins. Five separate columns of eight coins made $10.00. It seemed like it took forever. And getting the coins in a stack was challenging. Once the last quarter was placed on top, the stack fell. More than once I wanted to grab the coins and put them in the stacks and into the coin wrappers. My headache grew and I felt the frustration of trying to teach special education students.
I had been a teacher for several years but after a recent move to Virginia, I decided to stay at home. Eventually I decided to work as a substitute teacher and I was kept quite busy. The variety of courses I taught had a broad range from history to English to science or band. Even art and Industrial Technology were on my list. But there was always the challenge of authority. A day of fun! That’s what the students always thought. Students talked, moved around their own chairs and made their own seating arrangement. Try to teach a lesson and you felt like you were spinning your wheels and going nowhere.
When I made the decision to quit substitute teaching, I was asked if I would consider special education. There was a real need for a regular substitute teacher and the change of pace was less stressful. I was so used to working around gifted and talented students that challenged my abilities. That was my comfort zone. Maybe a different focus was not such a bad idea. Trusting in God, I made the decision to assist in special classes.
The lower wing in the school was for severely handicapped students. This is where I started my journey and gained a lot of insight into myself. The slow pace seemed enjoyable at first. But then my overactive personality tried to take over and move the pace just a little faster. Why does it seem to take everyone so long to finish? Wait, this is special education and for some even getting to school is quite an accomplishment. Teaching is more than just dealing with “regular” students. Slow learners need just as much help if not even more. Basic skills need to be mastered and a sense of pride in finishing something is equally important. God, can you open my eyes and let me see things through your eyes?
Let’s try it again. One… two… three… four… five… six…seven…eight. One whole column of quarters stacked neatly on the desk. Wonderful! You just finished the first part. Find the quarters in the change and stack them up. We made it all the way up to five before we had to start over again. Two columns finished. The next stack of quarters went up fairly quickly but as the last quarter was placed on top, the coins fell knocking over the second standing column. Back again to one standing column of coins. Over and over again we counted the coins and stacked them up. We finally made one full group of coins that made $10.00 and all those coins went into the wrapper. The student sitting across from me looked up with pride in his eyes and smiled.
My headache disappeared after a couple of weeks in class. Watching the concentration on the faces of students working on a project was a study in itself. It was hard—just as hard as calculus may be for someone in math. But the goal was the same. Learn the material, practice, and pass the test with flying colors. Small goals were important. Look at the person who is trying so hard to accomplish a task. Gaze into his eyes and find the hope that is hidden under the surface.
God used an experience like this to give me a new focus. We all take baby steps somewhere along our Christian life. We don’t always see the tiny lessons we have learned at the feet of our Heavenly Father, but His pride in us can be seen in His compassionate eyes. We have lessons to learn and He will gently guide us along the path. We can discover new insights and then take what we have learned to reach others who may be struggling. Our special education comes from the greatest teacher available.
Teach me your way, O Lord---Psalm 27:11
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
UNFORGETTABLE CHARLIE
Charlie! Has anyone seen Charlie? I can’t believe he’s gone.
This was the question on everyone’s mind when school opened on Wednesday morning. The class was small, ten students in all, but everyone liked Charlie. He had run away once before and ended up in the principal’s office. He was rescued and brought back home. But this time no one had a clue as to where Charlie was. No one, absolutely no one, had seen him.
Charlie was part of the homeroom class in Mrs. Leonard’s sixth grade. The room was small but studying science was special. There were always some plants in the room or science experiments that were being conducted. The principal had given permission for the teachers to bring extra items to class to make lessons more interesting. Anyone could find a plant and study it. This group of students wanted something different. So when Charlie arrived everyone was excited and interested in science.
Charlie had soft fur that was a light gold color. He had two tiny ears and a mouth that he could stuff with plenty of food. He was so funny when his cheeks were full of seeds. He would find a place somewhere in the cage to hide it. Later on when he was hungry he could nibble away at his stash. He liked to bury way down under the cedar shavings and try to hide from everyone. There was always plenty of water in the cage and everyone took turns taking care of Charlie.
The plastic cage was small but it had a lid on top and plenty of holes to assist in breathing. The wheel was in the middle of the cage where Charlie could exercise. A Habitrail of interconnecting tubes and tunnels provided a maze for even more exercise. Everyone looked around the classroom but there was no sign of Charlie. Now he was gone and there was a puzzle to solve. Where had Charlie disappeared to now?
One other time Charlie had escaped and run down the hall right towards the nursery. Someone outside the nursery room screamed and poor Charlie ran right into the principal’s office. He ran along the side of the wall and headed into the first room he could find. No one there saw him enter but it wasn’t too long before the secretary noticed something run past her desk. She didn’t know what it was but she knew that nothing was supposed to be running around in the office. A shriek brought everyone’s attention to the “mouse”. It took some time for the principal to rescue Charlie but he brought him back to the classroom. Charlie was placed securely in his cage with the top snapped back in place.
What to do now? Put up posters letting others get in on the search? Take time away from math class and go up and down the halls searching for Charlie? Skip lunch and go on a hunt for Charlie? There didn’t seem to be any easy answer so the students stayed in class. About an hour later the mystery was solved. Charlie had been found in the church baptistery. Charlie had managed to escape from the classroom, run down the hall to the church sanctuary and then walk around the outside wall of the church all the way to the back where the baptistery was located. What a long walk for such a little guy! Poor Charlie was dead but at least the baptistery was not filled with water. He had gone so far from his cage in the classroom that he couldn’t find his way back home. Apparently he had died from lack of food or water.
No one ever figured out how Charlie escaped. Maybe someone else had opened the classroom door and took him out of his cage. Curious small children may have entered the room with an adult, played with the hamster, and forgot to be sure that the cage top was on securely. Maybe Charlie wiggled the top off the cage and slid out. No matter what happened, Charlie was gone and there was no way that we could get approval for another hamster.
The rest of year went by much like any other school year. Math seemed hard and English was okay. Everyone had to study for tests and when spring arrived, everyone knew that it wasn’t too long until summer vacation. Nothing much was ever said about Charlie any more.
Going to school is a part of growing up. It seems like each school year is so long and summer vacation is always too short. Academic tests, football and basketball, band and drama, or science fairs are part of the steps up the ladder. Not everyone makes the same choices along the ladder up to graduation but the main goal for everyone is to finish school. Some teachers you forget and others you remember because of something special that they did. We never had another pet or animal in any other science classes but the sixth grade teacher who permitted us to have a hamster is someone that I still remember.
*Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord
This was the question on everyone’s mind when school opened on Wednesday morning. The class was small, ten students in all, but everyone liked Charlie. He had run away once before and ended up in the principal’s office. He was rescued and brought back home. But this time no one had a clue as to where Charlie was. No one, absolutely no one, had seen him.
Charlie was part of the homeroom class in Mrs. Leonard’s sixth grade. The room was small but studying science was special. There were always some plants in the room or science experiments that were being conducted. The principal had given permission for the teachers to bring extra items to class to make lessons more interesting. Anyone could find a plant and study it. This group of students wanted something different. So when Charlie arrived everyone was excited and interested in science.
Charlie had soft fur that was a light gold color. He had two tiny ears and a mouth that he could stuff with plenty of food. He was so funny when his cheeks were full of seeds. He would find a place somewhere in the cage to hide it. Later on when he was hungry he could nibble away at his stash. He liked to bury way down under the cedar shavings and try to hide from everyone. There was always plenty of water in the cage and everyone took turns taking care of Charlie.
The plastic cage was small but it had a lid on top and plenty of holes to assist in breathing. The wheel was in the middle of the cage where Charlie could exercise. A Habitrail of interconnecting tubes and tunnels provided a maze for even more exercise. Everyone looked around the classroom but there was no sign of Charlie. Now he was gone and there was a puzzle to solve. Where had Charlie disappeared to now?
One other time Charlie had escaped and run down the hall right towards the nursery. Someone outside the nursery room screamed and poor Charlie ran right into the principal’s office. He ran along the side of the wall and headed into the first room he could find. No one there saw him enter but it wasn’t too long before the secretary noticed something run past her desk. She didn’t know what it was but she knew that nothing was supposed to be running around in the office. A shriek brought everyone’s attention to the “mouse”. It took some time for the principal to rescue Charlie but he brought him back to the classroom. Charlie was placed securely in his cage with the top snapped back in place.
What to do now? Put up posters letting others get in on the search? Take time away from math class and go up and down the halls searching for Charlie? Skip lunch and go on a hunt for Charlie? There didn’t seem to be any easy answer so the students stayed in class. About an hour later the mystery was solved. Charlie had been found in the church baptistery. Charlie had managed to escape from the classroom, run down the hall to the church sanctuary and then walk around the outside wall of the church all the way to the back where the baptistery was located. What a long walk for such a little guy! Poor Charlie was dead but at least the baptistery was not filled with water. He had gone so far from his cage in the classroom that he couldn’t find his way back home. Apparently he had died from lack of food or water.
No one ever figured out how Charlie escaped. Maybe someone else had opened the classroom door and took him out of his cage. Curious small children may have entered the room with an adult, played with the hamster, and forgot to be sure that the cage top was on securely. Maybe Charlie wiggled the top off the cage and slid out. No matter what happened, Charlie was gone and there was no way that we could get approval for another hamster.
The rest of year went by much like any other school year. Math seemed hard and English was okay. Everyone had to study for tests and when spring arrived, everyone knew that it wasn’t too long until summer vacation. Nothing much was ever said about Charlie any more.
Going to school is a part of growing up. It seems like each school year is so long and summer vacation is always too short. Academic tests, football and basketball, band and drama, or science fairs are part of the steps up the ladder. Not everyone makes the same choices along the ladder up to graduation but the main goal for everyone is to finish school. Some teachers you forget and others you remember because of something special that they did. We never had another pet or animal in any other science classes but the sixth grade teacher who permitted us to have a hamster is someone that I still remember.
*Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord
Friday, March 23, 2007
PAINT YOUR CAT???
Paint your cat? This must be some type of joke. Certainly no one would ever consider painting his cat. Each breed has unique characteristics and one of the more interesting factors is the texture and color of the fur. Tuxedo cats are basically black and white; tabbies are orange or gray striped and Siamese have a light cream-colored fur with distinctive blue eyes. When I discovered this email in my inbox I wasn’t sure exactly what to think. It was unimaginable to even think that someone would have the time or incentive to consider painting a cat.
Yet as I scrolled through the email, I discovered some of the most unusual cats I have ever seen. Cats that were painted with black and white stripes to resemble a zebra or skunk. Cats with purple and yellow colors around the face that resembled a mask. One cat was painted in two shades of blue around the eyes to resemble a blue morpho butterfly. Other cats boasted butterfly masks in shades of purple and blue with tinges of red. One cat was painted with red and green stripes; another cat was painted in blue and green plaid to match its owner’s kilt. One cat’s face was painted to resemble an owl while two other cats slinking across the ground had the traditional plaid colors of a giraffe. One cat was painted white with blue heart over the main body part. And, yes, there was a patriotic cat that was painted red, white, and blue. Stripes were painted horizontally over the main body and the posterior of the cat was done in blue with white stars. If you could come up with an image that interested you, then you could paint your cat accordingly.
The most obvious question that hovered in the back of my mind was why would anyone ever consider painting a cat? The process has to take quite some time so how long does it take? How do you ever manage to keep a cat calm while painting? What kind of paint is used? Could the paint be harmful to the cat? Where does someone go to get his cat painted? How much does a trend like this cost? I know I love my cats and they are a part of my family, but you wouldn’t ever find me even considering the option to paint my cats.
Cats are basically independent animals with a personality all their own. They don’t come when they are called. They may be finicky eaters and have no set boundaries. The kitchen counter or top of a table seems to fascinate them but try keeping them off and you may find it somewhat difficult. Cats love to climb and furniture can be a wonderful place to exercise and sharpen their claws. Cats show love but according to their own whim. Just try to pick up a cat and give it a hug when it has a mind of its own. But when you are the busiest and really don’t want to be bothered, the cat will twist between your feet or jump into your lap and insist that you spend time with it. For me, I love the challenge and the personality of having a cat. In fact, I have five cats right now—two tabbies, two tuxedos and one Bengal.
If you really want to find out about a person’s true character, watch the way that he or she reacts to a pet. If they reach out in kindness and love, they are someone who is loving and kind to others. If the person gets frustrated or angry because the cat doesn’t mind, then it is quite likely that this person will easily become angry or frustrated when they interact with humans. If the person goes so far as to throw or toss the cat into the air this same person will be prone to violence. And yes, I have seen cats literally tossed across the room much to my chagrin. Even such an odd prank as setting a cat’s tail on fire (and, yes I know someone who did this) shows insensitivity. If I have to choose someone to make friends with it would be the person who was able to show love and kindness. And if I had to choose between some people and a cat, the cat just might come out ahead.
For the Christian we can make a parallel between the painted cats, our lives and sin. Although the cats were painted in various colors and styles, the basic animal was the same. Underneath all that paint, the cat was still a tabby, tuxedo, Siamese, or Persian. The paint only disguised the outside. It was done to appease the owner and probably as a status symbol. Cost didn’t seem to be a factor and it certainly was a way to get a conversation started.
We can put on the outward appearance of being Godly but underneath we can be role-playing. As children we are taught that our heart is black with sin before Christ comes into our heart. When we accept Him as our Savior, his red blood washes our heart clean or white as snow (Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 1:18). If we are Christians who only go through the motions then our heart or parts of our heart are dotted black with sin. No one is perfect and we don’t always reveal everything about ourselves to others.
Every little thing that I have tried to hide from others will be seen under the microscope of God’s eye. All aspects of my life will be open before God and He will judge accordingly. The Bible has many references to sin but there are two references that I like which goes along with this theme. Psalm 69:5 reveals that “O God, you know my foolishness and my sins are not hidden from you”. I Corinthians 4:5 tells us “Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart.” We may fool others but we can’t fool God.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The cats were painted for various reasons and they came in all sorts of designs and patterns. What pattern and colors are being traced over the pattern of our life? Will the pattern and completed picture be one that will honor God? Will our life really be pleasing to Him?
Yet as I scrolled through the email, I discovered some of the most unusual cats I have ever seen. Cats that were painted with black and white stripes to resemble a zebra or skunk. Cats with purple and yellow colors around the face that resembled a mask. One cat was painted in two shades of blue around the eyes to resemble a blue morpho butterfly. Other cats boasted butterfly masks in shades of purple and blue with tinges of red. One cat was painted with red and green stripes; another cat was painted in blue and green plaid to match its owner’s kilt. One cat’s face was painted to resemble an owl while two other cats slinking across the ground had the traditional plaid colors of a giraffe. One cat was painted white with blue heart over the main body part. And, yes, there was a patriotic cat that was painted red, white, and blue. Stripes were painted horizontally over the main body and the posterior of the cat was done in blue with white stars. If you could come up with an image that interested you, then you could paint your cat accordingly.
The most obvious question that hovered in the back of my mind was why would anyone ever consider painting a cat? The process has to take quite some time so how long does it take? How do you ever manage to keep a cat calm while painting? What kind of paint is used? Could the paint be harmful to the cat? Where does someone go to get his cat painted? How much does a trend like this cost? I know I love my cats and they are a part of my family, but you wouldn’t ever find me even considering the option to paint my cats.
Cats are basically independent animals with a personality all their own. They don’t come when they are called. They may be finicky eaters and have no set boundaries. The kitchen counter or top of a table seems to fascinate them but try keeping them off and you may find it somewhat difficult. Cats love to climb and furniture can be a wonderful place to exercise and sharpen their claws. Cats show love but according to their own whim. Just try to pick up a cat and give it a hug when it has a mind of its own. But when you are the busiest and really don’t want to be bothered, the cat will twist between your feet or jump into your lap and insist that you spend time with it. For me, I love the challenge and the personality of having a cat. In fact, I have five cats right now—two tabbies, two tuxedos and one Bengal.
If you really want to find out about a person’s true character, watch the way that he or she reacts to a pet. If they reach out in kindness and love, they are someone who is loving and kind to others. If the person gets frustrated or angry because the cat doesn’t mind, then it is quite likely that this person will easily become angry or frustrated when they interact with humans. If the person goes so far as to throw or toss the cat into the air this same person will be prone to violence. And yes, I have seen cats literally tossed across the room much to my chagrin. Even such an odd prank as setting a cat’s tail on fire (and, yes I know someone who did this) shows insensitivity. If I have to choose someone to make friends with it would be the person who was able to show love and kindness. And if I had to choose between some people and a cat, the cat just might come out ahead.
For the Christian we can make a parallel between the painted cats, our lives and sin. Although the cats were painted in various colors and styles, the basic animal was the same. Underneath all that paint, the cat was still a tabby, tuxedo, Siamese, or Persian. The paint only disguised the outside. It was done to appease the owner and probably as a status symbol. Cost didn’t seem to be a factor and it certainly was a way to get a conversation started.
We can put on the outward appearance of being Godly but underneath we can be role-playing. As children we are taught that our heart is black with sin before Christ comes into our heart. When we accept Him as our Savior, his red blood washes our heart clean or white as snow (Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 1:18). If we are Christians who only go through the motions then our heart or parts of our heart are dotted black with sin. No one is perfect and we don’t always reveal everything about ourselves to others.
Every little thing that I have tried to hide from others will be seen under the microscope of God’s eye. All aspects of my life will be open before God and He will judge accordingly. The Bible has many references to sin but there are two references that I like which goes along with this theme. Psalm 69:5 reveals that “O God, you know my foolishness and my sins are not hidden from you”. I Corinthians 4:5 tells us “Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart.” We may fool others but we can’t fool God.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The cats were painted for various reasons and they came in all sorts of designs and patterns. What pattern and colors are being traced over the pattern of our life? Will the pattern and completed picture be one that will honor God? Will our life really be pleasing to Him?
Thursday, March 22, 2007
HOW NEIGHBORLY ARE YOU?
“I expect you to keep everything in your yard! Don’t get into my property and keep out! I’m giving you one last warning. Ignore me one more time and I will call the police.”
The sharp words were spoken at the boundary line of the property between two homes. The anger had been building for quite some time and it was finally time to speak up over the infractions that had been tolerated. Bettie stood there stunned at the tirade she received from her neighbor. What had prompted the anger? Bettie had simply been using a leaf blower to clean up her yard and some leaves had gotten into the neighbor’s yard. Yes, a few leaves had marred the neighbor’s landscape and she was livid.
It soon became apparent that the neighbor had other issues that had bothered her. She felt it was time to disclose exactly how much she had tolerated. She complained over the time that Bettie’s grandson had been playing in her carport while she was on vacation. If she was on vacation how did she ever see the young child riding his bicycle in her carport? Everyone knew that she kept to herself and no one knew anything personal about her. But it was obvious that she had her own opinions about what was right and what was wrong.
The next complaint was directed at a few papers that had littered her back yard. It’s not uncommon for paper to fly away while the trash truck is down the street and even an open window in a car driving by can cause a paper to blow away. The pieces of paper were apparently not wanted in her yard but it certainly wasn’t something done out of hatred towards the person. Branches that fell off trees and landed on her lawn were another source of agitation. Bettie took all this in stride and knew that the woman was exaggerating. Whether or not she would ever call the police was just a risk that Bettie was willing to take. One person could hardly be responsible for everything.
On a Tuesday afternoon Bettie walked out on the front porch to get her mail. When she looked down there was a small piece of Styrofoam on the porch with a rock on top. There was a note complaining about the latest problem. The neighbor knew for certain that Bettie had deliberately placed the item in her yard just to cause more bitterness. She had reached her level of tolerance and the note on the Styrofoam gave one last threat about involving the police. Such animosity over such trivial matters! Bettie never lashed out and tried to point the pettiness of everything. No matter what she did, there was no way to convince her neighbor that she had done nothing with malice.
There was only one time that I experienced a neighbor so obnoxious. When we were first married we lived in a trailer court. Our neighbor had been involved in an accident and I caught him one day with a sledge hammer pounding away at his own car, the car that was waiting for an estimate for repair. The cost for repairs would be paid by the other party’s insurance company and in his anger our neighbor wanted to be sure the damage was extensive. It wasn’t long after that I got my first complaint. I had mowed my lawn and grass blades were left on the driveway. Okay, I can sweep up after I finished mowing. At that time it seemed somewhat demanding and unreasonable. We moved shortly after that but that attitude was more than a little unreasonable.
I have been very fortunate to always have good neighbors. Everyone at some time has probably done something to annoy their neighbor but most of us usually ignore the small offenses. Bettie chose to ignore the complaints of her neighbor. If the case was ever taken before a court of law, there was no sound evidence to prove that she acted maliciously. In my own experience I realized that the neighbor was crafty and didn’t think anything of taking advantage of others. I kept my distance until we moved because I didn’t want to be the recipient of his temper.
God’s Word has many passages that deal with the way that we treat our neighbors. Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:37, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14 and James 2:8 are all New Testament references that instruct us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Colossians 3:12 instructs us to be longsuffering and to forgive one another when someone has a complaint against you. Leviticus 19:18 reminds the children of Israel to not take vengeance towards their neighbor and to love their neighbor. Proverbs 24:28-29 challenges us to not be a witness against our neighbor without cause…”Do not say, I will do to him just as he has done to me”.
Being a Christian is not always easy and dealing with difficult people can be a real test of just how much God is living in us. It is easy to lash out in anger or to think of ways to get even, but neither of these ways are acceptable to a Christian. Many of these difficult people may not be Christians or may be dealing with some type of mental illness. A kind word will sometimes make the difference. If not, try to tolerate the person and still be kind. If your neighbor simply can’t be friendly or forgiving you might have to avoid any close contact. I know of one person who is so grumpy that she has alienated her neighbors as well as her own family members. She has the “I am always right” attitude and people soon give up trying to be friendly to her. She is lonely but she has not been able to show any love to others.
It may be a real test of our Christian faith and ability to love, but do the best you can to reach out to others who may be hurting. It's what Christ wants us to do.
The sharp words were spoken at the boundary line of the property between two homes. The anger had been building for quite some time and it was finally time to speak up over the infractions that had been tolerated. Bettie stood there stunned at the tirade she received from her neighbor. What had prompted the anger? Bettie had simply been using a leaf blower to clean up her yard and some leaves had gotten into the neighbor’s yard. Yes, a few leaves had marred the neighbor’s landscape and she was livid.
It soon became apparent that the neighbor had other issues that had bothered her. She felt it was time to disclose exactly how much she had tolerated. She complained over the time that Bettie’s grandson had been playing in her carport while she was on vacation. If she was on vacation how did she ever see the young child riding his bicycle in her carport? Everyone knew that she kept to herself and no one knew anything personal about her. But it was obvious that she had her own opinions about what was right and what was wrong.
The next complaint was directed at a few papers that had littered her back yard. It’s not uncommon for paper to fly away while the trash truck is down the street and even an open window in a car driving by can cause a paper to blow away. The pieces of paper were apparently not wanted in her yard but it certainly wasn’t something done out of hatred towards the person. Branches that fell off trees and landed on her lawn were another source of agitation. Bettie took all this in stride and knew that the woman was exaggerating. Whether or not she would ever call the police was just a risk that Bettie was willing to take. One person could hardly be responsible for everything.
On a Tuesday afternoon Bettie walked out on the front porch to get her mail. When she looked down there was a small piece of Styrofoam on the porch with a rock on top. There was a note complaining about the latest problem. The neighbor knew for certain that Bettie had deliberately placed the item in her yard just to cause more bitterness. She had reached her level of tolerance and the note on the Styrofoam gave one last threat about involving the police. Such animosity over such trivial matters! Bettie never lashed out and tried to point the pettiness of everything. No matter what she did, there was no way to convince her neighbor that she had done nothing with malice.
There was only one time that I experienced a neighbor so obnoxious. When we were first married we lived in a trailer court. Our neighbor had been involved in an accident and I caught him one day with a sledge hammer pounding away at his own car, the car that was waiting for an estimate for repair. The cost for repairs would be paid by the other party’s insurance company and in his anger our neighbor wanted to be sure the damage was extensive. It wasn’t long after that I got my first complaint. I had mowed my lawn and grass blades were left on the driveway. Okay, I can sweep up after I finished mowing. At that time it seemed somewhat demanding and unreasonable. We moved shortly after that but that attitude was more than a little unreasonable.
I have been very fortunate to always have good neighbors. Everyone at some time has probably done something to annoy their neighbor but most of us usually ignore the small offenses. Bettie chose to ignore the complaints of her neighbor. If the case was ever taken before a court of law, there was no sound evidence to prove that she acted maliciously. In my own experience I realized that the neighbor was crafty and didn’t think anything of taking advantage of others. I kept my distance until we moved because I didn’t want to be the recipient of his temper.
God’s Word has many passages that deal with the way that we treat our neighbors. Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:37, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14 and James 2:8 are all New Testament references that instruct us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Colossians 3:12 instructs us to be longsuffering and to forgive one another when someone has a complaint against you. Leviticus 19:18 reminds the children of Israel to not take vengeance towards their neighbor and to love their neighbor. Proverbs 24:28-29 challenges us to not be a witness against our neighbor without cause…”Do not say, I will do to him just as he has done to me”.
Being a Christian is not always easy and dealing with difficult people can be a real test of just how much God is living in us. It is easy to lash out in anger or to think of ways to get even, but neither of these ways are acceptable to a Christian. Many of these difficult people may not be Christians or may be dealing with some type of mental illness. A kind word will sometimes make the difference. If not, try to tolerate the person and still be kind. If your neighbor simply can’t be friendly or forgiving you might have to avoid any close contact. I know of one person who is so grumpy that she has alienated her neighbors as well as her own family members. She has the “I am always right” attitude and people soon give up trying to be friendly to her. She is lonely but she has not been able to show any love to others.
It may be a real test of our Christian faith and ability to love, but do the best you can to reach out to others who may be hurting. It's what Christ wants us to do.
Friday, March 16, 2007
NOCTURNAL WANDERINGS
Bettie! Bettie! Bettie!
It was 10:00 PM when my neighbor heard the loud shouts coming from her driveway. She was busy in her computer room preparing for her next class. She could hear a voice outside but couldn’t see anything from her window. The voice never stopped and although she didn’t really want to venture outside, she knew that she had to see what was happening. She had to be sure that no one was hurt. She bravely turned on the porch light and to her surprise she saw my husband lying flat on his back and yelling in pain. It took her a while to get him on his feet and she did the best she could to just let him sit down and rest. But the pain along his ribs was sharp and the sensations along his rib cage didn’t stop. He eventually had to go to the emergency room because the pain was so intense. But why had the fall occurred in the first place? He fell because he had tried to walk in the night without a flashlight or anything else to show him the way. He forgot about the raised part of the driveway and stumbled and fell.
Looking at the night opens our eyes to a whole different scenario. The night can be foggy, illuminated by the moon and stars or can be what most people term “pitch black.” The fog makes it hard to see anything clearly and caution has to be used to avoid accidents. The light of the moon and stars can be bright and easily seen or partially obscured by a cloud cover. The term “pitch black” is just what it sounds like. The night is black with no illumination and even seeing something directly in front of you is impossible without some light source.
At night most of nature is asleep and at rest. Others like the owl, raccoon, bat, skunks, moths and cockroaches roam easily about. Specially developed eyes help most nocturnal animals to see in the night. Some people really enjoy the night and seem to be adapted to sleeping during the day and working at night. Night may be their most productive time simply because it is quiet and most people are asleep. For most of us we have to have some type of light to guide us through the darkness and give us the direction we need. It may be as simple as a flashlight or lantern but whatever we use is to give us the light we need to see.
The night itself can be glowing with color from several sources. A fireworks display shows a variety of colors with different patterns in the sky. Different sports games use lights to illuminate the playing field and to help spectators see the action. Parking lots are lit so that people coming or going to work can easily find their vehicle. Businesses use bright lights to entice people to stop and be entertained. Lightning and fire both light up the sky with a glow all their own.
For Christians Jesus is the Light of the World. He is the person who shows us the pathway to take in life. His light shines into the dark corners of our heart and brings them to our attention. We have a choice to make. Ignore the tugging of our heart and push the Lord away or acknowledge the tugging of our heart and open our life fully to God. Although there are many references throughout the Bible to light, the passage in Isaiah 2:5 “Come let us walk in the light of the Lord” seems to say it as clearly as any other passage. We are to come to Him and He will give us the light. We are not to try to do things our own way and then hope that He will give us light to keep from stumbling. We have to come to Him first. Once we accept Him as our inner guide we have the light within us and a light that should shine outward towards others.
There are people outside the realm of Christ that are still stumbling along, not knowing exactly which direction they are headed. They need to have the light of Jesus shining in them. That’s where we who are Christians need to be willing to take a part. If we will take the time to talk and listen to others and their problems, we just may have an insight in the best way to help them. If they do not have the light of Christ living within them, then we who do have the light of Christ in our lives need to give them guidance. Show them the Light that can change their direction and take them along a straight path, a path where if they should stumble and fall, they have someone who can always pick them up and get them back on course. Let the radiance of His face shine into their world and take them on a path that is no longer obscured with darkness. Matthew 5:16 KJV
It was 10:00 PM when my neighbor heard the loud shouts coming from her driveway. She was busy in her computer room preparing for her next class. She could hear a voice outside but couldn’t see anything from her window. The voice never stopped and although she didn’t really want to venture outside, she knew that she had to see what was happening. She had to be sure that no one was hurt. She bravely turned on the porch light and to her surprise she saw my husband lying flat on his back and yelling in pain. It took her a while to get him on his feet and she did the best she could to just let him sit down and rest. But the pain along his ribs was sharp and the sensations along his rib cage didn’t stop. He eventually had to go to the emergency room because the pain was so intense. But why had the fall occurred in the first place? He fell because he had tried to walk in the night without a flashlight or anything else to show him the way. He forgot about the raised part of the driveway and stumbled and fell.
Looking at the night opens our eyes to a whole different scenario. The night can be foggy, illuminated by the moon and stars or can be what most people term “pitch black.” The fog makes it hard to see anything clearly and caution has to be used to avoid accidents. The light of the moon and stars can be bright and easily seen or partially obscured by a cloud cover. The term “pitch black” is just what it sounds like. The night is black with no illumination and even seeing something directly in front of you is impossible without some light source.
At night most of nature is asleep and at rest. Others like the owl, raccoon, bat, skunks, moths and cockroaches roam easily about. Specially developed eyes help most nocturnal animals to see in the night. Some people really enjoy the night and seem to be adapted to sleeping during the day and working at night. Night may be their most productive time simply because it is quiet and most people are asleep. For most of us we have to have some type of light to guide us through the darkness and give us the direction we need. It may be as simple as a flashlight or lantern but whatever we use is to give us the light we need to see.
The night itself can be glowing with color from several sources. A fireworks display shows a variety of colors with different patterns in the sky. Different sports games use lights to illuminate the playing field and to help spectators see the action. Parking lots are lit so that people coming or going to work can easily find their vehicle. Businesses use bright lights to entice people to stop and be entertained. Lightning and fire both light up the sky with a glow all their own.
For Christians Jesus is the Light of the World. He is the person who shows us the pathway to take in life. His light shines into the dark corners of our heart and brings them to our attention. We have a choice to make. Ignore the tugging of our heart and push the Lord away or acknowledge the tugging of our heart and open our life fully to God. Although there are many references throughout the Bible to light, the passage in Isaiah 2:5 “Come let us walk in the light of the Lord” seems to say it as clearly as any other passage. We are to come to Him and He will give us the light. We are not to try to do things our own way and then hope that He will give us light to keep from stumbling. We have to come to Him first. Once we accept Him as our inner guide we have the light within us and a light that should shine outward towards others.
There are people outside the realm of Christ that are still stumbling along, not knowing exactly which direction they are headed. They need to have the light of Jesus shining in them. That’s where we who are Christians need to be willing to take a part. If we will take the time to talk and listen to others and their problems, we just may have an insight in the best way to help them. If they do not have the light of Christ living within them, then we who do have the light of Christ in our lives need to give them guidance. Show them the Light that can change their direction and take them along a straight path, a path where if they should stumble and fall, they have someone who can always pick them up and get them back on course. Let the radiance of His face shine into their world and take them on a path that is no longer obscured with darkness. Matthew 5:16 KJV
FISHY FACES
Setting up a simple aquarium was all that we ever wanted. We were not inexperienced and although we had aquariums 30 years ago, the little details had been tucked away in the very back of our mind. We hoped to start a hobby that would help us to relax during the evening. There is something about fish swimming in an aquarium that is soothing and with all the stress of the past few months this hobby seemed just the thing we both wanted and needed.
I guess I should probably blame my youngest son for all that follows. We had an oak entertainment center and purchased a new television that wouldn’t fit into the opening. Our son had decided to go “shopping” at our home, looking for anything that might fit into his home. We did have extra furniture but when he asked about that piece, the answer was “No”. It was solid wood with beveled glass doors and I planned on that being at my house for quite some time. His query then was, “Whatever could we find to fit into the opening?” Without missing a beat I replied that it would be ideal place for an aquarium.
It took some time to find an aquarium that would fit into the opening but before long we found one that worked perfectly. We purchased it and brought it home and got it ready to set up. We decided to use this as a tropical fish tank. We decorated the tank, filled it with water and bought an assortment of small fish. We loved the colors of the gourami and its graceful motion through the water. It seemed like the perfect selection. Everything was going perfectly and our hobby was now ready for our enjoyment.
It wasn’t too long before we found the fish floating at the surface or dead on the bottom of the tank. It was always the bright red gouramis that seemed to die. Frustrated, we went back to the pet store and bought some more. Eventually they met the same fate. In the past I had never had to worry about pH but this time I bought a kit and checked the pH just to be sure. It was a little low, just low enough that the sensitive gourami succumbed to the bad water quality. It was disappointing but not enough that we would quit. We decided to stay on track and work towards having a fish tank between two rooms so that the fish could be seen from both rooms.
With very little hesitation we began to set up another small tank on the countertop near the dining room. We headed to the store and purchased a complete ten-gallon tank set. Our goal was to set up a small tank of tropical fish. If we were successful we had a seventy-five gallon tank in the basement that our son had left behind. We wanted to put that tank between the family room and the dining room so that the little swimming fish could be seen from either room. The ten-gallon tank was set up easily and we had it stocked with small tropical fish like neon tetras and swordfish.
After a couple of days my husband decided to head to another pet store to purchase some very brightly colored fish. He wanted to add some color to the tank and try his hand at something new. We never wanted to try our hand with saltwater fish and these bright colored fish were pretty and a lot cheaper than any saltwater fish. He chose two bright orange fish and two beautiful purple striped fish. Into the tank they went. Watching them adjust to the tank was fun but after a while I noticed that the new fish were chasing the tropical fish. There was some fast dashing about and then came the fin nipping. My husband had bought African cichlids and he didn’t realize that they were aggressive and would wipe out the whole tank we had worked so hard to set up.
I called my husband at work and gave him an account of what was going on. I gave him two choices: get rid of the African cichlids and flush the other fish down the commode or possibly set up another tank. It just didn’t seem right to throw away the money we had already spent. He really wanted to keep the African cichlids so he asked me to set up another tank. Now we had two ten-gallon tanks of fish and a twenty-five gallon tank in the room. One ten-gallon tank had mainly small fish; the second ten-gallon tank held four African cichlids. It wasn’t too long before the African cichlids began to attack each other. Although a ten-gallon tank seemed adequate to us it was really too small for that many fish. We lost two fish in that experiment.
Undaunted and after reading more hints about aquariums we started to set up the seventy-five gallon tank. It wasn’t hard at all--we did have experience with three tanks. I really wanted the seventy-five gallon tank for tropical fish. My husband agreed to that IF he could set up a fifty-five gallon tank for just African cichlids. Now we have four aquariums. I figured that I could handle that easily. Cleaning and maintenance didn’t seem overwhelming.
We read more literature on aquarium set-up and checked out a couple of forums devoted to aquariums and setting up tanks. We discovered that the African cichlids required a higher pH than other tropical fish so we started on a search to see how to keep the pH high. One pet store recommended purchasing white crushed coral and placing it beneath the regular aquarium stone. The advice he gave us was that you only had to wash the coral once or twice and then put it into the tank. He also informed us that the coral could also be used in a tropical tank with no problem.
Finally feeling that we had mastered the basics of aquarium set-up, we set about cleaning and preparing the seventy-five gallon tank for fish. Getting the ten-gallon Cichlid tank set up by adding some crushed coral didn’t take very long. The water appeared a little cloudy but the tank filter quickly removed the cloudiness. The set-up of the seventy-five gallon tank proved to be a little more work than we thought it would be. Our first attempt was to fill the tank with water. Seventy-five gallons of water is a lot of water. We carried water from the bathroom and then finally figured that a garden hose could help get the job done earlier. We treated the water to remove any chlorine, washed the coral again and then put a layer of the coral on the bottom and a layer of regular aquarium stone on top. The water was very cloudy but we were sure that the filter would remove any cloudiness. The next morning the tank was still cloudy but we decided to wait another day or two before making any decisions.
After our trial tank set-up proved to be unsuccessful, we proceeded to start over again. If you ever have had the opportunity to drain the water from a seventy-five gallon tank you know that this is a large amount of water. Filling the tank the first time was a major task, now we had to empty the tank and refill it. Slowly the water level in the tank reached within one inch of the bottom layer of gravel. We rinsed the coral again and layered the stone on the bottom of the aquarium. Now it was time to refill the tank again and wait for it to clear up so that we could add our fish. Another seventy-five gallons of water went into the tank. Although the water was still cloudy, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the first time. Confident that we had completed everything correctly we waited again. But just like the first time, the tank remained cloudy. Again, we had to drain the tank (seventy-five more gallons) but this time we were going to spend more time rinsing off the coral. This time we actually had clear water and we gave a sigh of relief. Success! Hooray! It’s about time!
We traveled back to the pet shop, selected more fish and came home. By now the owner of the pet store was a friend and we were on a first name basis. He was ecstatic to have a new customer, one that was spending money and giving his business a boost. After acclimating the fish to the temperature and new water, we successfully transported them into the tank. It had been a lot of work but the decorated aquarium actually looked quite natural and like a realistic water scene. It had been a lot more work than we ever anticipated but now it was time to sit back and watch and enjoy the fish. Thinking that everything would be peaceful for a while, we enjoyed our new “television”.
We soon discovered that African cichlids needed at least thirty gallons of water and it was really better to have a fifty-five gallon tank. My husband really liked the African cichlids and their bright colors. He wanted a tank of just African cichlids for his enjoyment. A fifty-five gallon tank just happened to appear in my family room. This time we had really read up on care and maintenance of African cichlids so setting up the tank was a rather easy task. We stocked the tank with a variety of brightly colored fish and actually got a chance to enjoy them without any mishaps.
One day when I was feeding the African cichlids I noticed that one of the fish would come to the top of the tank and wanted to eat but never attempted to eat. What was going on now? It’s back to the handbook and visiting the fish forums. Aha! We have a fish that is holding eggs. As the other fish began to harass the mother, we decided to remove her from the tank. Since the fish from the ten-gallon tank had been given a new home in the fifty-five gallon tank we had an empty ten-gallon tank.
We had never been fortunate enough to watch baby fish in our tanks so we decided to separate the fish that was not eating because she was carrying “fry”, The African cichlids lay eggs; the eggs are fertilized by the male and then fertilized eggs are carried in the mother’s mouth for approximately two weeks. The mother seemed to appreciate the opportunity to be in a tank with no other fish to hassle her. The tiny fish survived and to our surprise we counted over twenty fish. A majority of the fish lived but some succumbed to their inability to stay away from a filter. Now we had a new problem. More than one mother was in the fifty-five gallon tank. We tried to separate at least two more mothers to watch the “fry” swim and grow. Before long we realized that we just couldn’t keep all those cute little fishy faces. Also, when we returned the mother to the main tank her fellow tank mates decided that she was fair game so they chased her. Almost out of breath and sporting some nipped fins the mothers eventually died one by one.
At that point the hobby had become more than just a little experiment. It was now a major part of our life and an obsession that overtook our life. It was a good diversion and kept our mind off the personal problems that we were facing. The family problems seemed to begin to take of themselves and we felt more relaxed in spite of the long process of setting up the tanks and the mistakes and failed attempts. Somehow we were able to concentrate and focus on the task at hand. We were too restless to read or do much of anything else but the work with the aquariums helped us to focus on something specific. During this time I could pray and talk to God and ask for His guidance as long as I was busy with something else.
There are times in everyone’s life when things seem overwhelming and it seems like God is far away. I knew He was there right beside me but my emotions kept getting in the way. I couldn’t sit still and concentrate on much of anything else but the diversion of something else seemed to open a new door where I could talk to God and get peace. If He could make something as beautiful and graceful as a fish swimming in the water, then surely He could help me. Man is made in the image of God and is created to bring glory to His name. The trials we faced as a family during that time were eventually resolved. Time and time again through the twists and turns that occurred during the overwhelming problem we saw God answer our prayers. His hand was in the whole process and things that never seemed possible were resolved. We were able to draw closer to Him and rather than swim through the rough waters alone we could now glide gracefully through the calm waters that were quieted by God Himself.
I guess I should probably blame my youngest son for all that follows. We had an oak entertainment center and purchased a new television that wouldn’t fit into the opening. Our son had decided to go “shopping” at our home, looking for anything that might fit into his home. We did have extra furniture but when he asked about that piece, the answer was “No”. It was solid wood with beveled glass doors and I planned on that being at my house for quite some time. His query then was, “Whatever could we find to fit into the opening?” Without missing a beat I replied that it would be ideal place for an aquarium.
It took some time to find an aquarium that would fit into the opening but before long we found one that worked perfectly. We purchased it and brought it home and got it ready to set up. We decided to use this as a tropical fish tank. We decorated the tank, filled it with water and bought an assortment of small fish. We loved the colors of the gourami and its graceful motion through the water. It seemed like the perfect selection. Everything was going perfectly and our hobby was now ready for our enjoyment.
It wasn’t too long before we found the fish floating at the surface or dead on the bottom of the tank. It was always the bright red gouramis that seemed to die. Frustrated, we went back to the pet store and bought some more. Eventually they met the same fate. In the past I had never had to worry about pH but this time I bought a kit and checked the pH just to be sure. It was a little low, just low enough that the sensitive gourami succumbed to the bad water quality. It was disappointing but not enough that we would quit. We decided to stay on track and work towards having a fish tank between two rooms so that the fish could be seen from both rooms.
With very little hesitation we began to set up another small tank on the countertop near the dining room. We headed to the store and purchased a complete ten-gallon tank set. Our goal was to set up a small tank of tropical fish. If we were successful we had a seventy-five gallon tank in the basement that our son had left behind. We wanted to put that tank between the family room and the dining room so that the little swimming fish could be seen from either room. The ten-gallon tank was set up easily and we had it stocked with small tropical fish like neon tetras and swordfish.
After a couple of days my husband decided to head to another pet store to purchase some very brightly colored fish. He wanted to add some color to the tank and try his hand at something new. We never wanted to try our hand with saltwater fish and these bright colored fish were pretty and a lot cheaper than any saltwater fish. He chose two bright orange fish and two beautiful purple striped fish. Into the tank they went. Watching them adjust to the tank was fun but after a while I noticed that the new fish were chasing the tropical fish. There was some fast dashing about and then came the fin nipping. My husband had bought African cichlids and he didn’t realize that they were aggressive and would wipe out the whole tank we had worked so hard to set up.
I called my husband at work and gave him an account of what was going on. I gave him two choices: get rid of the African cichlids and flush the other fish down the commode or possibly set up another tank. It just didn’t seem right to throw away the money we had already spent. He really wanted to keep the African cichlids so he asked me to set up another tank. Now we had two ten-gallon tanks of fish and a twenty-five gallon tank in the room. One ten-gallon tank had mainly small fish; the second ten-gallon tank held four African cichlids. It wasn’t too long before the African cichlids began to attack each other. Although a ten-gallon tank seemed adequate to us it was really too small for that many fish. We lost two fish in that experiment.
Undaunted and after reading more hints about aquariums we started to set up the seventy-five gallon tank. It wasn’t hard at all--we did have experience with three tanks. I really wanted the seventy-five gallon tank for tropical fish. My husband agreed to that IF he could set up a fifty-five gallon tank for just African cichlids. Now we have four aquariums. I figured that I could handle that easily. Cleaning and maintenance didn’t seem overwhelming.
We read more literature on aquarium set-up and checked out a couple of forums devoted to aquariums and setting up tanks. We discovered that the African cichlids required a higher pH than other tropical fish so we started on a search to see how to keep the pH high. One pet store recommended purchasing white crushed coral and placing it beneath the regular aquarium stone. The advice he gave us was that you only had to wash the coral once or twice and then put it into the tank. He also informed us that the coral could also be used in a tropical tank with no problem.
Finally feeling that we had mastered the basics of aquarium set-up, we set about cleaning and preparing the seventy-five gallon tank for fish. Getting the ten-gallon Cichlid tank set up by adding some crushed coral didn’t take very long. The water appeared a little cloudy but the tank filter quickly removed the cloudiness. The set-up of the seventy-five gallon tank proved to be a little more work than we thought it would be. Our first attempt was to fill the tank with water. Seventy-five gallons of water is a lot of water. We carried water from the bathroom and then finally figured that a garden hose could help get the job done earlier. We treated the water to remove any chlorine, washed the coral again and then put a layer of the coral on the bottom and a layer of regular aquarium stone on top. The water was very cloudy but we were sure that the filter would remove any cloudiness. The next morning the tank was still cloudy but we decided to wait another day or two before making any decisions.
After our trial tank set-up proved to be unsuccessful, we proceeded to start over again. If you ever have had the opportunity to drain the water from a seventy-five gallon tank you know that this is a large amount of water. Filling the tank the first time was a major task, now we had to empty the tank and refill it. Slowly the water level in the tank reached within one inch of the bottom layer of gravel. We rinsed the coral again and layered the stone on the bottom of the aquarium. Now it was time to refill the tank again and wait for it to clear up so that we could add our fish. Another seventy-five gallons of water went into the tank. Although the water was still cloudy, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the first time. Confident that we had completed everything correctly we waited again. But just like the first time, the tank remained cloudy. Again, we had to drain the tank (seventy-five more gallons) but this time we were going to spend more time rinsing off the coral. This time we actually had clear water and we gave a sigh of relief. Success! Hooray! It’s about time!
We traveled back to the pet shop, selected more fish and came home. By now the owner of the pet store was a friend and we were on a first name basis. He was ecstatic to have a new customer, one that was spending money and giving his business a boost. After acclimating the fish to the temperature and new water, we successfully transported them into the tank. It had been a lot of work but the decorated aquarium actually looked quite natural and like a realistic water scene. It had been a lot more work than we ever anticipated but now it was time to sit back and watch and enjoy the fish. Thinking that everything would be peaceful for a while, we enjoyed our new “television”.
We soon discovered that African cichlids needed at least thirty gallons of water and it was really better to have a fifty-five gallon tank. My husband really liked the African cichlids and their bright colors. He wanted a tank of just African cichlids for his enjoyment. A fifty-five gallon tank just happened to appear in my family room. This time we had really read up on care and maintenance of African cichlids so setting up the tank was a rather easy task. We stocked the tank with a variety of brightly colored fish and actually got a chance to enjoy them without any mishaps.
One day when I was feeding the African cichlids I noticed that one of the fish would come to the top of the tank and wanted to eat but never attempted to eat. What was going on now? It’s back to the handbook and visiting the fish forums. Aha! We have a fish that is holding eggs. As the other fish began to harass the mother, we decided to remove her from the tank. Since the fish from the ten-gallon tank had been given a new home in the fifty-five gallon tank we had an empty ten-gallon tank.
We had never been fortunate enough to watch baby fish in our tanks so we decided to separate the fish that was not eating because she was carrying “fry”, The African cichlids lay eggs; the eggs are fertilized by the male and then fertilized eggs are carried in the mother’s mouth for approximately two weeks. The mother seemed to appreciate the opportunity to be in a tank with no other fish to hassle her. The tiny fish survived and to our surprise we counted over twenty fish. A majority of the fish lived but some succumbed to their inability to stay away from a filter. Now we had a new problem. More than one mother was in the fifty-five gallon tank. We tried to separate at least two more mothers to watch the “fry” swim and grow. Before long we realized that we just couldn’t keep all those cute little fishy faces. Also, when we returned the mother to the main tank her fellow tank mates decided that she was fair game so they chased her. Almost out of breath and sporting some nipped fins the mothers eventually died one by one.
At that point the hobby had become more than just a little experiment. It was now a major part of our life and an obsession that overtook our life. It was a good diversion and kept our mind off the personal problems that we were facing. The family problems seemed to begin to take of themselves and we felt more relaxed in spite of the long process of setting up the tanks and the mistakes and failed attempts. Somehow we were able to concentrate and focus on the task at hand. We were too restless to read or do much of anything else but the work with the aquariums helped us to focus on something specific. During this time I could pray and talk to God and ask for His guidance as long as I was busy with something else.
There are times in everyone’s life when things seem overwhelming and it seems like God is far away. I knew He was there right beside me but my emotions kept getting in the way. I couldn’t sit still and concentrate on much of anything else but the diversion of something else seemed to open a new door where I could talk to God and get peace. If He could make something as beautiful and graceful as a fish swimming in the water, then surely He could help me. Man is made in the image of God and is created to bring glory to His name. The trials we faced as a family during that time were eventually resolved. Time and time again through the twists and turns that occurred during the overwhelming problem we saw God answer our prayers. His hand was in the whole process and things that never seemed possible were resolved. We were able to draw closer to Him and rather than swim through the rough waters alone we could now glide gracefully through the calm waters that were quieted by God Himself.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
WHEN GOD CHANGES YOUR FOCUS
Throughout the years that we were married, we experienced many moves, but the one to Louisiana remains in my mind for many reasons. The move came at a time when we were just getting settled in Kansas and were beginning to get adjusted to the area where we lived. Culturally it was an area that was called a “melting pot” of different people. We loved the city and were close enough to get around the area easily. Our oldest son was in one of the best school districts in the area and we had made friends. The blend of the Old West was very prominent in the area and even in the smaller churches people attended in jeans and cowboy hats. The climate had a nice change of pace with four seasons but the wind constantly blew---even in the hottest parts of summer. More than one person claimed that Wichita was the windiest city in the US---and after having been through more than one tornado alert and seeing snow piled up several feet against the front door due to drifting, I can understand why. We had been working actively in a small but growing church and we were patiently waiting for the birth of our next child. Yet, both of us sensed God was leading us to something different. We had to put our faith and trust in Him and let Him guide us. (Proverbs 3:5)
Nothing seemed to happen for a while, but when God began to open doors, things moved quickly. Within one week, my husband was accepted for the assignment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Extra money that we never anticipated became available for moving expenses and our house in Wichita sold. In that same week we were able to find a comfortable home in Baton Rouge in a good residential neighborhood. We were excited and a little overwhelmed to see God bring so many details together in such a short time frame. Our third youngest son was born in April. At the mere age of four weeks old, we placed the baby in the car, left our home and headed south.
Getting settled in the area took a little longer than most areas, but that was only because God was giving both of us new directions in our lives. My husband’s job responsibilities increased and he was challenged to grow and learn more about management. I fully expected to spend my time unpacking boxes and staying at home with the boys, but that direction also changed. I had spent my time in college working towards a degree in teaching, but with a growing family, I had been a “stay at home” Mom. I felt that nothing would change in the new area and was fully expecting to stay at home with my boys. What I didn’t anticipate was the need for an elementary school teacher at a Christian school in the area. Integration was being streamlined into the public schools and many parents and churches came together to open schools as alternatives to public education. Even hearing the announcement in church that there was still a need for a teacher, I didn’t feel immediately impressed to do anything. But since God’s timing and planning is different from ours, I did begin to feel that perhaps I was the person who should at least look into the opportunity. I made a phone call and interviewed for the job and in August I began teaching.
I never fully understood why things happened the way they did, but I realize that the direction my life took in Baton Rouge was one that challenged me and kept me hopping. I was hired as the 5th and 6th grade teacher for the school. My life took on a whole new perspective. Now I was a wife, mother and teacher. For the next seven years I taught classes in science and English. I enjoyed teaching and loved being around children. What I learned from those years could not easily be learned any other way. The trials and blessings, the joy and disappointment, the hard work and long hours, and the lessons from life gave me a foundation that I would take with me throughout the rest of life. It gave me new insights into what an awesome responsibility it is to have children and be responsible for their instruction---educationally, spiritually, and psychologically.
God’s Word gives us insights into the responsibility and joy of teaching. Psalm 32:8 (KJV) reminds us that “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” Again in Proverbs 8:33 (KJV) we are challenged to “Hear instruction and be wise. Do not disdain it.” Proverbs 23:12 (NKJV) reminds each of us to “Apply your heart to instruction and your eyes to words of knowledge.” Teaching is one of the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. Teaching is important and the person who teaches has a great responsibility not only to the child sitting in the classroom but also to God. The way that someone teaches and what is being taught are lessons that will go with children for life. And you don’t have to be a teacher in a classroom to teach. As you study your Bible you learn new information and using that knowledge you can teach others. It is a never-ending task because you are always teaching something either positive or negative. Your life becomes the textbook that others read. Is your teaching showing God’s love and care or is it teaching others things about the world and fleshly desires?
Nothing seemed to happen for a while, but when God began to open doors, things moved quickly. Within one week, my husband was accepted for the assignment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Extra money that we never anticipated became available for moving expenses and our house in Wichita sold. In that same week we were able to find a comfortable home in Baton Rouge in a good residential neighborhood. We were excited and a little overwhelmed to see God bring so many details together in such a short time frame. Our third youngest son was born in April. At the mere age of four weeks old, we placed the baby in the car, left our home and headed south.
Getting settled in the area took a little longer than most areas, but that was only because God was giving both of us new directions in our lives. My husband’s job responsibilities increased and he was challenged to grow and learn more about management. I fully expected to spend my time unpacking boxes and staying at home with the boys, but that direction also changed. I had spent my time in college working towards a degree in teaching, but with a growing family, I had been a “stay at home” Mom. I felt that nothing would change in the new area and was fully expecting to stay at home with my boys. What I didn’t anticipate was the need for an elementary school teacher at a Christian school in the area. Integration was being streamlined into the public schools and many parents and churches came together to open schools as alternatives to public education. Even hearing the announcement in church that there was still a need for a teacher, I didn’t feel immediately impressed to do anything. But since God’s timing and planning is different from ours, I did begin to feel that perhaps I was the person who should at least look into the opportunity. I made a phone call and interviewed for the job and in August I began teaching.
I never fully understood why things happened the way they did, but I realize that the direction my life took in Baton Rouge was one that challenged me and kept me hopping. I was hired as the 5th and 6th grade teacher for the school. My life took on a whole new perspective. Now I was a wife, mother and teacher. For the next seven years I taught classes in science and English. I enjoyed teaching and loved being around children. What I learned from those years could not easily be learned any other way. The trials and blessings, the joy and disappointment, the hard work and long hours, and the lessons from life gave me a foundation that I would take with me throughout the rest of life. It gave me new insights into what an awesome responsibility it is to have children and be responsible for their instruction---educationally, spiritually, and psychologically.
God’s Word gives us insights into the responsibility and joy of teaching. Psalm 32:8 (KJV) reminds us that “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” Again in Proverbs 8:33 (KJV) we are challenged to “Hear instruction and be wise. Do not disdain it.” Proverbs 23:12 (NKJV) reminds each of us to “Apply your heart to instruction and your eyes to words of knowledge.” Teaching is one of the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. Teaching is important and the person who teaches has a great responsibility not only to the child sitting in the classroom but also to God. The way that someone teaches and what is being taught are lessons that will go with children for life. And you don’t have to be a teacher in a classroom to teach. As you study your Bible you learn new information and using that knowledge you can teach others. It is a never-ending task because you are always teaching something either positive or negative. Your life becomes the textbook that others read. Is your teaching showing God’s love and care or is it teaching others things about the world and fleshly desires?
SLINK, SLITHER & SLIDE
“Oh, neat! Let’s go and check out our new sandbox. It’s so exciting to be able to have one since we never had one before.”
“Hey, come on over and look at my pets. I have a nice collection. You just have to see them.”
Mental Image: Grandmother sitting at the back of the church on Sunday morning, slowly sliding her bracelet off her wrist. The bracelet drops into her purse and someone else will remove it later.
“Hey, Mom. Look at this one. It is black and green. What about getting this for me as a pet?”
“Does anyone know why the minnows keep disappearing in this tank? I know there are not as many today as yesterday but I can’t find the little ones anywhere in the tank?”
“Guess what George and I found today outside? We managed to get it into the car and I think it would be a nice addition for your classroom.”
“All right, I think we have everything we need to put the house on the market. We’ll get started as soon as possible. Any questions? You have what in the house? No, it’s got to go!”
“You can have anything you want in the divorce, just let me keep Jake.”
What do all the above statements and/or questions have in common? For our family it makes complete sense. Our family had four growing boys and we have always had at least one pet either inside or outside the home. From the mid 1970’s until the mid 1980’s when our life was probably at its busiest, anyone of the scenarios above could and would be a part of our life. Believe it or not, the common factor in everything was snakes. Yes, one of my four boys was interested in the slimy things that go crawling either in the soil or along the sand near water.
In the first instance, our family had finally made a move to northern Louisiana. We had always lived in the northern states. Both my husband and I were from Ohio and we had attended graduate school in Indiana. This would be our first introduction to the Southern culture. We found a suitable house in a subdivision that backed up to the bayou. It seemed like an idyllic setting and we all were anxious to get settled in. This was our first time to have any size of a yard, and the boys were ready to explore the back yard and begin building sand castles or whatever little boys like to build.
I checked the yard out and noticed a large snake coiled around in the back part of the sandbox. Now, I mean this snake was huge---probably six feet long and with a diameter of several inches. It looked like it was dead but since I was a newcomer to the area, I decided it was better off having someone who knew snakes identify the “culprit”. My knowledgeable neighbor came to my rescue and identified the snake as a cottonmouth or water moccasin. Say no more, I had all the information I needed. Watch the back yard carefully and change the word idyllic. I’m not sure how to describe the picture of the yard against the bayou but the word “caution” became ingrained into my mind. Always, always check the yard---and don’t forget to watch where you step. Snakes can deceive you into thinking that they are harmless when in actuality they are dangerous.
Having decided that the slithering creatures were in abundance along the water, I felt much better knowing exactly what to expect. What I wasn’t prepared for was the gush of enthusiasm from my son one afternoon. Our neighbor had a few “pet” snakes that he wanted to show him. Figuring that any pet snakes he might have in his possession was approved by his parents I relaxed somewhat. That is until I discovered that he was keeping baby rattlesnakes. Great! Not only do I have to worry about the ones coming in my back yard along the water, now I have to worry about the ones slithering along the side of my house. So much for spending a lot of time outside!
I can still recall the incident when my mother-in-law was sitting beside me in church one day. I don’t recall very much about the service but when I saw her reach down to her wrist, unfasten her bracelet, and lift it up with a pen and slide it into her purse I was curious. It was impossible to carry on a conversation in church, so I would have to wait a while to find out the answer. I knew my mother-in-law had about as much love for snakes as I did. What I didn’t realize was that one of her favorite bracelets had just been given the boot because it was connected by a series of snakes. How long she wore that bracelet I’ll never know, but on that day the bracelet was moved aside. I don’t know exactly how she got the bracelet out of her purse, but I know that I never saw it again.
The next time that I heard the word snake used by my boys was when we were living in Baton Rouge. We had moved away from Louisiana to Kansas but we were now even deeper in the southern part of the state. Another culture to learn about and, that’s right, more bayous and waterways. But this time the lure of having a snake came from another source. It just happened that on our way to New Orleans one time that there was an advertisement for a Reptile Farm. All the pleading in the world would not get me to stop for a “friendly” visit. The inquisitive nature of my second oldest son still stayed focused on snakes. Finally I agreed to let him have one in the house (I know, big mistake!) He was so excited but when he started talking about a python or some large type of snake, my foot sounded so hard on the floor that you could probably hear it in the resound in the next house. Absolutely not! I had agreed to let him have the snake, but when it came time to talk of buying a mouse and feeding it to the snake, I just couldn’t face it. Any snake that would be residing in my house would have to be contained in a box or aquarium with a covered top. And, it had to have a diet that would not have me or anyone else in the house loping off any critters head. Thus, the garter snake came to reside with us.
That garter snake had quite a history with our family. My mother-in-law returned for a visit and my husband already knew of her fear of snakes. We had a fish tank set up in a corner of the front room stocked with feeder minnows. Just net a few fish each day or two, slip them into a water bowl and carefully put into the reptile cage, We decided to hide the reptile cage in a dark corner of one of the boy’s bedroom closets. When the coast was clear and Grandma was gone, the cage could come back into the living room area. But never underestimate the acuity of Grandma. On one morning when we got up she approached us and asked a question that neither one of us expected. She had noticed that the feeder minnows kept disappearing but she couldn’t figure out what was happening to them. No fish floating on the surface; none on the bottom. We didn’t have the heart to tell he the truth for fear that she would literally have a heart attack. We kept quiet and let her go home without ever knowing how close she was to playing with a snake. At least she didn’t go into the closet. Jake stayed back in a dark corner and didn’t give anyone any heartache.
The next incident with snakes was probably the most hilarious episode of all. I had been teaching at a Christian school. I started out with a combined 5th and 6th grade class of students and taught all the regular subjects. Eventually I was given a chance to teach in junior high and high school. My major in college was biology and my husband knew that I wanted to make the classroom creative. Having a biology classroom with no plants, small animals, or ongoing science experiments just didn’t seem realistic. Now comes the best part of all. My husband was at work one day and he saw a large green snake. He thought it would be a nice addition to the classroom so he went about capturing the snake. Before he started he decided to ask his best friend George (who just happened to be with him) to borrow his lunch box. He was confident that he could place the snake inside the lunchbox, close the top and carry his “prize” home. But being a typical person with some common sense, his friend refused to let him use his lunchbox. Since there didn’t seem to be any other way available at that time, two guys decided to lift up the snake and put him in the trunk of MY car. I’m not exactly sure how they got the snake into the trunk, but no one would confess to committing the act. Now, all they had to do was drive home, open the trunk and remove the snake. The next day it would be ready for me to take it to school. But when my husband arrived home and opened the trunk the snake was gone. GREAT! Just what I needed—a snake slithering around under the seats or somewhere else where it could pop up at any time and make its presence known.
The consensus was that we should leave the trunk open and hope that the snake would just crawl out on its own. Every once in a while we looked out the window but never once did we see the snake leave the car. There was no way in the morning to know if the snake was still inside the car but I was NOT getting in the car and driving anywhere until I knew I didn’t have any “company” residing anyplace in my car. Next came a brilliant idea from my husband. Close the trunk, take the car into a service station and have them check it out! No one at the service station thought it was funny. And we were the first people to ever bring a car in for servicing for “snake removal.” I don’t remember exactly how we verified that the snake was really gone, but I didn’t get back into the car for quite some time. No way was any snake about to deceive me into thinking the coast was clear when it could be hiding in my car.
It was probably about three years later (1988) that we decided to move to Tennessee. My husband had changed jobs and it was time to place the house on the market. We went over everything very carefully with the real estate agent and she felt the house was in good condition to place it on the market without any painting or other type of touch-up. Before she left for her next appointment, my husband simply asked, “What do you think we should do about the snake?” Without any hesitation the realtor ran out of the house and when she had calmed down she told us in no uncertain terms that the snake could NOT be in the house while she was trying to sell the property. It didn’t matter one bit that the snake was in the closet again. The snake had to go.
Having to resign himself to the fact that the snake couldn’t stay in the house and that the snake was not moving to Tennessee, my son asked his best friend if he would like to keep the “critter”. After obtaining his mother’s permission, Jonathan became the new proud owner of Jake. He was ecstatic and I discovered that more than one mother was able to withstand and entertain the idea of a snake in the house. I thought that I had put the whole incident with the snake behind me and probably would never hear any more about Jake. But in 1994 when our oldest son got married I noticed that my best friend had not been able to attend the ceremony. I thought it was rather strange but didn’t give it a second thought. Later on I found out that she had just separated from her husband but he had been injured in a serious motorcycle accident the evening before the wedding. She was the person the hospital called to help out in an emergency.
After twenty-six years of marriage she finally got divorced. It was a hard time for her and we tried to keep in touch by phone or through letters. Just when I thought I had heard the last of Jake and his antics, her husband did something totally unexpected. He agreed to a divorce and allowed her to keep everything BUT Jake the snake. Yes, Jake was a part of a divorce settlement and one ex-husband felt so attached to the snake that Jake moved one more time. This time Jake became a companion for someone who would be living alone. I never heard any more about Jake but I certainly never ever thought that one simple garter snake could be involved in so many lives.
It’s the same with our lives. Our life is intertwined with so many other people we meet along the way. Some people come into our lives for a short while; others remain friends for most of our lifetime. Some friends are faithful and can be counted on when things get difficult. Other friends are not what they seem and instead of being loyal, they use what they learn to damage your reputation. As the story of your life unfolds, others are watching your life carefully. Are you trustworthy? Are you truthful? Are you kind to others? Are you someone who follows the law? Do you attend church and if so, is your life a witness of Jesus Christ? Do you have an outreach into the community or in an area of your church that showcases your real personality? How do you handle the rough times in your life? Are you depressed or do you let your faith carry your through the difficult times? How do you treat other family members---with care and love or by acting out in anger? The list could go on and on, but never underestimate the impact of your life on others.
Throughout the different stages of your life, let your life be one that counts for God. Whether things are funny or sad, joyful or depressing, tense or relaxed, let your life be one that is molded by God. Then through all the times while you are making memories with your family and others, the love of God will show through and then make an impression on them. When the journey is over, others will appreciate all that you have done and will remember your testimony.
“Hey, come on over and look at my pets. I have a nice collection. You just have to see them.”
Mental Image: Grandmother sitting at the back of the church on Sunday morning, slowly sliding her bracelet off her wrist. The bracelet drops into her purse and someone else will remove it later.
“Hey, Mom. Look at this one. It is black and green. What about getting this for me as a pet?”
“Does anyone know why the minnows keep disappearing in this tank? I know there are not as many today as yesterday but I can’t find the little ones anywhere in the tank?”
“Guess what George and I found today outside? We managed to get it into the car and I think it would be a nice addition for your classroom.”
“All right, I think we have everything we need to put the house on the market. We’ll get started as soon as possible. Any questions? You have what in the house? No, it’s got to go!”
“You can have anything you want in the divorce, just let me keep Jake.”
What do all the above statements and/or questions have in common? For our family it makes complete sense. Our family had four growing boys and we have always had at least one pet either inside or outside the home. From the mid 1970’s until the mid 1980’s when our life was probably at its busiest, anyone of the scenarios above could and would be a part of our life. Believe it or not, the common factor in everything was snakes. Yes, one of my four boys was interested in the slimy things that go crawling either in the soil or along the sand near water.
In the first instance, our family had finally made a move to northern Louisiana. We had always lived in the northern states. Both my husband and I were from Ohio and we had attended graduate school in Indiana. This would be our first introduction to the Southern culture. We found a suitable house in a subdivision that backed up to the bayou. It seemed like an idyllic setting and we all were anxious to get settled in. This was our first time to have any size of a yard, and the boys were ready to explore the back yard and begin building sand castles or whatever little boys like to build.
I checked the yard out and noticed a large snake coiled around in the back part of the sandbox. Now, I mean this snake was huge---probably six feet long and with a diameter of several inches. It looked like it was dead but since I was a newcomer to the area, I decided it was better off having someone who knew snakes identify the “culprit”. My knowledgeable neighbor came to my rescue and identified the snake as a cottonmouth or water moccasin. Say no more, I had all the information I needed. Watch the back yard carefully and change the word idyllic. I’m not sure how to describe the picture of the yard against the bayou but the word “caution” became ingrained into my mind. Always, always check the yard---and don’t forget to watch where you step. Snakes can deceive you into thinking that they are harmless when in actuality they are dangerous.
Having decided that the slithering creatures were in abundance along the water, I felt much better knowing exactly what to expect. What I wasn’t prepared for was the gush of enthusiasm from my son one afternoon. Our neighbor had a few “pet” snakes that he wanted to show him. Figuring that any pet snakes he might have in his possession was approved by his parents I relaxed somewhat. That is until I discovered that he was keeping baby rattlesnakes. Great! Not only do I have to worry about the ones coming in my back yard along the water, now I have to worry about the ones slithering along the side of my house. So much for spending a lot of time outside!
I can still recall the incident when my mother-in-law was sitting beside me in church one day. I don’t recall very much about the service but when I saw her reach down to her wrist, unfasten her bracelet, and lift it up with a pen and slide it into her purse I was curious. It was impossible to carry on a conversation in church, so I would have to wait a while to find out the answer. I knew my mother-in-law had about as much love for snakes as I did. What I didn’t realize was that one of her favorite bracelets had just been given the boot because it was connected by a series of snakes. How long she wore that bracelet I’ll never know, but on that day the bracelet was moved aside. I don’t know exactly how she got the bracelet out of her purse, but I know that I never saw it again.
The next time that I heard the word snake used by my boys was when we were living in Baton Rouge. We had moved away from Louisiana to Kansas but we were now even deeper in the southern part of the state. Another culture to learn about and, that’s right, more bayous and waterways. But this time the lure of having a snake came from another source. It just happened that on our way to New Orleans one time that there was an advertisement for a Reptile Farm. All the pleading in the world would not get me to stop for a “friendly” visit. The inquisitive nature of my second oldest son still stayed focused on snakes. Finally I agreed to let him have one in the house (I know, big mistake!) He was so excited but when he started talking about a python or some large type of snake, my foot sounded so hard on the floor that you could probably hear it in the resound in the next house. Absolutely not! I had agreed to let him have the snake, but when it came time to talk of buying a mouse and feeding it to the snake, I just couldn’t face it. Any snake that would be residing in my house would have to be contained in a box or aquarium with a covered top. And, it had to have a diet that would not have me or anyone else in the house loping off any critters head. Thus, the garter snake came to reside with us.
That garter snake had quite a history with our family. My mother-in-law returned for a visit and my husband already knew of her fear of snakes. We had a fish tank set up in a corner of the front room stocked with feeder minnows. Just net a few fish each day or two, slip them into a water bowl and carefully put into the reptile cage, We decided to hide the reptile cage in a dark corner of one of the boy’s bedroom closets. When the coast was clear and Grandma was gone, the cage could come back into the living room area. But never underestimate the acuity of Grandma. On one morning when we got up she approached us and asked a question that neither one of us expected. She had noticed that the feeder minnows kept disappearing but she couldn’t figure out what was happening to them. No fish floating on the surface; none on the bottom. We didn’t have the heart to tell he the truth for fear that she would literally have a heart attack. We kept quiet and let her go home without ever knowing how close she was to playing with a snake. At least she didn’t go into the closet. Jake stayed back in a dark corner and didn’t give anyone any heartache.
The next incident with snakes was probably the most hilarious episode of all. I had been teaching at a Christian school. I started out with a combined 5th and 6th grade class of students and taught all the regular subjects. Eventually I was given a chance to teach in junior high and high school. My major in college was biology and my husband knew that I wanted to make the classroom creative. Having a biology classroom with no plants, small animals, or ongoing science experiments just didn’t seem realistic. Now comes the best part of all. My husband was at work one day and he saw a large green snake. He thought it would be a nice addition to the classroom so he went about capturing the snake. Before he started he decided to ask his best friend George (who just happened to be with him) to borrow his lunch box. He was confident that he could place the snake inside the lunchbox, close the top and carry his “prize” home. But being a typical person with some common sense, his friend refused to let him use his lunchbox. Since there didn’t seem to be any other way available at that time, two guys decided to lift up the snake and put him in the trunk of MY car. I’m not exactly sure how they got the snake into the trunk, but no one would confess to committing the act. Now, all they had to do was drive home, open the trunk and remove the snake. The next day it would be ready for me to take it to school. But when my husband arrived home and opened the trunk the snake was gone. GREAT! Just what I needed—a snake slithering around under the seats or somewhere else where it could pop up at any time and make its presence known.
The consensus was that we should leave the trunk open and hope that the snake would just crawl out on its own. Every once in a while we looked out the window but never once did we see the snake leave the car. There was no way in the morning to know if the snake was still inside the car but I was NOT getting in the car and driving anywhere until I knew I didn’t have any “company” residing anyplace in my car. Next came a brilliant idea from my husband. Close the trunk, take the car into a service station and have them check it out! No one at the service station thought it was funny. And we were the first people to ever bring a car in for servicing for “snake removal.” I don’t remember exactly how we verified that the snake was really gone, but I didn’t get back into the car for quite some time. No way was any snake about to deceive me into thinking the coast was clear when it could be hiding in my car.
It was probably about three years later (1988) that we decided to move to Tennessee. My husband had changed jobs and it was time to place the house on the market. We went over everything very carefully with the real estate agent and she felt the house was in good condition to place it on the market without any painting or other type of touch-up. Before she left for her next appointment, my husband simply asked, “What do you think we should do about the snake?” Without any hesitation the realtor ran out of the house and when she had calmed down she told us in no uncertain terms that the snake could NOT be in the house while she was trying to sell the property. It didn’t matter one bit that the snake was in the closet again. The snake had to go.
Having to resign himself to the fact that the snake couldn’t stay in the house and that the snake was not moving to Tennessee, my son asked his best friend if he would like to keep the “critter”. After obtaining his mother’s permission, Jonathan became the new proud owner of Jake. He was ecstatic and I discovered that more than one mother was able to withstand and entertain the idea of a snake in the house. I thought that I had put the whole incident with the snake behind me and probably would never hear any more about Jake. But in 1994 when our oldest son got married I noticed that my best friend had not been able to attend the ceremony. I thought it was rather strange but didn’t give it a second thought. Later on I found out that she had just separated from her husband but he had been injured in a serious motorcycle accident the evening before the wedding. She was the person the hospital called to help out in an emergency.
After twenty-six years of marriage she finally got divorced. It was a hard time for her and we tried to keep in touch by phone or through letters. Just when I thought I had heard the last of Jake and his antics, her husband did something totally unexpected. He agreed to a divorce and allowed her to keep everything BUT Jake the snake. Yes, Jake was a part of a divorce settlement and one ex-husband felt so attached to the snake that Jake moved one more time. This time Jake became a companion for someone who would be living alone. I never heard any more about Jake but I certainly never ever thought that one simple garter snake could be involved in so many lives.
It’s the same with our lives. Our life is intertwined with so many other people we meet along the way. Some people come into our lives for a short while; others remain friends for most of our lifetime. Some friends are faithful and can be counted on when things get difficult. Other friends are not what they seem and instead of being loyal, they use what they learn to damage your reputation. As the story of your life unfolds, others are watching your life carefully. Are you trustworthy? Are you truthful? Are you kind to others? Are you someone who follows the law? Do you attend church and if so, is your life a witness of Jesus Christ? Do you have an outreach into the community or in an area of your church that showcases your real personality? How do you handle the rough times in your life? Are you depressed or do you let your faith carry your through the difficult times? How do you treat other family members---with care and love or by acting out in anger? The list could go on and on, but never underestimate the impact of your life on others.
Throughout the different stages of your life, let your life be one that counts for God. Whether things are funny or sad, joyful or depressing, tense or relaxed, let your life be one that is molded by God. Then through all the times while you are making memories with your family and others, the love of God will show through and then make an impression on them. When the journey is over, others will appreciate all that you have done and will remember your testimony.
ONE LITTLE BRACELET
It started out with a gift for a friend of mine. I wanted to find something extra special that would have a lasting meaning for her. It was an interesting bracelet that I had found at a Christian bookstore. Nothing I had ever seen in the past really intrigued me but this one fascinated me. It was a simple bracelet with several different beads. Each different bead told a part of the story of Christ. The star symbolized the star that guided the Wise Men to see Christ in the manger. Three beads next to the star symbolized each of the three kings. The red bead represented the royalty of Christ, the new king. Other beads represented part of His life from that of being a carpenter all the way to the end of His life, symbolized by a heart. Knowing that my friend was a Christian I thought it would be perfect.
Torri, my friend, absolutely loved her gift. She remarked about the way that the beads were arranged around the circle and she liked it so much that she decided to make it as a present for several of her own friends. Since she knew how to make her own jewelry it wasn’t hard to imagine her working at home putting the beads together.
It wasn’t long after that they I had to come up with a Christmas gift for my two granddaughters. It sometimes is really hard to come up with ideas for a pre-teen and a teen especially since fashion and personal likes change so much. I came back to the bracelet again. I thought it would be perfect. Both of the girls attend church and it would be an easy way to share our faith together and they could have something special to help remember Grandma’s gift. The reaction was delight in something that was unusual yet told a story about the life of Christ. It would be a chance for them to share it with others and tell them of Christ.
The story about the bracelet doesn’t end here. You never really know exactly what God can do with one simple thing. The bracelet that had been given to my friend and then to my granddaughters inspired something else. Alisa, the girls’ mother, is an artist who has starting to paint again. She had several paintings around the house and she was working to have some of them displayed at a gallery. She loves to do abstract art and is really great with what she paints. While I looked at one painting and was trying to exactly figure out what she was portraying, she asked me if I recognized anything in the picture. She had to show me where to look but near the middle of the painting were some of the same beads from the bracelet. The beads formed part of a belt that was wrapping around the middle of a simple garment from Biblical days. The outline of the coat was very soft and subdued but the beads were noticeable. I was amazed that the little bracelet had made such an impression in such a short time.
But the story still doesn’t end yet. Alisa took the paintings to the gallery to have the owner peruse those paintings that he felt would sell. He selected some of the abstract fruit that she had painted but his real fascination was with the paintings that had the hidden bracelet and beads going around the center of the garment. In fact, he was so enthusiastic that he asked if she could paint more of the same type of art. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was seeing he only knew that he liked it and wanted to have more of that style of art in his gallery. He currently is getting things organized for an art show in early March where the paintings will be on display and available for purchase.
One little bracelet was given as a gift. The same bracelet was given again in the form of two gifts. Then the bracelet became the focal point in paintings that will go out to other homes. These little beads have over and over been a testimony to many people and this is only the beginning of the story. Where these beads appear next is hard to imagine but this is only one bracelet. Imagine the story that goes along with another bracelet and then another one and another one. Such a big impact from such a simple but creative piece of jewelry! Just like something else that has made an impact on many lives, the resurrection of Christ. Because of what He did for us, we have a new life and a new focus. And if we tell others of Him, his story will continue to be a witness to everyone along the way.
(John 3:16 KJV)
Torri, my friend, absolutely loved her gift. She remarked about the way that the beads were arranged around the circle and she liked it so much that she decided to make it as a present for several of her own friends. Since she knew how to make her own jewelry it wasn’t hard to imagine her working at home putting the beads together.
It wasn’t long after that they I had to come up with a Christmas gift for my two granddaughters. It sometimes is really hard to come up with ideas for a pre-teen and a teen especially since fashion and personal likes change so much. I came back to the bracelet again. I thought it would be perfect. Both of the girls attend church and it would be an easy way to share our faith together and they could have something special to help remember Grandma’s gift. The reaction was delight in something that was unusual yet told a story about the life of Christ. It would be a chance for them to share it with others and tell them of Christ.
The story about the bracelet doesn’t end here. You never really know exactly what God can do with one simple thing. The bracelet that had been given to my friend and then to my granddaughters inspired something else. Alisa, the girls’ mother, is an artist who has starting to paint again. She had several paintings around the house and she was working to have some of them displayed at a gallery. She loves to do abstract art and is really great with what she paints. While I looked at one painting and was trying to exactly figure out what she was portraying, she asked me if I recognized anything in the picture. She had to show me where to look but near the middle of the painting were some of the same beads from the bracelet. The beads formed part of a belt that was wrapping around the middle of a simple garment from Biblical days. The outline of the coat was very soft and subdued but the beads were noticeable. I was amazed that the little bracelet had made such an impression in such a short time.
But the story still doesn’t end yet. Alisa took the paintings to the gallery to have the owner peruse those paintings that he felt would sell. He selected some of the abstract fruit that she had painted but his real fascination was with the paintings that had the hidden bracelet and beads going around the center of the garment. In fact, he was so enthusiastic that he asked if she could paint more of the same type of art. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was seeing he only knew that he liked it and wanted to have more of that style of art in his gallery. He currently is getting things organized for an art show in early March where the paintings will be on display and available for purchase.
One little bracelet was given as a gift. The same bracelet was given again in the form of two gifts. Then the bracelet became the focal point in paintings that will go out to other homes. These little beads have over and over been a testimony to many people and this is only the beginning of the story. Where these beads appear next is hard to imagine but this is only one bracelet. Imagine the story that goes along with another bracelet and then another one and another one. Such a big impact from such a simple but creative piece of jewelry! Just like something else that has made an impact on many lives, the resurrection of Christ. Because of what He did for us, we have a new life and a new focus. And if we tell others of Him, his story will continue to be a witness to everyone along the way.
(John 3:16 KJV)
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
CUSTOMER SERVICE: REGISTER TWO
The partially filled shopping cart was parked in the express lane at the grocery store. No one seemed to know who was the “owner” of this cart but since it was an express lane, everyone walked around the cart and moved ahead in the line. It just so happened that as I was moving in front of the cart that the owner barged into the line. “My purchases are just as important as yours.” Anger emanated from her eyes and it was quite obvious that the shopper was planning on keeping her place in line. Whether or not the cart had been attended, she had precedence over anyone else in line. I quietly relinquished my place to her and let the obnoxious lady move ahead. She haphazardly placed her items on the conveyor belt. She lashed out at the cashier as her items were placed in a bag, and she showed agitation at not getting checked in a timely fashion. She grabbed the packages and left the store in somewhat of a tizzy. I watched and noticed that her tirade was not just directed against me. Everyone any place near her had gotten a taste of her true personality. When I finally made my way to the cashier she apologized for the attitude of the shopper. I realize that everyone has his own disappointments and bad days but there is no reason to take your frustration out on others. This lady gave no one the chance to even talk to her. She chose to take her frustration and anger with her everywhere she went. No one knows how many people she literally bulldozed over. She left a lasting impression on many people she met that day, an impression that was demanding and focused only on her needs.
Another incident in a different grocery store showed a similar lack of sensitivity towards others. An elderly lady had gone into a store where you bag your own groceries. If you brought in your own bag with the store logo you would save five cents. Everything was fine throughout the whole shopping experience except for the time at the cash register. The cashier explained that the bag brought into the store was not from the same grocery store and didn’t qualify for the five cents discount. The shopper was adamant that she was right and the battle for five cents began. Nothing could convince the shopper that she was wrong and in the end management decided to give her five cents just to keep peace in the store. No one could reason with the shopper and although she actually got what she wanted she reacted in anger rather than show kindness to an employee who was simply doing her job.
Being a Christian means that every place we go we need to let others see Christ in our life. Others watch our lives and make inferences about Christianity based on our behavior. In the first case above I don’t know if the person was a Christian or not but in the second case the woman professes to be a Christian. According to I Corinthians 13:4 KJV we are told that “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”. Proverbs 19:22A KJV states that “What is desired in a man is kindness.” Proverbs 31:26 KJV describes the virtuous wife as a lady who “opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness”.
This simple act of kindness goes a long way in helping us to become more like Christ. For several years we lived in a large city and everyone was busy keeping up with the pace. It was easy to forget kindness simply because everyone was rushing about at such a fast pace. When we moved to the area where we currently live I almost ran over just anyone who got in my way. My tolerance for others was tested and I was easily agitated at people who seemed to have all the time in the world to get somewhere. It took me quite some time to slow down and realize that the people here did have the right attitude. If you slow down and take time to look around, you see things in a different light. Rather than being abrupt or rushing about without any consideration I am more patient and take time to express a word of thankfulness along my way. I want to be sensitive to others who may be facing a difficult time. I want others to see Christ in me. If I am intolerant or unkind, someone may see my actions and question whether or not I am a Christian.
The fruit of the spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22 KJV). Three of the fruits of the spirit are ones that could easily apply to the shoppers in the grocery store. Being longsuffering or tolerant of someone else is a Christian trait. Kindness and self-control are mentioned and both of these traits seem to go together. If we show kindness to others we will be able to have control over our emotions. Rather than react to unexpected problems or minor inconveniences we can take the time to think before we act. Take a few minutes to slow down and show a small act of kindness or speak a kind word to someone. It will make your day brighter and help someone who just needs a word of encouragement.
Another incident in a different grocery store showed a similar lack of sensitivity towards others. An elderly lady had gone into a store where you bag your own groceries. If you brought in your own bag with the store logo you would save five cents. Everything was fine throughout the whole shopping experience except for the time at the cash register. The cashier explained that the bag brought into the store was not from the same grocery store and didn’t qualify for the five cents discount. The shopper was adamant that she was right and the battle for five cents began. Nothing could convince the shopper that she was wrong and in the end management decided to give her five cents just to keep peace in the store. No one could reason with the shopper and although she actually got what she wanted she reacted in anger rather than show kindness to an employee who was simply doing her job.
Being a Christian means that every place we go we need to let others see Christ in our life. Others watch our lives and make inferences about Christianity based on our behavior. In the first case above I don’t know if the person was a Christian or not but in the second case the woman professes to be a Christian. According to I Corinthians 13:4 KJV we are told that “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”. Proverbs 19:22A KJV states that “What is desired in a man is kindness.” Proverbs 31:26 KJV describes the virtuous wife as a lady who “opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness”.
This simple act of kindness goes a long way in helping us to become more like Christ. For several years we lived in a large city and everyone was busy keeping up with the pace. It was easy to forget kindness simply because everyone was rushing about at such a fast pace. When we moved to the area where we currently live I almost ran over just anyone who got in my way. My tolerance for others was tested and I was easily agitated at people who seemed to have all the time in the world to get somewhere. It took me quite some time to slow down and realize that the people here did have the right attitude. If you slow down and take time to look around, you see things in a different light. Rather than being abrupt or rushing about without any consideration I am more patient and take time to express a word of thankfulness along my way. I want to be sensitive to others who may be facing a difficult time. I want others to see Christ in me. If I am intolerant or unkind, someone may see my actions and question whether or not I am a Christian.
The fruit of the spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22 KJV). Three of the fruits of the spirit are ones that could easily apply to the shoppers in the grocery store. Being longsuffering or tolerant of someone else is a Christian trait. Kindness and self-control are mentioned and both of these traits seem to go together. If we show kindness to others we will be able to have control over our emotions. Rather than react to unexpected problems or minor inconveniences we can take the time to think before we act. Take a few minutes to slow down and show a small act of kindness or speak a kind word to someone. It will make your day brighter and help someone who just needs a word of encouragement.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
CULTIVATE NEW FRIENDSHIPS
Everyone needs and wants a good friend. Someone who is there to be with you when your world comes crashing down or when you are excited and need someone to share with you in a special moment of joy. It doesn’t matter if you live in the city or country or where you live, everyone has the need or desire to develop a good friendship. We have moved around a major part of our life, mainly due to my husband’s job, but I have been lucky to always find at least one friend who could keep confidences and be there when I needed to talk, cry, laugh, or wanted to give up and no matter where I lived. A true friend, someone who loves, is loyal, and makes and keeps commitments. (Merriam Webster Dictionary.)
I thought about the type of friends I have had over the years and the friendships I have had have been strong ones. I keep in touch with the young woman who was the maid of honor at my wedding more than 30 years ago. I have kept in touch with a friend of mine from my days as a teacher. We both had families and as our children grew up it just seemed logical that our lives would go in opposite directions. Yes, our kids had done several things together and I had taught her kids in a Christian school, but I never thought that we would still be friends 20 years later. She’s living in Louisiana and I’m living in Arkansas yet we keep in touch, mainly by email. During that time our family moved from Louisiana to Tennessee to Virginia and then to Arkansas. It was not easy to keep up with me, yet we always managed to stay in touch.
In Virginia I had one of the best and closest friends of all. The neighbor across the street from my home was always there to listen, comfort, and guide me in many areas of life. I had several problems to work through including several family problems that seemed to cut right to the depths of my emotions. That relationship is still strong and although we communicate through email, I know that if I wanted to stop in and chat for a while, I could do it without any problems. We could be able to sit down and talk like I had never left the area.
Some friends come into our lives for a short while and others seem to be there for life. I have really gone through some rough periods in my life, times when I felt overwhelmed and not sure where to turn next. At that point God would bring someone special into my life and that person would be exactly what I needed. All of these experiences have helped make me the person I am today. I have learned so much about people in general and about the way that God helps us in our journey here on earth.
Of course, friendship needs to be a two way street. (Proverbs 18:24—“A man who has friends must be friendly”). I should not expect others to meet my needs without trying to help them with their own problems. I also need to be able to show compassion on someone who God places on my heart. I may not always understand what they need but I need to encourage and love others unconditionally. (“A friend loves at all times”—Proverbs 17:17.) People need to know that someone cares. Also, if I take the right attitude they will see God in my life and it may be that this is exactly what God had planned in the first place.
One year I had the opportunity to have a foreign student spend the summer with us. It was something one of my boys wanted to do. I was puzzled since I already had three boys living at home and a houseful of neighbor kids coming in and out. It was something that I didn’t want to do but I could not get peace about the decision. I felt God’s whisper about making a commitment to allow someone to stay in our home. I called the person responsible for making the arrangements. It was about two weeks before the cut-off date for signing up. None of it made any sense, however, I decided to have a 16 year old come to stay with us. I had an 11 year old, a 13 year old, and a 16 year old at home---all boys. What happened that summer was unbelievable! We had a wonderful time and some of the best memories ever. Guillaume decided to come back the following summer, and he began planning on having his best friend come to the US the next summer. Something happened because I followed God’s direction. Our life must have made quite an impression on a young man who probably would not have gotten to come to the US. And that young man made a lasting impression on me. It was amazing how God orchestrated that year, but it was definitely His will for us to have Guillaume in our home. A friendship was forged that lasted for about 5 years—until the time we moved to Arkansas and Guillaume graduated from college.
Other times I discovered people who had just lost a family member, who had encountered depression, who were afraid or who had just moved into an area and were lonely. In each case the person that the Lord brought into my life was experiencing something that I had just struggled through. I have learned to not be surprised when things like that happen now. It just seems to be His way of helping me to use what I have learned to help someone else who needs some consolation. You never know what feelings are behind faces, but if you will take the courage to step out in faith and try to be friendly, God will honor your action. You just may make a new friend.
Remember that Jesus is the best friend that anyone can have. No matter what happens, if we can’t find a friend to spend time with when we need encouragement, we have the privilege of being able to take everything to Him in prayer. Consider the words from the hymn “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Every-thing to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer. (vs.1)
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer. (vs.2)
Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our refuge, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms He will take and shield thee, Thou Wilt find a solace there. (vs.3)
I thought about the type of friends I have had over the years and the friendships I have had have been strong ones. I keep in touch with the young woman who was the maid of honor at my wedding more than 30 years ago. I have kept in touch with a friend of mine from my days as a teacher. We both had families and as our children grew up it just seemed logical that our lives would go in opposite directions. Yes, our kids had done several things together and I had taught her kids in a Christian school, but I never thought that we would still be friends 20 years later. She’s living in Louisiana and I’m living in Arkansas yet we keep in touch, mainly by email. During that time our family moved from Louisiana to Tennessee to Virginia and then to Arkansas. It was not easy to keep up with me, yet we always managed to stay in touch.
In Virginia I had one of the best and closest friends of all. The neighbor across the street from my home was always there to listen, comfort, and guide me in many areas of life. I had several problems to work through including several family problems that seemed to cut right to the depths of my emotions. That relationship is still strong and although we communicate through email, I know that if I wanted to stop in and chat for a while, I could do it without any problems. We could be able to sit down and talk like I had never left the area.
Some friends come into our lives for a short while and others seem to be there for life. I have really gone through some rough periods in my life, times when I felt overwhelmed and not sure where to turn next. At that point God would bring someone special into my life and that person would be exactly what I needed. All of these experiences have helped make me the person I am today. I have learned so much about people in general and about the way that God helps us in our journey here on earth.
Of course, friendship needs to be a two way street. (Proverbs 18:24—“A man who has friends must be friendly”). I should not expect others to meet my needs without trying to help them with their own problems. I also need to be able to show compassion on someone who God places on my heart. I may not always understand what they need but I need to encourage and love others unconditionally. (“A friend loves at all times”—Proverbs 17:17.) People need to know that someone cares. Also, if I take the right attitude they will see God in my life and it may be that this is exactly what God had planned in the first place.
One year I had the opportunity to have a foreign student spend the summer with us. It was something one of my boys wanted to do. I was puzzled since I already had three boys living at home and a houseful of neighbor kids coming in and out. It was something that I didn’t want to do but I could not get peace about the decision. I felt God’s whisper about making a commitment to allow someone to stay in our home. I called the person responsible for making the arrangements. It was about two weeks before the cut-off date for signing up. None of it made any sense, however, I decided to have a 16 year old come to stay with us. I had an 11 year old, a 13 year old, and a 16 year old at home---all boys. What happened that summer was unbelievable! We had a wonderful time and some of the best memories ever. Guillaume decided to come back the following summer, and he began planning on having his best friend come to the US the next summer. Something happened because I followed God’s direction. Our life must have made quite an impression on a young man who probably would not have gotten to come to the US. And that young man made a lasting impression on me. It was amazing how God orchestrated that year, but it was definitely His will for us to have Guillaume in our home. A friendship was forged that lasted for about 5 years—until the time we moved to Arkansas and Guillaume graduated from college.
Other times I discovered people who had just lost a family member, who had encountered depression, who were afraid or who had just moved into an area and were lonely. In each case the person that the Lord brought into my life was experiencing something that I had just struggled through. I have learned to not be surprised when things like that happen now. It just seems to be His way of helping me to use what I have learned to help someone else who needs some consolation. You never know what feelings are behind faces, but if you will take the courage to step out in faith and try to be friendly, God will honor your action. You just may make a new friend.
Remember that Jesus is the best friend that anyone can have. No matter what happens, if we can’t find a friend to spend time with when we need encouragement, we have the privilege of being able to take everything to Him in prayer. Consider the words from the hymn “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Every-thing to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer. (vs.1)
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer. (vs.2)
Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our refuge, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms He will take and shield thee, Thou Wilt find a solace there. (vs.3)
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