Ah, new crayons along with pencils or markers, neatly tucked inside a zipper pouch to be packed inside an appropriate backpack. Depending on the age there may also be gluesticks and scissors for little hands to hold and master cutting out a variety of shapes. New shoes–unsoiled from wear and tear–fit small or big feet. Bright new clothes make for a perfect photo opportunity before heading out the door to walk or get a ride to school from a parent or an expectant school bus driver. No matter how a “first day of school” may look for each child, leisurely days of summer are beginning to fade, even though it seems that June’s last day of school is still visible in the rear view mirror of our children’ s lives.  It’s been a long time since I’ve launched our own kids out the door to meet their bus, let alone my own years growing up in Saginaw where I attended public schools for my education.

Today, I found myself reflecting on the “first day of school” along with some favorite memories of my own. I definitely remember getting new clothes and shoes each school year. In grade school crayons and pencils were provided by the teacher. There was no need for a backpack or a lunchbox to carry supplies either. Lunch breaks were long enough to walk home, eat a sandwich and return to our classrooms. By junior high all this changed. Now, money for hot lunch was an option to bring something from home packed neatly in a brown paper bag.

We didn’t have the luxury of backpacks either. We carried three ring binders with dividers for each class, balancing text books on top when carrying between classes or home when  homework was assigned. Learning to juggle a stack of books was an art in itself, especially in a crowded hallway where getting bumped into was a potential accident waiting to happen. 

Other memories that I still hold onto include:

• Mom bought a little rug to be used in kindergarten for naps. Yes, we actually laid down on the tiled floor for a rest break.
• Studying the early settlers in America in third grade by constructing a log cabin in 3rd grade. It was made from long sheets of brown paper, painted to resemble what the pioneers built. Third grade was also the year to learn cursive and Mrs. Leddy was adamant we formed each letter according to the chart that hung above the blackboard. No exceptions in how we may have wanted to form each stroke!
• Friday afternoons in fifth grade belonged to art! Returning from lunch, we had about 2 ½ hours devoted to art projects that Miss MacKenzie had in mind for us. Holidays were exceptional when it came to her choice of creative things for us to draw, paint, or color. She also held spelling bee contests to improve our vocabulary skills and the prizes were candy bars. Not the miniature ones, but regulation size! I can still see both teams, one lined up by the windows facing the others who stood across from us by the walled cabinets.
• Sixth grade completed my time in my elementary building and I was thrilled to have Mrs. Pike. She had two big art projects kids loved! When studying Egyptian culture we made large paper mache “masks” which took several days to form and dry before painting. Several teams worked on each mask which when finished, were hung on the wall above the blackboard. Our school’s custodian was tasked to help fasten them in place. At Christmas time, we made balloon ornaments to hang as a mobile. We took a large blown balloon, wrapped it in string, submerged it in a paste solution and once dry, popped it leaving the empty shell to be painted, thus creating a mobile like ornament. Our balloons were hung from the ceiling tiles and allowed to be taken home over Christmas break.
• By the time junior high years rolled around, I was introduced to choral music which I loved. Math became a challenge but I managed to muddle my way through without failing.
• High school years still had me in the choir program which also included participating in contest festivals and a major musical production each year.  Although I never received a major or minor role, being in the “chorus” was satisfying and great fun as confidence in myself continued to grow. Academically, I was drawn to my English classes where I continued learning and expanding my vocabulary, writing skills, and landed Mr. Matlock as the instructor for our school’s yearbook and newspaper. In my senior year I was appointed the editor of our yearbook and had close friends who worked on the paper. Both publications won national awards!

Looking back I have many memories from school. In comparison to now, with our own kids and now grandchildren, much has indeed changed. What remains is the anticipation of a “first day” and all the joy and wonder it promises. Having traded the excitement of new clothes and supplies over 60 years ago now, I find myself in a new position during this time of year. Now, as I did for our own children, I cover our grandchildren in prayer as they head out the door. I include their teachers in my requests before the Lord for they hold huge responsibility teaching our youngsters. 

Psalm 91: 4 has become a crucial prayer of protection, too, in our ever changing world. “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” (New Living Translation)

Gone are the days of naptime in kindergarten. Lunch breaks don’t include walking home, replaced  now with noisy cafeterias and aides helping with pesky juice boxes and yogurt containers. Cursive has been removed from some curriculums. Thankfully art and music remain as wonderful opportunities for young creative minds! I don’t know if spelling bees are a thing or not. I’d like to think an old practice could be revived to instill healthy competition while expanding knowledge. And, maybe toss in a few regular size candy bars for the winning team!

For all our kids returning to school this year, whether in our public ones, private, or homeschool surroundings, I pray you have a wonderful successful year! May our kids be encouraged to embrace learning, grow in confidence and above all, be kind and respectful to those entrusted with their care in and outside all classrooms! May we as parents and grandparents support our students with deep love and strong prayers!

“Mine!” “Mine!” “Mine!”

Are you able to immediately recall this chorus of “mines” from a comical scene in the animated movie “Finding Nemo”? Nemo finds himself stranded briefly on a dock, engaged in conversation with a pair of pelicans. Slowly, one by one seagulls begin to spy little Nemo laying on the boards under a hot sun. As they line up observing their potential meal, Nemo is being instructed by his new pelican friend in a plan of protection and escape. In an attempt to not lose out on a fresh lunch, the seagulls swoop in trying to grab Nemo, loudly chirping “mine, mine….” until the great escape thwarts all attempts to enjoy little Nemo for lunch.

This morning, in the quiet at the beginning of my morning, which begins with pouring a mug of coffee, putting out seed for the birds, and then making my way to the living room where I sit to enjoy time reading, the ordinary stillness I’m accustomed to enjoying was interrupted by a conversation out my window that sounded familiar to “mine, mine, mine”. I got up to investigate its source and smiled to myself as I was soon entertained by a trio of crows walking around the lawn. In the middle, a lucky bird was grasping a good sized piece of bread or cracker in his beak, while two other crows–one on each side–kept pace with his attempts to escape either sharing or basking in the sorrow of being robbed of his breakfast. Their conversation was quite lively, and didn’t last very long when soon, all three flew off to a neighbor’s nearby pine tree. I don’t know the outcome of their brief exchange. I can imagine two scenarios. One, the lucky guy holding the bread enjoyed his “find” or two, a pair of potential robbers may have been victorious. Either way, their early morning antics reminded me of living a life of charity, generosity, or selfishness. Inside the Christian church, we call this way of life “open handed living”, described as believers recognizing that all resources ultimately belong to God and are to be used for His glory and the benefit of others. In summary, biblical teaching on being “open handed” calls believers to a lifestyle of generosity, compassion and selflessness. (source BibleHub.com)

So, how does living this way look? In the broad sense of being a person of generosity, we acknowledge that everything we have been given or own comes from God. By being alert to the needs of people in our families, workplace, churches, and community, we are able to participate in local opportunities to help by being a source of meeting those needs. One doesn’t have to travel far to give assistance to another person whether it’s monetary or a portion of our time to perform an act of kindness. The beauty of serving others is that the amount of money spent or the length of time in action does not matter. What’s important is that we don’t clench our hands tightly, being unwilling to share our resources.

My dad told me of a time in his childhood when a neighboring family had lost their mother. It didn’t take long for the two young children from the widower’s small farm to figure out if they lingered long enough around dinner time at the Jewell farm, maybe they’d get lucky to be invited to eat a good meal. This was during depression years when my grandpa struggled, working from dawn to sunset to scrape out a living to feed hungry bellies around the table. As dad unfolded details of the story, he recalled that his dad grumbled to grandma, “Sadie, I have a hard enough time feeding our growing family. I can’t manage two more mouths.”

In her quiet demeanor–and seldom speaking back to her husband–dad noted that she merely replied “Clarence, those children are hungry.” No further action was required other than finding room at the table for them. Never mind the scarcity of abundant food or the utensils to eat from. In fact, there weren’t enough cups for dad and his siblings to drink milk. Dad and his sister Helen shared a cup under their “oath–you drink from this side and I’ll drink from my side.”

Open handed living has its roots in the early Christian church. A beautiful picture of communal living is described in Acts 2: 44-45. “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.”  It’s obvious we have two examples of generosity here. One, daily activities included sharing meals, etc. Two, extended and greater sacrificial living is exemplified with selling property in order to assist others. This doesn’t mean God is “requiring” us to imitate the latter action of the early church. Rather, both serve as practical examples of our ability to be generous no matter the size of our portfolios.

In our community, we don’t have to look very far to find ways to help our neighbors. Our very own “Family Impact Center” and “The Torch” are two of the best non profit organizations serving the needs of families in our county. They can’t do their work alone; they need you and me partnering with them to donate food and offer volunteer time working in their programs. Donations small to large are welcome whether it’s a check or goods you purchase and drop off to them.

Summer is drawing to a close which means our children will be returning to classrooms. Fortunately, our district provided meals for our community’s kids during summer’s break. Now, “Back to School” drives are popping up which will help with classroom supplies. This kind of “open handed living” helps to ensure that our youngsters will be given ample opportunities to be healthy and successful!

In further retrospect, what else can we learn from little Nemo floundering under a hot sun under devious eyes of sea gulls waiting for a chance to pounce? I think we can admit that too many of us are on the sidelines of merely seeing a need and clenching our hands tightly to hold onto our stuff or acknowledge the real needs that are evident around us every day. In that posture we can choose to remain selfless or shift our attitudes and resources pursuing this simple question: “How can I help?” Just think, if we changed the chorus of “mine, mine, mine” to “yours, yours, yours”…..THAT would be a beautiful melody!

Don’t let anyone steal your joy. How many times have I heard this inside church walls or heard it coming from my own lips. Life can be hard. For some, their experiences that drive them to a depth of despair wanes in comparison to those of us fortunate to escape the grip that devastation can leash upon us. It seems that attacks come when least expected and especially when minding our own business. A great image illustrating juggling life’s needs was shown during our time on Alaskan waters to observe whales.

As our boat pilot made the way back to the harbor, we passed a buoy where sea lions were sunbathing. Every inch of the buoy’s base was covered by these magnificent playful creatures, yet displaying their human-like emotions too. We watched as a sea lion who was swimming at the base of the buoy kept attempting to jump up and join in leisure time. Each attempt was met with one his buddies pushing him back. Selfishness and an unwillingness to share was quite evident. He never did succeed, choosing to remain swimming nearby instead.

Shortly after witnessing our swimmer’s attempts to sunbathe, we came in view of another sea lion who had caught his mid afternoon snack, holding a salmon in his mouth as he tilted his head back to chew and digest. From out of nowhere a bald eagle swooped down in an attempt to steal the salmon. Not wanting to give up his tasty morsel or have his successful catch of the day be stolen, our sea lion held onto his meal, kept his head above water and came out victorious. The eagle retreated, most likely in search of another opportunity to rob a fellow creature of its meal or hopefully catch his own.

Isn’t this what we often do, too? How many times do we become another person’s irritant or bully? Are there too many occasions where our words or actions do more harm than good?

In 1 Thessalonians we read “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”  It’s important to read what comes before the “So”…”For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.”  Paul, the writer of the book, goes on to tell us to “honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work.” “Show them great respect”. “Live peacefully with each other.” “Take tender care of those who are weak…be patient with everyone.” “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people”. “Always be joyful.” Chapter 5 contains a rich list of how God would have us conduct ourselves inside and outside our churches.

So, my encouragement to you today is that 1) maybe you’d take time to read Chapter 5 in 1 Thessalonians and circle the action phrases 2) ask yourself this question: am I swooping in to steal what isn’t mine  and am I choosing to be an encourager? 3) Do the words and conversations I engage in build others up or am I consumed by a critical spirit?

Another writer found in the New Testament is James who wrote these words found in Chapter 3. “People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” 

How wonderful and grateful I am that an afternoon encounter between a sea lion and bald eagle taught me the depth of meaning in Jame’s words to Christians. Rather than steal someone’s joy I can join in celebrating with them. Instead of taking credit for someone else’s hard work, offer respect and acknowledgement for a job well done. 

So,  if you’re trying to join your buddies in an afternoon of laziness, only to find yourself being pushed away or bullied, find new friends. The buoy might be crowded…there’s other places to lounge under blue skies and sunshine. It’s okay to hold onto what you’ve worked hard to obtain, while still pondering generosity to others at the same time.

“A little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way.” (Allen Klein)

I’m an extrovert. I love meeting new people. I listen to conversations. I observe who and what is going on around me constantly. Secretly, I’m hoping to engage in interesting conversation whether whoever is nearby is a longtime friend or a complete stranger. Years of living like this has allowed me endless conversations and quiet observations as fond memories or life lessons. Such is the case as I reflect on another aspect of our recent trip to Alaska via plane and cruise ship.

• Downloading the airline’s app to my phone doesn’t necessarily mean check ins at the airport will go off without a hitch. I watch other travelers around me use the kiosk with great ease, while I struggle and eventually ask for assistance. Struggles like this cause me to wonder “when did we go from the desk agent doing all the check in procedures to having some of those responsibilities fall on my shoulders?
• More and more travelers are taking small dogs with them on their flights. Years ago I only saw service dogs in the terminal, now the barks and yips of pocket size pups are no longer a rarity. Last year a woman was traveling with her cat. I’m an animal lover, don’t get me wrong, merely an observation of one small change regarding love for pets.
• Security has really tightened, with no argument from me. Maybe it was my comfortable cargo style pants I was wearing for our 5:30 am flight. I found myself being asked to step aside from the body scanner to earn a gentle pat down by a very pleasant female TSA agent. At least I was able to keep my shoes on this time, a welcome change from previous years.
• Snacks on our flights sure have changed. No more food items with peanuts. Someone might be allergic. Never mind those little dogs and cats on board who are also allergens to some (myself included) but hey, when I emailed a carrier last year expressing my concern the response favored our furry friends, not my exposure to an asthma trigger.
• People who work on cruise ships are a group of the most friendly, kind, humble hard workers I’ve been around! Most of them are working in the dining areas, bars, and housekeeping. They appear happy, proud of their work and do so with great integrity. Our servers learned our names, remembered what we liked to drink, greeted us warmly every morning or evening, wished us a wonderful day or a good night’s rest. I took some time to research information on crew members, finding out on average they sign a 7 month contract which means they are away from their native homes and families. Depending on their level of employment the pay range could be $1,300 to $3,000 per month. Room and board is included, yet these men and women are away from husbands, wives, children, parents. I never heard any complaints. These wonderful people are constantly on the move.
• Complete strangers are less inhibited on cruise ships. Whenever we sat down in a lounge area, ate lunch in the cafe or fine dining, or walked the deck, people were quick to engage in conversation. Not so in the waiting areas of our airports. Everyone was back to their phones or laptops, maybe a book or magazine. 
• Sadly, on our last flight home at 3:30 in the morning, worn out from being awake since 6:30 am Canadian time, sitting in the last row of our small plane home to Detroit, I could overhear our three stewardesses chatting it up during the almost 50 minutes of flight. I wish I could say they were laughing and sharing about their families but unfortunately it was a gripe session encased with work schedules, pay, and some dislike towards pilots who they perceived “got more from the company although we do all the work”.

As I listened, I thought hmmmmm…quite the contrast from the week I just enjoyed, being “served” and entertained by individuals performing quite differently towards their duties. In full disclosure, I didn’t say anything to the women when we got off the plane. I thanked each one as I passed by, however, after being home for a couple of days I sent an email to the carrier’s headquarters to describe the experience. I know I could have ignored the situation but because I believe integrity is important in the workplace, I followed through. 

So, glancing back and reviewing our week away, I can see where perspective plays an important role to the unseen eye. Maybe having travelers take on more responsibility does speed up wait time in lines. Does it save the carriers money? I have no clue, knowing that fees are in place for things that were free years ago.

Perhaps leaving one’s country to pursue earning a good income comes with great sacrifice and humility, knowing the time away will be temporary but with lasting results to change the future in a family. Add in the ability to perform these duties day in and day out with thousands of people every year and you’ve built a successful crew. Since being home, I have noticed more keenly “help wanted” signs around the communities I go to for groceries, gas, etc. I wonder why “these” jobs can’t be filled when I’ve witnessed people from the Phillipines, Indonesia, Honduras, Madagascar…far away places I haven’t visited…choose to join a workforce that distances them from all they love and hope to return. Their sacrifices caused me not to bemoan missing our kids and grandkids for a week.

I don’t know the ins and outs of our flight attendant’s woes either. In contrasting their dissatisfaction to that of our joyful cruise crew, my conclusion is that our crew was able to give us a wonderful experience, knowing when we left the ship about 3,000 new people would arrive and they would “do everything all over again” as though for the first time. Based on my perspective, they did so with beautiful smiles, endless energy, and endless offers of “what can I do for you” and “are you enjoying your day?” That takes endurance. It takes hard work. It may take a little bit of acting when you’ve repeated the same corny joke over and over and over….it’s what causes a desire to book another cruise–if possible–and appreciating everyone who’s part of the journey, even those we scratch our heads about. Because relying on perspective doesn’t tell the whole story about a person or what’s going on in their day. Additionally, humility and grace lend greatly to not jumping to negative conclusions.

That’s why we need more comfy chairs in the places we shop or do business.  O that we could all slow down, look up, take in our surroundings whether in a crowded terminal or standing in line at a checkout. And not be too uptight, shy, or afraid to interrupt silence by merely asking “how’s your day doing?”