Mrs. Gonzalez was a woman in her mid to late sixties. She was gentle by nature and ultra patient with her kindergarten class, especially me. I had a difficult time sitting still. What I really mean is remaining still whether I was sitting, standing or probably even while I was crawling on the mat that taught us the various shapes and colors. She did love me and I could feel her love. Because she loved me so much I think that when she got to the point when she could no longer stand for my behavior she kindly invited me to go pay a visit to Dr. Johansen, the principal. In the beginning, I was scared to go to his office. After my initial visit I quickly learned that he was a kind man. Looking back on that time I realize that he was very good at his job and he loved the kids, no doubt about it! Dr. Johansen would spend about ten minutes visiting with me about the ins and outs of the over-the-top life of a kindergarten student. He would always end with, "are you ready to go back to class and be quiet for rest of the day?" I agreed each time and quickly returned to class attempting to do better. There was something else I did that really bothered Mrs. Gonzalez. My penmanship was atrocious! I can still hear the gentleness in her voice as she would plead with me to take a little more time on my writing. My intention was good but when it came time to actually write, I would speed my way through the simple writing exercise. After about a dozen times of kindly asking me to do better and many papers returned to me from being graded with red marks indicating what I had done wrong, I finally received a paper that had a hand-written message at the top of the paper. In perfect penmanship were written the two clear words at the top of the page..."Good spaces!" On this particular paper, my teacher had decided to point out something positive hoping that this strategy might impact my decision to actually want to improve. The spacing I had used between the letters I had written was good, a finger width apart from each other.
All of these years later, I find a great deal of wisdom in her approach.
There is a pure lesson to be learned here. No matter what the situation is, there is always something positive to be found. Mrs. Gonzalez taught me that value as a kindergarten student and I have thought about that lesson many times since.
Her optimistic attitude instilled in me the confidence to be a better writer.
Now the desire to have good penmanship has stuck, thanks to a loving teacher who cared enough to take the time to point out something to me that I had done good. I will be thankful to her forever!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Unity will Prevail
I had a conversation, this morning, with a man that I know very well. His heart was troubled and I knew it when I first saw him. I asked him if he had enjoyed a nice extended Christmas break. He stood silently without saying much. I knew what the answer was. I asked him what was troubling him. He began to tell me some of the things that were weighing heavily on his mind.
I perfectly understand that everyone of us has those moments when things that would normally be good seem to bother us. Because I know how my friend feels today I decided to lend a listening ear without offering a single bit of advice. He talked for a half hour and seemed relieved to just sputter his frustrations.
I will tell you that much of his frustration comes from the lack of being able to feel unified in his immediate family relations.
Early on in our marriage, Becky and I decided that we wanted to be unified together on everything that we did, with each other. That didn't mean that we couldn't continue to have our own personalities. We had the sincere desire to be ONE. Now, I understand that for some people that means that some difficult obstacles have to be overcome. I see that as overcoming oneself for the benefit of the couple.
My friend has been married to the same woman for many years and they are still trying to overcome their own selves in order to find the oneness that they hope will come.
In this station of my life I feel grateful to share life with a woman who desires to have OUR life together. My heart hurts today for my friend who longs for a life together but still must overcome some things for himself.
Our family should be the most important unit of association that we have.
I was taught as a young boy, from parents who loved me a great deal, that a person should not ever do or say something that would be harmful to somebody that they profess to love the very most. That statement feels as true today as the day that it was taught to me. We need to strive to cement our family relationships into those filled with unity!
I perfectly understand that everyone of us has those moments when things that would normally be good seem to bother us. Because I know how my friend feels today I decided to lend a listening ear without offering a single bit of advice. He talked for a half hour and seemed relieved to just sputter his frustrations.
I will tell you that much of his frustration comes from the lack of being able to feel unified in his immediate family relations.
Early on in our marriage, Becky and I decided that we wanted to be unified together on everything that we did, with each other. That didn't mean that we couldn't continue to have our own personalities. We had the sincere desire to be ONE. Now, I understand that for some people that means that some difficult obstacles have to be overcome. I see that as overcoming oneself for the benefit of the couple.
My friend has been married to the same woman for many years and they are still trying to overcome their own selves in order to find the oneness that they hope will come.
In this station of my life I feel grateful to share life with a woman who desires to have OUR life together. My heart hurts today for my friend who longs for a life together but still must overcome some things for himself.
Our family should be the most important unit of association that we have.
I was taught as a young boy, from parents who loved me a great deal, that a person should not ever do or say something that would be harmful to somebody that they profess to love the very most. That statement feels as true today as the day that it was taught to me. We need to strive to cement our family relationships into those filled with unity!
Monday, January 2, 2012
What about a stranger?
My dad asked me if I wanted to take a day off from school and spend some time, just he and I, in downtown Sacramento. Off course, I jumped all over the chance to miss a day of school. I really was excited to spend some time with my dad. You need to know that I was sixteen at the time. We walked around the "old" part of Sacramento. The city of Sacramento has made it really nice and there are fun stores and shops to look in. We went down by the edge of the river that meanders its way through that part of town. At lunchtime, dad suggested that we go get a bite to eat. As we approached Burger King, I could see a homeless man up ahead. He had strategically placed himself outside of Burger King hoping to get someone to help him. I could see that he was clearly homeless by the look of his tattered clothing and the bottom of his feet were completely black with filth. The thoughts in my young mind were unkind as we got closer to the man. His eyes screamed desperation and my heart was closed to help him. My dad, however, was different. With a soft voice the man pleaded, "Sir, can you help me?" My dad being the compassionate person that he is invited the man to come and eat with us. Bear with me as I tell you how disgusted I was at the time. My dad wasn't just giving some money to help the man, he just invited this filthy man to come into Burger King and eat with us. Dad opened the door for this stranger and I. The smell from the filth was hard to take and I wondered if I was hungry at all. The three of us approached the front of the store where we would place our order. I looked over at my dad who didn't seem the least bit embarrassed by the situation. I couldn't stand the thought of what was really happening. We got our food and found a spot where we could sit down. "Where are you from?" my dad asked the homeless man. His answer came quietly. A conversation began between the man and my compassionate father. I listened trying very hard to not have to be a part. I learned a lot from the man as he spoke of sadness and misfortune that played out in his life. I learned the most by listening to the true love that dad displayed for this man. We finished our lunch and walked out of Burger King. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" dad asked. I will never forget the look in the man's eyes as the desperation in his eyes lessened because someone had taken the time to love him and listen to him.
The man walked away and my sixteen year old heart was changed. I had learned something.. First, my dad took the time to want to be with me. Second, my dad had helped someone without giving a second thought to their situation. Third, what my dad taught me that day would be valuable for me to help someone later down the road.
The challenge is that you never give a second thought to how somebody looks or acts because that person might be the individual that you end up loving the very most.
The man walked away and my sixteen year old heart was changed. I had learned something.. First, my dad took the time to want to be with me. Second, my dad had helped someone without giving a second thought to their situation. Third, what my dad taught me that day would be valuable for me to help someone later down the road.
The challenge is that you never give a second thought to how somebody looks or acts because that person might be the individual that you end up loving the very most.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
I have finally mustered up enough courage to join the blogger world. For the past little while I have had the desire to share with other people at least one positive thing each day. We all know what it feels like to be bombarded with the negativity that surrounds life. So...without further adieu, let me begin.
2012, holds the opportunity for all of us to seize every moment of the day and make the very most out of every situation. Yes, that means every situation whether good or bad.
Last year, a funny thing happened at our home. It was funny after the initial shock and stress. Becky and I were visiting in the living room of our home when a loud gun shot type sound startled us. I looked out the front window to see our oldest son in a picturesque golf back swing with a look of horror on his face. In a moment I realized that he had driven a golf ball through the side window of our van. He continued to look at the mess that he found himself in. My gut hurt as I thought about the cost of a new window. The whole thing sent Becky into complete laughter. My heart raced as I replayed the conversation between he and I where I had clearly asked that he not ever hit the golf ball in the front yard. Yep, you got it! Mistake #1. What was I thinking. What must a boy do with a driver in one hand and a golf ball in the other, just stand there at look at them? The minutes that passed were the funniest of all once Becky reminded me of the blessing of auto insurance. Brady was mesmerized by the crackling of the glass. He sat on the lawn and watched. Before long he retrieved a lawn chair to watch the action in comfort. Next, came a soda. Who needs a sporting event when you can watch the action of shattered glass. I learned a valuable lesson. It was just a window. Another important lesson I learned was that if I ever want an entertaining family activity, I just needed to buy a sheet of glass with the intent to shatter it.
You might wonder what my point really is with this. A young girl taught us a valuable lesson some years ago. Do you remember the girl who was fighting a battle with cancer of her own. She decided that a lemonade stand would help to fund the costs that would incur with the terrible illness. That lemonade stand generated a lot of money and the attention from the local media helped bring business to this young girl's fight.
As a young married man, I was taught a positive lesson. One evening I made the statement to Becky that she made me really mad. Without hesitation she taught me a lesson I have never forgotten. "You are choosing to be mad, I don't make you do anything." I admit that her statement ticked me off a bit, but as I thought about her wisdom I soon realized that I was the person who had control over the things that I did and the way that I felt.
You and I have control over whether life is good or bad. Everybody has bumps along the path of life. Let it be today that you choose to make the most out of every situation. You'll be glad you did!
This year promises to be remarkable!
2012, holds the opportunity for all of us to seize every moment of the day and make the very most out of every situation. Yes, that means every situation whether good or bad.
Last year, a funny thing happened at our home. It was funny after the initial shock and stress. Becky and I were visiting in the living room of our home when a loud gun shot type sound startled us. I looked out the front window to see our oldest son in a picturesque golf back swing with a look of horror on his face. In a moment I realized that he had driven a golf ball through the side window of our van. He continued to look at the mess that he found himself in. My gut hurt as I thought about the cost of a new window. The whole thing sent Becky into complete laughter. My heart raced as I replayed the conversation between he and I where I had clearly asked that he not ever hit the golf ball in the front yard. Yep, you got it! Mistake #1. What was I thinking. What must a boy do with a driver in one hand and a golf ball in the other, just stand there at look at them? The minutes that passed were the funniest of all once Becky reminded me of the blessing of auto insurance. Brady was mesmerized by the crackling of the glass. He sat on the lawn and watched. Before long he retrieved a lawn chair to watch the action in comfort. Next, came a soda. Who needs a sporting event when you can watch the action of shattered glass. I learned a valuable lesson. It was just a window. Another important lesson I learned was that if I ever want an entertaining family activity, I just needed to buy a sheet of glass with the intent to shatter it.
You might wonder what my point really is with this. A young girl taught us a valuable lesson some years ago. Do you remember the girl who was fighting a battle with cancer of her own. She decided that a lemonade stand would help to fund the costs that would incur with the terrible illness. That lemonade stand generated a lot of money and the attention from the local media helped bring business to this young girl's fight.
As a young married man, I was taught a positive lesson. One evening I made the statement to Becky that she made me really mad. Without hesitation she taught me a lesson I have never forgotten. "You are choosing to be mad, I don't make you do anything." I admit that her statement ticked me off a bit, but as I thought about her wisdom I soon realized that I was the person who had control over the things that I did and the way that I felt.
You and I have control over whether life is good or bad. Everybody has bumps along the path of life. Let it be today that you choose to make the most out of every situation. You'll be glad you did!
This year promises to be remarkable!
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