Yay! A Time To Learn

As a celebration of a new school year starting for many of you (home-schoolers in particular!) I'm sharing this little Resolve that I wrote a number of years ago during a year of teaching in a "one-room-school-house". (Can I get any winks and grins from my former students?)

If I Were A Student…

1. I would pray for my teacher.
2. I would pay close attention when my teacher talked, so I wouldn’t miss what she had to say.
3. I would try to help my teacher laugh when something ridiculous happened so she wouldn’t get too stressed out!
4. I would study as hard as I could, so I wouldn’t waste my time or the teacher’s.
5. I would throw myself into learning all I could.
6. I would do a little extra than told to.
7. I would try to always have a good attitude and at least TRY to do what the teacher asked of me.
8. I would write the teacher little encouraging notes.
9. I would have a great time and think school was the best thing.
10. I would get to class on time or early.
11. I would ask good questions so I could learn more.
12. I would squeeze every minute like I was juicing a good orange and lick up every last drop, determined not to waste the moments God has entrusted me with.

 But Right Now I’m a Teacher. So —

1. I will pray for the teacher!
2. I will pay close attention when the students talk, so I can understand how to help them best;
3. I will try to make my students laugh when something ridiculous happens so they won’t get too stressed out!
4. I will study hard, so I can be the best possible teacher, so I don’t waste my class’ time or mine.
5. I will throw myself into teaching as wholeheartedly as I can.
6. I will teach a little extra than I need to. ッ
7. I will try to always have a good attitude and at least TRY to help my students learn and have a great day.
8. I will write my students encouraging notes.
9. I will have a great time and think that school is the best thing.
10. I will get to class on time or early.
11. I will ask good questions so I can learn more and teach better.
12. I will squeeze every minute like I was juicing a good orange and lick up every last drop, determined not to waste the moments God has entrusted me with.

I don't know if you've thought of it before; but despite how it sometimes feels, the Teacher and the Student have a lot in common. We are working towards the same sort of things: 

            learning; 

            growing; 

            deepening our understanding of life, people, and the world around us; 

            having a great attitude every day; 

            squeezing each minute of all the good it holds.

When I was a student, I need to confess that the 12 ideals described above were definitely not always personified in Yours Truly! I must also reveal that my ideal teacher was not always "me" either. However, the room got brighter the day I realized that the problems I sometimes faced in my classroom were not all my students' faults! The same things I was desiring of them were reasonable to require of myself first and foremost. Whether my reader may be feeling ambitious or overwhelmed, a third-grader or a teacher, I hope these lists can make you smile. Why not join in my resolve to give the noble sport of Learning all the energy and devotion that you've got in this new season devoted to that cause?

I Bought a Book with a Hiccup

The tiny two-and-a-half-burner stove is spitting and puffing as I attempt to cajole it into boiling a pot of eggs for breakfast. Sunshine is breezing in through the balcony door, openly declaring that it's past our normal breakfast time. I don't mind, because it's Saturday.

On the narrow street outside, a truck passes slowly by with a large horn positioned strategically on the front, declaring some sort of advertisement in Greek rather loudly.

I have sat down to write to you because my husband thought I should definitely, most assuredly, tell you about the time that I became part of a most hilarious phenomenon and managed to buy a book with a hiccup.

I can just about see your eyebrow curling to the North like a curious boy running up a hill. A hiccup?! Seriously now. Who ever heard of such a thing.

Nope, I’d never heard of it either. Not until I met Jonathan.

Which leads me to the question: What Do You Do With a Hiccup?

Photo from Pixabay.com

When my husband gets hiccups, normally his case never advances to the plural, jerking to a stop at hiccup. Thus, it was with intense consternation that he discovered his darling sweetie getting swept away by a hiccup stampede, run over and barely able to calmly catch her breath. “Did you ever try sucking in your breath after the first hiccup, and holding it in place for one minute?” He wondered. So I tried it. Alas, no success. For some unfortunate reason, the methods which he found to be quite foolproof left me hiccuping helplessly as ever. So, one day several years into our marriage, he decided in spite of my doubts to try one last method for dispelling hiccups which he had found to be quite inevitably prone to success.

Based on the theory that if you want to hiccup you can’t, it goes as follows: “If you do another hiccup in the next ten minutes, I will give you ten dollars!” - or whatever lure you know will be enticing to the hiccuper.

The first time he tried it on me several months ago, I didn’t even try to hiccup. I figured this is a splendid way to get myself a little treat! I will pretend the splendid offer didn’t exist, wait a minute or two, and hiccup my way into success. I waited, and waited; but no hiccup would venture to even get close. I meditated on whether or not I should do a fake one and see what Hubby would do, but when ten minutes rolled around, I had not a hiccup to declare.

In the last several months, the Hiccup Dare has been proved to work right charmingly.

Until this week. I don’t know if it has to do with the breezy Greek air, or the fact that my husband offered to buy me an eBook that I had lost my initial craze of interest in. I was in the throes of involuntary throat spasms accompanied by the most ungracious noises when Jonathan offered the aforementioned prize. Imagine our mutual surprise when HICCUP! And the promised book was mine.

After my man calmed down his fit of laughter he set about to analyze the situation and publish a new and improved theory on The Best Way to Stop Hiccups.

In case you're wondering, we found it incredibly unfortunate that Amazon hasn’t yet legalized hiccups as a viable currency, so my poor hubby had to dip into his pocket for the book.

The intended moral of this short tale is easy. First, when making theories about hiccups, always leave a line at the end for an addendum or two. Secondly, make theories about hiccups. It’s good for your marriage. It works like a medicine (unless you refuse to end failed attempts with a tickling match).

Have a good week everyone, and may life’s hiccups be few and far between.

In Which We Flip A Switch

Do you remember when you learned what happens when you flip a light switch on and off?

Joy has experienced complete wonderment lately as I have been teaching her the great mystery of optical revolution which a little flick of the switch can do. I will take her little finger and touch the cool plastic switch on the wall, then help her give it a downwards ride. Instantly the room in plunged into darkness. I can't see the look on her face, and I wonder what she might be thinking. I imagine her baby thoughts..."Where am I now? What is that dark shape over there? Oh, good, I still feel Mama's arm here. So what is this tiny little switch that makes everything change?"

To be honest, sometimes I wish I could discover a tiny little switch that could make everything change in my life for the better.

Sometimes I think I have found one.

A little choice that transforms my life from undesirable to a gift.

Perhaps I can illustrate my thoughts the best through a little story:

<< The alarm rings in the morning. Woman rolls over, gets out of bed. >> 

"Oh dear, I have to get up now. That night was so short! It seems they all are these days. Baby just isn't sleeping well right now. <<pulls at bed covers with a sigh>> I have to make the bed by myself because my husband is busy with his morning. Like always. And now I have to decide what to make for breakfast. It seems like I have to do that every last day of the week, every last week of the month, every last month of the year! Day without end! Sigh. I'm sick and tired of eggs but I have to have protein. I guess that's what we have to eat today because I didn't get a meal list made this week..." (The story continues but this is where I will stop polluting the screen.)

If you ask me, that sounds like a nasty day. A nasty person to spend a day with, in fact. Could somebody turn on the light?

<< The alarm rings. Roll over, give the world a grin, get out of bed. >> 

"Wow, it's a new day! I've been looking forward to a new day ever since I went to bed last night! I'm alive! My husband and daughter are as well. What a wonderful day this will be. I'm so glad that I can take care of my daughter. How well I remember the days when I didn't have a baby to take care of; oh, how I longed for a little one to spend night hours with! What a precious season of life I am in. And it's so wonderful how God has such an endless supply of grace for these days of not sleeping very much. Wow. <<pulls the blankets up on the bed>> Husband is so funny with how his long legs un-tuck the sheets on his side every single night! I'm so glad to get to keep the house for such a sweet man. Let's see, what should we eat for breakfast? I'm tired of deciding. But I guess it's actually quite something to even have various options of what to eat for breakfast! I'm so glad we don't eat the same thing every single day. And wow, there are such options for protein in this country for people who need it in the morning like me. Thank You, God, for this luxury that I don't deserve..." et cetera, et cetera.

The situation is exactly the same. The person is the same. The day is the same.

What changed?

Somebody flipped the switch. It's the attitude. Have to? FLIP. Get to! 

Is it really that easy? You may wonder. Wouldn't it be so handy if there were a little attitude switch on the wall by the doorway in my house! Some people use another kind of "switch" for these purposes, but that is certainly another discussion for another day. I'm thinking, What if I would make a quick attitude check my habit whenever I flip a light switch? What if I would choose to turn the "Yay! Get-To" attitude on, and the "Sigh. Have-To" attitude off?

I'm not going to tackle all the ins and outs of attitudes and what causes them and the times when that "light switch" feels heavy as a watermelon on your fingertip.

But I will say, that there is something called Repentance, and there is something called your Will; and when activated in conjunction with the Holy Spirit there is a possibility of the inner switch getting flipped and the Negatives disappearing into Positives.

God IS ABLE to change your attitude towards life! He can do lots of wonderful things with your yielded heart.

I find myself somehow living in the dimness of my ratty attitude fairly often and suddenly awakened to the longing for some light in the situation. What will I choose? Have-To? Or Get-To? Negative? Or Positive? Flip, flip. Sometimes it's a simple choice. Sometimes I need to cry out to God to help me because the switch feels far too heavy for me to flip by myself.

Whining and Complaining?
Or Gratitude.

Perfectionism and Failure?
Or Grace.

Cynicism and Ingratitude?
Or Faith.

This rainy Monday, I wonder if there's anybody out there who God would like to take to the doorway and teach a lesson on perspective transformation. I actually know in fact there's one person.

Me.

Free light switch image sourced from Pexels.com

Those Little Things

I was feeling pretty happy about a lot of things in general when some little things began to happen. Little things began to happen into my kitchen. Creep, in fact. At first they were very small, manageable, and yet creepy notwithstanding. Although when I was standing above them with a yell and a totally imaginary weapon wishing to dash them to pieces they would usually be standing for a second as they ascertained the threat of my presence before starting the high-legged scamper out of my way.

It got worse when the small things with legs were joined by bigger things with legs and tiny little paws and squeaks. My personal squeaks started to get louder as the days went by. Who, I declare, said you little things could partake in enjoying the warmth and pleasure of residence in my apartment?!

The little things would mostly come out when my husband was hours away at a distant job (well maybe just one hour) or when he was sound asleep in bed and I was up with hunger and a baby. For a while I tolerated the little things (after all, they are in fact little things!) but it got worse.

The little things got bigger. That was the hideous nature of these little things. Bigger became the little things, and bigger became my hatred for their presence.

They say, you know, “enjoy the little things in life.” They must’ve not known about these little things.

One day I decided I must, for my precious sanity, be able to find something to be thankful for about the presence of the skittering little things. 

My list looked like this...

1. There aren’t more of them 

2.

Now, even if I did not have the emotional capacity to enjoy these little things, surely my thank-er could do better than that. 

“Lord,” I pled as I sat in the dimness of a night with a nursing baby, “can you show me why you let these annoying little things become a part of my life! I’m so fed up with them, but starting to wonder if maybe you sent them to me with a message...if so, would you please open my eyes?” 

My list started getting longer. 

1. There aren’t more of them. 

2. I don’t have reason anymore to look down on people who are living with houses full of cockroaches and mice. 

3. Walmart probably has more traps in stock by now, to add to our growing collection. And anyway, we could be in a remote area with no Walmart! 

4. I’ve never stepped on one of these creatures in the dark, like my imagination has suggested could happen. 

5. Our roaches (eew!) are smaller things than those three inch ones I’ve seen in pictures or the zoo! 

6. The mice aren’t very smart. They haven’t eaten things in my pantry so far 

7. They haven’t invaded our bedroom to my knowledge - like in Ghana where I would find droppings by our pillows on our bed inside our mosquito net.

8. My husband has joined me on the no-more-mice campaign!! (After being scared himself by a mouse in the bathroom in the middle of the night)

9. I have a new incentive to sweep my floors and wash my dishes! 

Well. I found nine things to be thankful for, but I still haven’t found myself enjoying these little things. When they make their appearance I think of evil embodied. Not very inspiring.

Therefore, maybe I will just leave you with the challenge: are there any little things that have crept into your life that need taken care of? Maybe it’s a little resentment towards your husband, or a little self pity about the part of your story that God is walking you through right now. Perhaps a little selfishness or a little pride.

Let me just warn you: little things have a way of breeding more little things. You don’t want Jonathan to come into your house to move your table only to have a leg fall out with illions of little things pouring out, hitting the ground running and waving their antennae. (Real happening. Just not at my house. Shudder.) Little things have a way of becoming big things. You don’t want to go there.

Ask God what is the best way to go about eradicating such pesky little things that may sneak into your life.

If you don’t have mice at your house, or cockroaches, or any other common ground with me, congratulations. 

To all: may the little things in your life come with easy-to-find reasons to be grateful for them and may your pesks be few.

When Hubby Comes Home

It had been a long day, and I was genuinely tired out not only physically but also emotionally. My one month old daughter had been very needy and I didn't always know how to meet her needs, or exactly what those needs were. "Daddy's coming home!", I cooed over and over as I tried to make her feel better.

At last, the familiar, wonderful figure called Daddy, Husband, Provider, World Problem Solver, Delight to My Eyes, Strength to My Heart, Smile Creator, a.k.a. Jonathan Rudolph himself, jingled keys in the lock and appeared in the doorway of our apartment!

My husband made this for our 3rd anniversary

The rejuvenation of a welcome home kiss was more than anticipated as I cajoled and rocked our daughter and waited [im]patiently for the man of my day dreams to get to the top of the stairs.

Should I spill out to him how tired, exhausted, plain weary I am? Should I save that for later? Or maybe it doesn't need to be mentioned at all. That's it. After all, what else would anyone expect a woman to be after trying to enjoy and make a partially sick baby happy all day? Fine, I will give him a wonderful cheery welcome. He is, after all, tired too no doubt. 

Turning my mind's attention back to my infant, I tried to describe to her just how amazing it is to have Daddy home again. She also must learn how important having a good husband is. I should tell her all about it.

"Oh Sweetie, it's all gonna be better soon! You know what? Husbands are just a fresh of breath air."

<<husbands are a fresh of breath air>>

The words replayed in my consciousness, and suddenly I was overwhelmed with the comedy of (and partial truth of) the statement as I awaited my husband's welcome home kiss after his long day of working in clouds of plaster dust. Hilarious laughter filled our home. My tiredness ended up communicating for itself, for the analysis of any good husband will recognize the telltale signs of exhaustion in: 1. the scrambling of thoughts and words, and 2. something miniscule becoming a hilarity so deep as to keep his wife in a fit of laughter the duration of the time it took him to analyze, remove shoes, wipe the day's dirt off the periphery of his kisser at the mirror, and bound up the creaky flight of stairs.

So if you're having a rough day, and it's been almost more than you can handle, and you are trying to make a stirring motion at the stove while producing a bouncing motion for the infant in your other arm while walking to the fridge for sour cream, I hope you have a husband as wonderful as mine.

Or at least the ability to laugh at yourself.

May you have the gift of laughter at the end of your day today (and a wonderful husband besides).