2005-10-29 - 7:22 a.m.
The temperatures seem to match the season today. It is the time of year when it gets cooler, we reset our clocks and the leaves fall from the trees. Have you ever collected leaves in the fall and made leaf rubbing? This week we were doing just that in my science class.
A minister from the church where I work had popped in to my room a few days ago. This always puts me on my guard. The church and the preschool are not always untied in their efforts. It was a pleasant surprise when she gave me a bag of leaves. Old, dry, crumpled leaves… but she knew I would want then. She had collected them on a trip someplace north. I carefully dehydrated them with water and hand lotion and then pressed them flat. Because I see so many students each day… I then lamented them so they would not break.
I watched two little girls struggle to get the leaves, paper and crayons to all cooperate and come up with a copy of a leaf. That’s a lot for a three year old to accomplish. Suddenly the frustration overwhelmed one and she threw down her crayon. I expected her to stomp off or whine and that is where I mostly step in and help. But instead she turned to the other little girl and planted both of her hands on the other one’s paper so it wouldn’t move.
“Now you do it!” was all she said.
Together they made several rubbings and scribbled their names on the backs of their papers… for mommy of course.
Life can be that way some days. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, just two little three years olds to teach me a very basic truth: If I can bond with another individual, we can have a good relationship. Religion, culture, background, education, and even language can all fall aside when someone knows I know how he or she feels.
The world focuses on things like academics, sports, beauty, money and position. People wonder when they have these things why they are not happy. Before one can handle those things though, being able to look another human in the eye and seeing how the other one feels is of far more value. Wanting to see that person succeed even when you can’t… is priceless.
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The Phantom's
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