KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY
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Catch Up and Must Do!
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There was so much to say on this topic this week, yet only so much time! Will you meet me at WAWA and we can visit for a few minutes over a "built to order Hoagie"? I stopped by a WAWA yesterday and had them put honey mustard on mine...yummmmm!
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BTW, for those of you who do not live in the Delaware Valley area, Wawa is a small market / deli that sometimes has a gas station. "Wawa" is a Native American word for the Canada Goose that was found in the Delaware Valley, that's why they use the goose on Wawa's corporate logo. Most stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
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Okay friend, you eat while I talk! I have a confession. This has been an extremely stressful month for me. I have not handled everything so well. You can think whatever you want, but I know why...I agreed to be the speaker at the Collingswood, NJ Ladies Retreat in March with the theme TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED. When I shared that with Steve in January, he said, "Oh, no! You didn't!" He knows! You see everytime he or I teach a class or a series of lessons on a certain subject, it seems like God takes us to boot camp on that particular topic. Welcome to February! Whew! This is the last day! What will March bring?
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Okay...confession... Yesterday, I was close to Atlantic City doing student teacher evaluations. I had just finished observing my student teacher in a 3rd and 4th self contained learning disabilities classroom. I love doing this! I feel that God has given me so many experiences in and out of classrooms with children with special needs that I have alot to offer in encouraging my student teachers. So, I had just enough time to grab a hoagie at WAWA before getting on the Garden State Expressway to head to my next teaching observation.
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At WAWA, I used their little touch screen computer to place my order, got my receipt and waited. My ticket said that I was number 9. I waited. I heard numbers called 10, 11, 12, 13, 14... Still no number 9! I looked around and I was the only one standing there. The clock was ticking and I needed to get on the road. What was taking them so long? I paced back and forth for a few minutes. I overheard workers talking behind the high deli counter. Still no hoagie! What on earth? My patience was wearing thin. I did NOT want to be late for my next appointment! I might just have to complain about the service and leave or just leave. Then, I saw her...a short little woman very slowly constructing a hoagie with every step as if in slow motion. It was then that I realized that this was a woman with physical and possibily mental challenges who was doing the best that she could making MY hoagie. She was treating it as if it was a labor of love.
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God had my attention! You see, just that morning I had made a little acrostic for myself. I said to myself, "Patti, everytime you get out of the car you need to do the COG!" FYI, COG reminds me to do three things: take my Cell phone with me, record the Odometer reading, and be sure that I am aware of God's presence when I go inside. I didn't do so good in WAWA...I left my Cell phone in the car, I forgot about the odometer, and even though I took God in with me...I wasn't paying attention!!!
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Yesterday, my WAWA experience was a lesson learned and time well spent! God has given me the gift of teaching, shepherding, and administration...not the gift of mercy. Yet, there are multiple things that I am not gifted in that God expects me to do anyway. He works with me everyday on being more MERCIFUL. Go figure! I had just been in a classroom of students with special needs modeling how to be merciful. I think it's something important to talk about. In fact, next week, that will be our theme on this blog, "Blessed are the merciful...".
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You may have seen this before, but as we conclude our discussions for the week, I want to share it as a reminder of some of the greatest gifts a mother can give.
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WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
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- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
- When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.
- 'Little eyes see a lot.Each of us--parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend--influence the life of a child.
- How will you touch the life of someone today?--author unknown
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